Lieutenant Colonel James A. Braunschneider - Commander

LtCol Braunschneider is the Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 665 at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.  In this capacity, he directs recruiting, educating, training, and character building of students from among twelve universities and colleges for commissioning into the United States Air Force as second lieutenants.

Lt Col Braunschneider attended Michigan Technological University and received his commission through AFROTC.  He attended the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) as his first Air Force assignment His subsequent assignments cover a broad range of activities including laboratory activities, special operations, flight test, weapons test, space operations, and large space acquisitions with the National Reconnaissance Office.

Major Rusty E. Mardis

Major Mardis is the Operations Flight Commander and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 665 at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this capacity, he advises recruiting, educating, training, and character building of students from among twelve universities and colleges for commissioning into the United States Air Force as second lieutenants.

Major Mardis is from Visalia, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Air Force in April 1990 and served as a Public Health Craftsman until he received his commission in December of 2001. As an officer he has served in a variety of Space and Missile duty assignments and in a contingency deployment for Operation Enduring Freedom. Prior to his current assignment, he was the OIC, Biometric Support Element in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Captain Michael J. Leonard

Captain Michael J. Leonard is the Education Flight Commander and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Science for Air Force ROTC Det 665 at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.  In this capacity, Captain Leonard is responsible for educating, training, and commissioning 140 ROTC cadets enrolled at 11 separate universities in the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky tri-state area.

Captain Leonard enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1987 and served as a helicopter crew chief and flight engineer until he received his commission in September 2002.  His primary specialty is ICBM operations and is a certified acquisitions professional in test and evaluation engineering, as well as systems engineering.  Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Standardization and Evaluation Flight Commander, 17th Test Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado.

Capt Leonard received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri and his Master of Science degree from Mississippi State University.  He is also a graduate of the Air & Space Basic Course and Squadron Officer's School.  Major decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

First Lieutenant Karah A. Stalets

First Lieutenant Karah A. Stalets is the Recruiting Flight Commander for Air Force ROTC Detachment 665, University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is responsible for coordinating entry and recruitment into the cadet corps for The University of Cincinnati and ten consortium universities within the local area.  Additionally, First Lieutenant Stalets is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies instructing first year cadets in the Foundations of the Air Force. 

First Lieutenant Stalets joined Air Force ROTC is 2004 and subsequently commissioned in 2008.  Prior to this assignment she supported three flying wings, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Headquarters Eighteenth Air Force, Headquarters United States Transportation Command and 40 tenant units on Scott AFB, IL in various core personnel positions as a Force Support Officer.

First Lieutenant Stalets received her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Southeast Missouri State University and Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Univeristy of Cincinnati in December 2010.  She is a graduate from Air and Space Basic Course and a Distinguished Graduate of Force Support Officer’s Course

SSgt Venisha Witherspoon

NCOIC, Knowledge Ops

TSgt Sally Deppen

NCOIC, Personnel