Professor of Military Science / Fourth Year Instructor
LTC Thomas Cooper
Phone: 507-389-5832
E-mail: thomas.cooper@mnsu.edu
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas R. Cooper assumed the duties of Professor of Military Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato on July 1st, 2005, following a tour as the aide-de-camp for the Deputy Commanding General of Training and Doctrine Command.
He was commissioned in the Regular Army as a Signal Corps officer through the ROTC program at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His formal education is consistent with that of a career signal officer and includes graduation from the Command and General Staff College. His civilian education includes an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and a graduate degree in Administration.
Since joining the United States Army in 1988, LTC Cooper has served in a multitude of units and positions at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. He has commanded at the company level and served as an S-3 officer and Executive Officer at the Battalion and Brigade level. His career includes assignments in Germany, Fort Gordon, GA, Fort Lewis, WA, Arlington, VA, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and Fort Monroe, VA. LTC Cooper also served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
LTC Cooper is married and has three children.
Secretary to the Professor of Military Science
Lori Olinger
Phone: 507-389-6226
E-mail: lori.olinger@mnsu.edu
Assistant Professor of Military Science / Second Year Instructor
MAJ Amy Ninneman
E-mail: amy.ninneman@us.army.mil
First Year Instructor / Executive Officer
MAJ Jerry Bohl
Phone: 507-389-5088
E-mail: gerald.bohl@mnsu.edu
Vita
Recruiting Operations Officer
CPT Sara Woods - DEPLOYED until August 2009
In 2002, CPT Sara Woods graduated from Minnesota State Mankato, Minnesota with a BA in International Relations. She commissioned in August 2002 and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas from 2002-2006. She has served as HHB 2-1 ADA XO, A/2-1 ADA Launcher Platoon Leader and RSOP team leader, HHB 1-44 AMD S3 Assistant Operations Officer, and 88th RRC G-1 Personnel Action Officer.
Her military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course, PATRIOT Track phase, Airborne school, Unit Movement course, Air Load Planners course, Unit Prevention Leader course, Adjutant General Advance Course, and Cadet Command Recruiting Operations Officer course.
She is currently a reservist with the 88th RRC at Fort Snelling, MN where she works in the G-1.
CPT Woods joined the ROTC program as a cadre member in January 2008 as the Recruiting Operations Officer. She has two children and they live in Janesville, MN.
Operations NCO / Third Year Instructor
MSG John Moore
Phone: 507-389-5834
E-mail: john.moore@mnsu.edu
Senior Military Science Instructor
MSG Don Friend
Phone: 507-389-5833
In 1985 MSG Don Friend enlisted in the US Army as a Cannon Crewman. After completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, he was stationed in Babenhausen, Germany from 1986-1992 in the 2nd Bn 83rd FA and the 4th Bn 19th FA as a Cannon Crewmember, Special Weapons and Cannon Section Chief. He then was stationed at Fort Sill, OK at 5th Bn 3rd FA from 1992-1994 as a Cannon and Launcher Section Chief. He changed his Military Specialty to Multiple Launch Rocket Crewman during this time. He was then stationed in Michigan on Recruiting Duty from 1994-1998. He was then stationed at Fort Sill, OK 5th Bn 3rd FA MLRS as a Platoon Sergeant from 1998 to 2000. He was then stationed at Fort Belvoir/Washington DC at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency from 2000-2004. He was assigned as a Weapons Specialist with duty in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. He deployed during this time to Kuwait and then Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was then assigned to 1st Bn 38th FA MLRS in Camp Stanley, Korea as a Platoon Sergeant from 2004-2005. He was then assigned to Fort Sill, OK at 1st Bn 22nd FA as the Operation Sergeant and 95th Reception Bn as the First Sergeant from 2005-2006. He was then assigned to the 1st Infantry Division with duty in Afghanistan as a mentor for the Afghan National Army from 2007-2008. He is currently assigned as the Senior Military Service Instructor here at MNSU ROTC Program.
His military education includes Army Basic Training, Cannon Crewmember Course, MLRS Crewmember course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Advance Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Recruiter Course, Hazmat Course, Advanced Rifle Marksmanship Course, Nuclear Weapons Assembly Course, Radiological Course, Biological Weapons Weapons Course, Nuclear Familiarization Course and Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty Familiarization Course.
MSG Friend has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Medal x3, Army Commendation Medal x5, Join Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal x5, Presidential Unit Citation Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal x7, National Defense Service Medal x2, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Nato Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon x3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon x3, Field Artillery Badge Expert, Drivers Badge, Gold Recruiter Badge, and the German Schutzenschnur with Gold Device.
MSG Friend is married with two sons and they reside in St Peter, MN.
Human Resource Assistant
