A cadre is a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession. These are the decorated current and former servicemembers who are dedicated to developing Florida Tech students into confident and courageous leaders.
LTC Stillings is a native of Springfield, Missouri, he commissioned from Washington University in St. Louis in 2006. His first assignment was with 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment where he served as a Platoon Leader, Support Platoon Leader (deployed), Troop Executive Officer, Squadron S4, and Rear Detachment Commander. After attending the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course he served as a Troop Commander and Headquarters Troop Commander in 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from June 2012 through June 2015 as the unit transitioned to a Decisive Action Training Environment. After changing command he served as the Chief of Current Operations at the Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was then selected to serve as the G3 (Forward) for the 1st Infantry Division Mission Command Element in Poznan, Poland. He then served as an Executive Officer in 5-4 Cavalry Squadron and 1-18 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division where he deployed his battalion to Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. He most recently served as the Chief of Training and Exercises for Cyber National Mission Force, Fort Meade, Maryland.
LTC Stillings earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Defense and Strategic Studies. He is a graduate of the Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, and the US Naval War College. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with OLC, the Army Commendation Medal with three OLC, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
MSG Alan Roche enlisted as an Infantryman in 2004, and was assigned as a Rifleman in E Company, 629th MI Bn (LRS), 29th ID and later as a Rifleman and Assistant Machine Gunner in B Company, 1/67 AR, 2BCT, 4th ID. He passed Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 2007 and graduated as an Engineer Sergeant in 2009. Following graduation, he was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and served as an Engineer Sergeant, Senior Engineer Sergeant, and Intelligence Sergeant in 2nd Battalion, as an Intelligence Sergeant in 4th Battalion, as well as Company Operations Sergeant, Detachment Operations Sergeant, and S3 Operations Sergeant in 3rd Battalion. Throughout his military service, MSG Roche deployed multiple times to SOUTHCOM and CENTCOM, including combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
MSG Roche’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star (3OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (1OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1SOLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), Operation Enduring Freedom Campaign Ribbon (1 Campaign Star), Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Ribbon (2 Campaign Stars), Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Ribbon (2 Campaign Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (M Device), Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (4th Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO ISAF Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Parachutist Wings, Air Assault Wings, Italian Parachutist Wings, and Chilean Parachutist Wings.
MSG Roche’s military education include Common Faculty Development-Instructor Course, Advanced Situational Awareness Course, ARSOF Senior NCO Fundamentals Course, Special Forces Sniper Course (Level 2), USASOC Static Line Jumpmaster Course, Master Mountaineering Course, FRIES/SPIES Master Course, Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course, Senior Mountaineering Course, Ranger School, Special Forces Qualification Course, SERE, Long Range Marksmanship Course, Airborne Course, Air Assault School, and all levels of NCO Professional Development up to the Master Leader Course. MSG Roche holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
MSG Roche is married to his beautiful wife, Sarah, and is father to Micah and Kimberly.
CPT Zachery Smith is from Belchertown, MA. CPT Smith graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2015 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Meteorology with a focus in Air Traffic Control.
CPT Smith’s past military assignments include Company Commander (510th Combat Engineer Company – Armored, 20th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, TX), Assistant Operations Officer (36th Engineer Brigade CUOPS, Fort Hood, TX), Battalion Training Resource Officer (65th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI), Company Executive Officer (Company A, 65th Brigade Engineer Battalion) and Platoon Leader (Company B, 65th Brigade Engineer Battalion).
CPT Smith completed the Engineer Captain’s Career Course (ECCC) in 2019 and earned a Master of Science in Geology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology following ECCC.
CPT Smith’s military education includes the Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course, the Sapper Leader Course, the Air Assault Course, and the Engineer Captain’s Career Course.
CPT Smith’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, The Army Service Medal, the Overseas Service Medal, the Sapper Tab, and the Air Assault Badge.
SFC Johnson enlisted as a Fire Support Specialist in 2006, completing Basic and Advanced Individual training at Fort Sill, OK. SFC Johnson’s duty assignments include Schofield Barracks, HI, Ft. Stewart, GA, and Ft. Drum, NY.
SFC Johnson has served in numerous leadership positions including Forward Observer, Fire Support Noncommissioned Officer (Company, Battalion, and Brigade), Targeting NCO, Jungle Operations Instructor, Platoon Sergeant, and Operations Sergeant. SFC Johnson on has deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
SFC Johnson’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5th Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Presidential Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), Nation Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 Campaign Stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (3 Campaign Stars), Global War on Terrorism Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3rd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, (5th Award), NATO Defense Medal, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Basic Military Mountaineering Badge (Ram's Head Device), French Commando Badge and the Brazilian Jungle Fighter Badge.
