Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC James B. Botters

Professor of Military Science

LTC Jim Botters received his commission in 1989 as a Military Intelligence Officer from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters of Arts degree in Management from Webster University, St Louis, Missouri.

Upon completion of the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, LTC Botters was assigned as the assistant S2, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Ft. Cambell Kentucky and six months later deployed with his unit in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. upon redeployment, LTC Botters served as the S2 for 326th Engineer battalion, Platoon Leader for Alpha Company, 311th MI Battalion, and Executive Officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Operations Company, 311the MI Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

After completing the Military Intelligence Officers Advanced Course, LTC Botters served as a G2 Operations Officer, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea. Upon returning to the United States, LTC Botters served as a Forward Detachement Commander and as the Headquarters and Services Company Commander for the 204th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Reconnaissance), 513th MI Brigade, Ft. Bliss Texas. LTC Botters then moved to Third U.S. Army, Army Forces Central Command (ARCENT), Atlanta, Georgia where he served as a G2 Plans Officer and as the Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding General.

Graduating from the United States Army’s Command and General Staff College in 2002, LTC Botters was assigned as the S2, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (187th Infantry), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Upon redeployment from Operation Iraqi Freedon, LTC Botters served as the Deputy G2 for the Division. LTC Botters’ last assignment was as the Chief of the G2 Analysis and Control Element (G2 ACE), 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea.

LTC Botters’ awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal (4), the Army Commendation Medal (3), the Army Acheivement Medal, Air Assault Badge and the Parachutist Badge. LTC Botters is married to the former Ms Gina Lane Culberson of Birmingham, Alabama. They have two children; Hank and Savannah Lane.

LTC (Ret) Edward T. Milligan

Assistant Professor of Military Science of Administration and Logistics

LTC (Ret) Edward Milligan received his commission in 1981 as a Field Artillery Officer from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.  He holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in News-Journalism and a Masters of Science in Management Degree from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Upon completion of the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Cannon Battery Officers Courses, LTC (Ret) Milligan was assigned as a Fire Support Team Chief (FIST) for 3rd Battalion, 19th Field Artillery, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  He later served as the Assistant Division Artillery S-4.  LTC (Ret) Milligan branch transferred to Quartermaster Branch in 1984 and attended the Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course at Fort Lee, Virginia.  LTC (Ret) Milligan was reassigned to Germany where he served as the Supply Operations Officer, 5th Combat Equipment Company (POMCUS), Combat Equipment Group Europe (CEGE) in Pirmasens, Germany and later as the Battalion Supply Officer (S-4) at Landstuhl, Germany.  After attending the Combined Arms Service Staff School (CAS3) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, LTC (Ret) Milligan was then reassigned to Fort Lee, Virginia, where he served as Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Logistics Center and Fort Lee (later CASCOM), and Project Officer, Combat Developments Division, U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School.  LTC (Ret) Milligan was then reassigned to U.S. Army Cadet Command where he served as Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS) at Augusta College (now Augusta State University) in Augusta, Georgia.

Graduating from the United States Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1995, LTC (Ret) Milligan was assigned to the 21st Theater Area Army Command (TAACOM) in Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he served as Division Chief, Tank-Automotive Systems Division for 200th Theater Army Material Management Center (TAMMC) and later as the Maintenance and Supply Operations Officer, Equipment Maintenance Center-Europe (EMC-E) and Group S-3 for the 29th Support Group.  He was then reassigned to 26th Area Support Group where he served as Commander, Germersheim Area Support Team/Depot in Germersheim, Germany and then Security, Plans and Operations Officer (S2/3) for Headquarters, 26th Area Support Group.  LTC (Ret) Milligan was then reassigned to joint duty with the Allied Forces Southern Europe, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), where he served as the Secretary of the General Staff (SGS) and Acting Director of Staff for Joint Command Southeast (NATO) in Izmir, Turkey.  LTC (Ret) Milligan’s last duty assignment was in Heidelberg, Germany from 2002 to 2004 where he served in U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) and Seventh Army, Deputy Chief of Staff G4 as the Branch Chief for the Logistics Support Branch, Plans and Operations Division.  LTC (Ret) Milligan retired in September 2004 but remained in Germany as a Department of Defense contractor for CACI, Inc, serving in U.S. Army V Corps, G4 in Heidelberg, Germany.  LTC (Ret) Milligan was hired by U.S. Army Cadet Command in August 2007 as a COMTEK employee and is currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science.

LTC (Ret) Milligan’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4), the Army Commendation Medal (4) and the Army Achievement Medal.  LTC (Ret) Milligan is married to the former Hatice Boyacioglu of Izmir, Turkey.  They have two children; Victoria and Stephanie.

MAJ Joe Jennings

Training Officer

Upon his entry into the US Army in 1984 and following his basic training, Major Joe Jennings has served at the following locations and positions: 3/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd ABN Division, Fort Bragg, NC, Feb 1985 to Jul 1988 Major Jennings served in the following duty positions: Automatic Rifleman, Team Leader, Squad Leader.

