Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC Jason T. Garkey

Professor of Military Science

Email
(804) 287-6073

Lieutenant Colonel Jason T. Garkey has served as the Professor of Military Science at the University of Richmond since June 2009.  MAJ Garkey received his commission from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993. He is an Infantry officer with service in Germany, Iraq, Korea, Kosovo, and various locations throughout the continental United States. He received his Masters of Business Administration Degree from Troy University, Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College and is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff at Newport, Rhode Island. He served in combat with the 3rd Infantry Division as the 1st Brigade Plans Officer in Charge, and 3rd Battalion 69th Armor Operations Officer in Ramadi, Iraq during the tribal awakening.  His last position prior to joining the University of Richmond ROTC program was as the 1st Brigade Operations Officer assigned to the U.S. Northern Command’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Consequence Management Response Force (CCMRF).  USNORTHCOM’s CCMRF provides the Department of Defense response to a CBRNE event in the United States and outlying federal territories.  

LTC Garkey is a graduate from the US Army Ranger School and has earned the Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, U.S. V Corps Distinguished Leader badge, and German Troop Proficiency Badge (Gold Award). He has been awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Army Commendation Medals (3 awards), Army Achievement Medal and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.  LTC Garkey is married with two children.

Research:
Consequence Management Operations

Education:
B.S. Management, U.S. Military Academy
M.B.A., Troy University
M.A. National Security and Strategic Studies, United States Naval War College

CPT Adriana Ramirez

Assistant Professor of Military Science, Executive Officer

Office: (804) 287-6065
E-mail

Captain Adriana Ramirez has served as the VCU Assistant Professor of Military Science since January 2009. CPT Ramirez received her commission through the ROTC program at the University of Rhode Island in 2002. She is a Logistics Officer who has served at Fort Lee, VA. 

Prior to joining the Spider Battalion ROTC program Captain Ramirez was an Operations Officer for a Military Transition Team in Iraq. Other past significant assignments include: Operations Officer, Military Transition Team - Iraq; Deputy S-3, 49th Quartermaster Group; Commander, 267th Quartermaster Group.   

Her military education includes: Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Captain Career Course, Aerial Delivery School, Mortuary Affairs School, and Combat Lifesaver School. Her decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Airborne Badge.

Education:
B.S., Pre-Veterinarian, University of Rhode Island

MAJ Mark Baush

S-3, Training and Operations Officer

Office: (804) 289-8540
E-mail

Major Baush has served as the Training Officer since October 2008.  He is a member of the Virginia Army National Guard.

MSG Garry Galloway

Senior Military Science Instructor

Office: (804) 287-6069
E-mail

CPT Nathaniel B. Merrigan

Assistant Professor of Military Science Longwood University and Hampden Sydney College

Office: (804) 287-6068
Email

CPT Nathaniel Merrigan serves as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at Longwood University and Hampton Sydney College as well as Battalion Training Officer at University of Richmond. He received his commission through the ROTC program at Seattle University on 15 JUN 2002, branched Infantry.
 
CPT Merrigan was assigned an Arctic Light Infantry Platoon Leader for the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade in Ft Wainwright, AK, and later deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV with the 172nd Stryker Brigade. His previous assignments include Executive Officer, C Company 2-1 IN Regiment, at Ft Wainwright, AK, Mortar Platoon Leader and Battle Captain, HHC 2-1 IN Regiment, in Iraq.  His last posting prior to joining the Spider Battalion ROTC program was as Operations Officer, 1-24 IN Regiment at Ft Wainwright, AK.

Education:
B.A., History, Seattle University

Awards:

CPT Merrigan is a graduate of US Army Ranger Course, Airborne School, Mortar Leader Course, Mountaineering Course, and graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic Course. He has earned the Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Education:
B.A., History, Seattle University

Awards:

CPT Merrigan is a graduate of US Army Ranger Course, Airborne School, Mortar Leader Course, Mountaineering Course, and graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic Course. He has earned the Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

CPT Andrew W. Hess

Recruiting Operations Officer

Office: (804) 287-6066
Email

CPT Seth Parker

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Office: (804) 287-6070
Email

CW3 Roger Farina

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Office: (804) 828-7682
University of Richmond: Email
Virginia Commonwealth University: Email

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Roger Farina has served as Assistant Professor of Military Science since October 2009.

Prior to joining the Spider Battalion ROTC program CW3 Farina was a Budget Analyst with Cadet Command. During time on active duty he has served around the world in locations from Korea to Colombia and Macedonia to Iraq.  As a combat helicopter pilot he served in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has held such varied positions as platoon leader, maintenance test pilot and liaison officer to an embassy.  His time in the military has allowed him to visit all but one of the continents and nearly 60 countries.

CW3 Farina is a graduate of the Warrant Officer Advance Course, CH-47 Maintenance Test Pilot Course, AH-1 Maintenance Test Pilot Course, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Electronic Warfare Officer Course, Joint Firepower Control Course, Electronic Warfare Officer Course, Aircraft Armament Maintenance Course, Anti-terrorism/Force Protection Level II Course and Medium Helicopter Repairer Course.