SFC Johnson’s additional military training includes the Jungle Operations Training Course, the Foundational Instructor and Facilitator Course, Joint Firepower Controllers Course, and the Joint Fires Observer Course.
SFC Johnson has been married to his wife Seirra Johnson since 2006, and they have been blessed with two children: Hunter and Heidi Johnson.
CPT (R) Frank C. McClendon Ill joined the ROTC Program in March 2023 as the Recruiting Operations Officer. He is a native of Louisville, KV. His Army career started when he enlisted in the US Army Reserves in 1990 as a 92F Petroleum Supply Specialist, where he served for two years. He transferred to active duty in 1992, serving as an l5U(Hunter) UAS Instructor Operator and a 35M HUMINT (Interrogator). He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 2009, was commissioned as an Armor Officer, and later transferred to the Adjutant General Corp. In 2014 he completed his bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management at Park University and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Webster University in 2018.
CPT (R) McClendon's key assignments include Scout Platoon Leader in B Troop 1-13th CAV, Ft. Bliss, TX, Tank Company XO in D Company 1-81 AR, Ft Benning, GA, OPS Officer in the Armor HQ, Ft Benning, GA, Battalion S1 3-81 AR Ft Benning, GA, Battalion S1 96th ASB Ft Campbell, KY, Squadron S1 1-33 CAV Ft. Campbell, KY and the Commander of the Beaumont Recruiting Company, Houston Recruiting Battalion, Houston, TX. He served as the Senior Instructor/Writer at the Recruiting Retention College until his retirement date of 5 Nov 2019.
His education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Adjutant General Corps Captain Career Course, Air Assault Course, Rappel Master Course, the Basic Instructors Training Course, UAS (Hunter) Instructor Course, Cl/HUMINT Operation Course, Source Operations Course, Combative Level 1, Drill SGT Course, Commander/1SG Course, Common Faculty Development-Instructor Course, and the Evaluating Instructors Course.
CPT (R) McClendon's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with one oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with ten oak leaf clusters); Army Achievement Medal (with five oak leaf clusters); National Defense Medal; Southwest Asia Medal; Non-Commissioned Professional Development with the number three; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal; Kuwait Defense Medal; Global War Terrorism Expedition with two stars; NATO Medal; Republic of Korea Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon 6 tours; as well as the Army Service Ribbon; the Air Assault Badge; Drill SGT Badge and the Army Recruiting Badge.
Tiffany Dolan joined our team as the Administrative Assistant in August 2017. She is an Army veteran who enlisted in April of 2013, attending basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Tiffany was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with the 25th Infantry Division as a Human Resource Specialist. While working here at Florida Institute of Technology, she began her BA in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing and Management. Tiffany married her husband Don in 2017, who is currently Active Duty in the Navy.
Manuel O. Rosales joined our team as the Supply Technician in October 2022. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1980 as Combat Engineer. After 3 years, he left the military to go to college, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern Illinois University – Chicago. Returned the U.S Army in March 1989 and retiring as a MSG / E8 in August 2007 with a total of 23 years of service. During his military career he also received training in the following Military Occupational Specialties: 92A (Automated Logistics), 92Y (Supply Specialist and 11B (Infantryman). Deployed Kuwait and Iraq. After retiring he went on to work for 4 years for a Global Logistics company named CHEP USA as a Warehouse representative. Early 2012 he landed in the U.S. Army Cadet Command as Supply Technician; starting at the Nebraska University, 3rd BDE USACC, after 4 months at NU, he was moved to University of Illinois – Chicago then after one year, he was voluntarily moved Loyola University – Chicago where he stayed for 4 years. In December 2017 he transferred to South Carolina State University and finally in October 2022, he landed at Florida Institute of Technology Army ROTC. He is a native of Honduras, Central America and moved to the United States at 14 years old.
He currently lives in Port Saint Lucie with his wife Silvia. They have 4 daughters (Kristy, Karol, Kimberly and Karen) and 5 grandchildren (Roger, Brandon, Bastian, Kal-el and Emma).
Dana Washington joined our team as the Human Resource Assistant in April 2014. She began her career in the U. S. Army as a Personnel Management Specialist, and also deployed to Desert Storm/Shield. After 10 years of service and receiving her honorable discharge, she held several positions in the civilian human resources sector until 2004, when she became the Human Resource Assistant for the Army ROTC program at Florida Southern College (FSC). While working at FSC, she received her BA in Human Resources Management. She is a Florida native, who now makes her home in West Melbourne with her son Malik, who is also an Army veteran and attending Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and his wife Simone. She also has a daughter, Adara, whose husband Jeremy is currently serving in the U. S. Army at Ft. Stewart, GA.