3-5 Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, KY, Aug 1988 to Oct 1992 as a Senior Special Forces Weapons Sergeant with the additional duty as Detachment Sniper. While assigned to Fort Campbell, he was also deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, earning a combat patch, Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart.  

2-5 Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, KY, Jun 1992 to Oct 1994 Major Jennings served as a Senior Special Forces Medical Sergeant with the additional duty as a Detachment Sniper.

He attended the Officer Candidate School and Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA from Oct 1994 to July 1995.

1-327 Inf., 101st Air Assault from Aug 1995 to May 1999 Jennings served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-Armor Platoon Leader, HHC Executive Officer and Assistant G3 Operations.  

HHC 82nd ABN Division from Sep 2001 to June 2003 the Major served as the assistant G-3 Operations for the 82nd ABN DIV. I performed combat duty in Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Major Jennings recently returned from theater where he taught Counter insurgency, ambush and IED defeat operations.

His deployments include: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Haiti, and Sinai Egypt.

Awards and Decorations include:  Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.

Military education: PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, IOBC, AOAC, Ranger School, Special Forces Qualification Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School.

MAJ Scott Macksam

Assistant Professor of Military Science

MAJ Macksam is a Distinguished Military graduate from the University of Cincinnati and holds a Bachelor’s in History and Minor in German Studies. He was Commissioned into the Field Artillery in 1992. MAJ Macksam has served in a variety of leadership positions they include Fire Direction Officer 5/18 FA, Fort Sill, 1/77 FA, MLRS Platoon Leader and Battery Operations Officer, 1/77 FA Battalion Assistant S3, 2/27 Infantry Battalion Fire Support Officer 25 th ID Hawaii, 3/7 FA Battery Commander, 2/185 Armor Battalion S4, 2 nd Bde, 40 th ID Brigade Assistant S3 and United States Army Pacific Hawaii (USARPAC), Plans and Exercise Officer, CTC Exercise Officer 350th Civil Affair Command,He has also taught at San Diego State University and University of Hawaii Army ROTCs. He is a graduate of the FA Officers Basic Course, MLRS Cadre Course Air Defense Officers Advanced Course, CAS3, Air Assault School and Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Course and is a Diversity/Facilitator Trainer.

MAJ Kathleen J. Porter, Adjutant General Corps

Assistant Professor of Military Science and Leadership

Major Porter was commissioned into the Adjutant General Corps from the University of Miami in 1989.  She has served in a variety of leadership positions since her commissioning.  They include:  Administrative Officer, J4/7, U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Florida; Logistics Automation Officer, J4/7, U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Florida; Operations Officer Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion, Lakehurst, New Jersey; Military Personnel Officer, G-1 77th Regional Readiness Command, Fort Totten, New York, and Executive Officer at The University of South Florida Army ROTC Battalion, Tampa, Florida.  She is currently an Assistant Professor of Military Science and Leadership at the University of South Florida and Saint Leo University.

Major Porter holds a Florida Teaching Certificate in Business Education with an Undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from Florida International University and a Graduate degree from the University of South Florida.  She is a graduate of Adjutant General Officer Basic and Advanced Course, Combined Armed Services Staff School, Human Resources Management Course and the Command and General Staff Officer ILE Course.

She and her husband, Tony Logan, have three sons, Luke, Jack and Lance.

MSG Fernando Garcia

Senior Military Instructor

MSG Fernando Garcia grew up in Bogotá, Colombia; however, he calls Gainesville, Florida his home.  He came to the United States in December 1984.  He enlisted in the United States Army in March of 1986 as a 12B Combat Engineer.  His first assignment was to D CO, 16th Eng Battalion (BN) (Germany) and then to D CO, 5th Eng BN at Fort Leonard Wood (FLW). He ended his time in service in February 1990 but was called back to active duty in January 1991.  He has been in the Army ever since. 

He served with D CO, 16th Eng BN; D Co, 5th Eng BN; C Co, 589th Eng BN; C CO, 577th Eng BN; A CO, 2nd Eng BN and C CO, 8th Eng BN in every position from sapper to Platoon Sergeant.

MSG Garcia served as an Equal Opportunity Advisor for HQ MANSCEN and HQ, 3rd Tng BDE (FLW). He was assigned as the S-3 NCOIC for the 169th Eng BN.

He was a First Sergeant for D CO 35th Eng BN, C CO 5th Eng BN and HHC 5th Eng BN.

He has been a track driver, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Equal Opportunity Advisor, Operations Sergeant, and First Sergeant.

His military schools include PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, Equal Opportunity Advisor School, Basic Instructor Course and the First Sergeant Course.

His awards include the Army Service Ribbon; the National Defense Service Medal; the Overseas Service Ribbon (2OLC); The Korean Defense Service Medal; The Army Good Conduct Medal (5th); the Global War on Terrorism Medal; the Iraqi Campaign Medal; the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3rd); the Joint Meritorious Unit Award; the Army Achievement Medal (5 OLC); the Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC); the Meritorious Service Medal and the Bronze Medal

He has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from Park University.

He is happily married to Alejandra and they have a son, named Leandro, born in 2004.