Education:
A.S., Liberal Arts, Regents College
B.S., Liberal Arts Excelsior College
Graduate Level Studies in Education, University of Oklahoma

Awards:

Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Kuwaiti-Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia & Kuwait)
Senior Army Aviator Badge

MSG (Ret) Robert H. Gains

Enlisted Instructor, VCU First Sergeant, U.S. Army

Office: (804) 827-4580
E-mail

Master Sergeant Gains has served as a Military Science instructor since August, 2007.  He currently instructs MS II (sophomore) Class at Virginia Commonwealth University.

MSG Donald Freeman

Enlisted Instructor

Office: (804) 287-6067
E-mail

SFC Terry L. Hunsinger

Military Science Instructor, Longwood University and Hampden Sydney College

Office: (434) 395-2136
E-mail

Sergeant First Class Terry L. Hunsinger is the Senior Military Science Instructor at Longwood University/ Hampden-Syndey College for the past few months. SFC Hunsinger entered the United States Army on 20 February 1989 as a 13B Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember at Ft. Hood, Texas, One Station Unit Training (OSUT). He was an Airborne Artilleryman who served with the 18th ABN CORP Artillery, 18th Field Artillery BDE in an Airborne assignment with C Battery 1/39th (AFAR) Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he deployed in Support of Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm in September 1990. In August of 1996, SFC Hunsinger reclassified to a 13F Field Artillery (Fire Support Sergeant); where he served as a Forward Observer and Company Fire Support Sergeant in the Republic of Korea, 2/17th Field Artillery, with duty at Camp Greaves, Korea, B Co 1/506th(Air Assault Battalion).  He was then reassigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 2/319th (AFAR) Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 1997; where he served as a Company Fire Support Sergeant until 2000. SFC Hunsinger then started the Special Forces Assessment Selection/Qualification Course in 2000 and graduated in March 2002, which embarked him to his most previous assignment with 5th Special Forces Group, ODA 551/554 B Co 2/5th SFG(A); Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

SFC Hunsinger is a graduate of Special Forces Advance Non-Commissioned Officer Course 18E (ANCOC), SF Communications Course, SF Qualification Course, SFAS, SERE Course (High Risk), Free Fall Parachutist, SOC AM General Driving Course, Combat Surveillance Course, Rappel Master Course, Jumpmaster Course, Special Forces (18E) BNCOC, Air Assault School, Airborne School, and Warrior Leader Course.

SFC Hunsinger has served as a Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember, Forward Observer, Company Fire Support Sergeant, Battalion Fire Support Sergeant, and as an ODA Senior Communications Sergeant.

SFC Hunsinger’s deployments consist of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Republic of Korea, and Operation Iraqi Freedom I, II, III.  His most recent assignment was a Senior Communications Sergeant with ODA 551/554 B Co 2/5th SFG(A), Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

Research:
Field Artillery, Special Forces

Education:
Advance Non-Commissioned Officer Course

Awards:

KUKULIBM, SAKULIBM, OSR 3, ASR, NOPDR 3, AFSM, GWTSM, GWTESM, SWASM, AFEM, KDSMDL,  NDSM 2, AGCM 6, AAM 4, ARCOM 4, BSM; Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Wings, Military Free Fall Wings, Air Assault  Badge,  and DRV/MECH Badge

SFC Stephen H. Vise II

Enlisted Instructor, National Guard Liaison, Virginia Commonwealth University

Office: (804) 828-5005
Fax: (804) 228-5177
E-mail

Sergeant First Class Stephen Vise has served as an Enlisted Instructor and National Guard Liaison since October 2008. Sergeant First Class Vise entered into the military service on 26 September 1996 in El Paso, TX. He holds Military Occupational Specialties of Infantryman (11B) and Recruiting and Retention NCO (79T). In addition he holds the Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) of Instructor.

Prior to joining the Spider Battalion ROTC program Sergeant First Class Vise worked at the Joint Forces Headquarters in the Recruiting and Retention Division in Richmond, VA.  Other previous assignments include: Squad Leader, 3/116th INF Regiment, Richmond, VA; Team Leader, 3/116th INF Regiment, Richmond, VA.

Sergeant First Class Vise is a graduate of the Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Infantry Advanced Individual Training, and the Recruiting and Retention Course.

Research:
Infantry
Recruiting and Retention

Education:
University of Phoenix

Awards:

Army Achievement Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Mrs. Lan Weidle

Human Resources Assistant

Office: (804) 287-6073
E-mail

Mrs. Weidle is the battalion's Human Resource Assistant, where she has expertly served UR cadets since 1998.  In 2005, she was selected as the best US Army ROTC Human Resource Assistant out of 272 in the nation and named the "Cadet Command Human Resource Assistant of the Year".  In 2003, she was selected as the Human Resource Assistant of the Year for the First Region, which at that time consisted of 108 ROTC Programs.

Mr. Daniel A. Nelson

Administrative Technician

Office: (804) 287-6072
E-mail

Mr. Daniel A. Nelson has served as the Administrative Technician for the University of Richmond ROTC department since October 2008.  Mr. Nelson has 4 years of Army active duty experience and 4 years of Army Reserve experience. His hobbies include motorcycling and rifle marksmanship.

Mrs. Sandy Benoit

University Liaison & Administrative Coordinator

Office: (804) 287-6073
Fax: (804) 289-8540
E-mail

Mrs. Benoit is the Part-Time University Liaison and Administrative Assistant for the University of Richmond.

Ms. Diane Magazine

VCU Administrative Coordinator, Military Science

Office: (804) 827-4579
Email

Karen Drader

Logistics Technician

Office: (804) 289-8879
Email