CPT (Ret) Pedro Torres

Recruiting Operations Officer

 CPT Pedro Antonio Torres received an Army Reserve Commission into the Aviation Branch from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1992 after serving as Non-Commission Officer for the Army Medical Corp for 7 years and later as a Warrant Officer Aviator for 3 years.

CPT Torres proudly served and excelled in a variety of leadership positions since his commissioning. They include Airfield Commander, 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Uijambu, Korea; Platoon Leader, 5th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii; Assistant Chief Air Allocations Officer, Air Division, US Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida; Company Commander, Spanish Helicopter School Battalion, School of the Americas, Fort Rucker, Alabama. CPT Torres's last assignment was Recruiting Company Commander, Albuquerque Company, Phoenix Battalion, New Mexico. Through his service he has received "The Meritorious Service Medal", and numerous awards and medals for his hard work and commitment to the Armed Forces.

He holds a Bachelors of Science in Liberal Arts from The University of the State of New York, Albany. CPT Torres is a graduate of both the Army, Combined Arms Services Staff School and the Air Force non-resident, Air Command and Staff College. He is currently retired from the Army after 20 years of dedicate service and living in Tampa with his wife Ronda. CPT Torres works as a contractor for the US Army ROTC at the University of South Florida under the Communications Technologies Company.

Mr. Luis Rosario

Supply & Logistics Technician

Mr. Luis G. Rosario, retiree from the United States Army, Quartermaster branch (logistics.) Mr. Rosario enlisted in Puerto Rico and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Advance Individual Training at Fort Lee, Virginia. His first duty station was in Washington State. His last duty station was in Fort Jackson, South Carolina serving as a supply sergeant for the recruiting retention school house. During his last duty station in South Carolina, Luis Rosario served in the state Hispanic Leadership Council. Mr. Rosario also coordinated the annual Latin Festival held in the city of Columbia.

Mrs. Rita J. Joyce

Staff Assistant - USF ROTC

Rita Joyce came out of retirement to serve as Senior Secretary for the Army ROTC at the University of South Florida in September 2005.  She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Rivier College, Nashua, NH, and her Masters in Education with a concentration in Educational Counseling from Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

As an Educator, Mrs. Joyce served over 20 years in the classroom teaching a variety of subjects in classes ranging from kindergarten through 11th grade in Massachusetts and Louisiana.  She was a high school Guidance Counselor for over 6 years and also did a six-year stint as Director of Testing for a regional vocational-technical school in Massachusetts.

Mrs. Joyce left the Education scene to support her husband in setting up a small electronics business.  She served there as a self-taught secretary and bookkeeper for a period of approximately 3 years. In the years following, she joined the secretarial workforce in either industry or educational settings for over 20 years.

Mrs. Joyce’s early years were dedicated to the education of children as a religious sister for 22 years.  After leaving the convent, Mrs. Joyce met her husband, John Joyce and they married in July 1975.  Mrs. Joyce has four step-children from Mr. Joyce’s previous marriage.  They currently have six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  Mrs. Joyce’s 19 year old granddaughter enlisted in USAR and graduated from Basic Training at Ft Jackson on 7 September 2007.

Mr. Timothy Toomey

Human Resource Assistant

Mr. Toomey comes to USF from Providence College in Rhode Island where he began his second career as an Administrative Technician with The Army ROTC program.

Retiring from the Army in 2001, Mr Toomey spent 14 years assigned to the United States Army Recruiting Command. Prior to USAREC, Mr Toomey was assigned to Ft Polk, LA, Wurzburg Germany, and Ft Devens MA serving as a Track and Wheel Vehicle Mechanic and Recovery Vehicle Operator.

Married to wife Christine, they have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. They reside in St Petersburg, Florida. An avid sports fan, Mr. Toomey follows his hometown Boston teams while here in FL.

Mr. Jose Ramirez

Human Resource Assistant

Mr. Ramirez entered the service in July 1985 at Fort Benning, GA.  After training as an Infantryman, he was assigned to the 2nd Bn, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry, Fort Stewart, Ga, as a Scout and Sniper in HHC.  After 13 months, he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Kirchgoens, West Germany, in the 2nd Bn, 36th Infantry as a Team Leader.  His next assignment took him to the 1st Bn, 29th Infantry, Fort Benning, GA where he was an 11M AIT Instructor.  After three years, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division as the Assistant Battalion Operations NCO and Operations NCO.  Returning to the United States, He was assigned to the 1st Bn, 18th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division where he was assigned as a Squad Leader, Master Gunner and Platoon Sergeant.  His next assignment took him to the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, LA, where he was assigned to the Armor-Mechanized Team as an Observer Controller.  Returning to Germany, he was assigned as a platoon sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.  After three years he returned to the states and retired from The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) as an Instructor.  After retirement, he worked for Harley-Davidson at Rossiter’s Harley-Davidson as a technician where he continues to work on weekends. 

Ms. Debbie Dilley

HRA

Ms. Debbie Dilley was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga. She graduated High School. From May 1979 to May 1992 served in the US Army. In January 1994 to Present, started working for the government as a government federal employee.

She is single, has one son and one grandson.