Staff - Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AROTC)

COL Joel Newsom is the Professor of Military Science and Commanding Officer for the U.S. Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion at Norwich University. He is an infantry officer who commissioned in 1996 through the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He has served in numerous staff and command positions and deployed to support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

SGM Kevin G. Stewart is the Chief Military Science Instructor for the U.S. Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion at Norwich Univesity. He entered the Army in April 1996 as a 19D cavalry scout and has served in Armor and Stryker units across the United States and South Korea. He has deployed in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

LTC Christopher Lofton is the Executive Officer for the U.S. Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion at Norwich University. He is an infantry officer who commissioned in 2002 through the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He has served in Stryker, Airborne, and Armored units across the United States and deployed to support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

CPT Ryan Crook is the Assistant Professor of Military Science for the U.S. Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion at Norwich University. He is a logistician who commissioned in 2013 through the University of Texas, Arlington’s Army ROTC program. He has served more than 12 years in the Army and has deployed multiple times — twice to Iraq, twice to Korea and once to Italy.

SSG Dalton Brown is the Military Science Instructor (MSI) for the Army ROTC “Pioneer Battalion.” He is an armor crewman who enlisted in 2013 through One-Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He has served in Armored and Cavalry units across the U.S. and deployed multiple times in support of operations Inherent Resolve, Korea Rotational Force and Atlantic Resolve.

CPT Jonathan Steel is the Military Skills Instructor and Assistant Professor of Military Science for the U.S. Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion at Norwich University. He is a Ranger-qualified signal officer who commissioned as a branch detail to armor in 2013 through ROTC at Liberty University In Lynchburg, Virginia. He has served in infantry units, working on Battalion and Division staff and as a Signal Company commander.

CPT ReLeaña Griffith is an Assistant Professor of Military Science for the Army ROTC “Pioneer Battalion.” She is an Logistics Officer who commissioned in 2013 through the Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning Georgia. She has served in Light Infantry, Stryker, and SDDC units across the U.S. and deployed multiple times in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Operation Freedom Sentinel, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose Figueroa is an assistant professor of military science for the U.S. Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion at Norwich University. He is a Signal Corps officer with a passion for information technology. He has served in Logistics, Armored and Field Artillery units across the United States, Europe and South Korea. He deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

CPT Eric Bowerman is the Junior Military Skills Instructor and Assistant Professor of Military Science for the U.S. Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion. He is an aviation officer who commissioned in 2012 through the University of Colorado’s ROTC program. He has served across the United States, South Korea and Afghanistan.

SFC Justin McCoy is a Military Science Instructor for the MS IIIs and a mentor for the Norwich Artillery Battery. He is a joint-fire support specialist (13F) who enlisted in 2008. He has served in Stryker and Armored units, as well as the 1st Battlefield Coordination Detachment which supported the 12th Air Force Headquarters. He has deployed in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.  

SFC Kaid LaCroix is a Military Science Instructor for the Army ROTC "Pioneer Battalion." He is the Company Mentor for Charlie Company. He is an Infantry Senior Noncommissioned Officer who has served in Airborne and Light units and has four deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Spartan Shield.

MAJ Aaron Ballard is a Military Science Instructor for the Army ROTC “Pioneer Battalion.” He is the Company Mentor for the Norwich Artillery Battery. He is a Field Artillery Officer who commissioned in 2010 through ROTC. He has served in Armor and Training units CONUS and Korea and deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Inherent Resolve.

CPT Dakota Smith is a Vermont Army National Guard Officer serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science, "Pioneer Battalion" S3, and Mountain Cold Weather Company Mentor. He branched Field Artillery after commissioning in 2012 through the VT Officer Candidate School and deployed in support of Operation Joint Guardian.

SFC Kevin Williams is a Military Science Instructor for the Army ROTC Pioneer Battalion at Norwich University. He is the company mentor for the Mountain Cold Weather Company. He is an Armor senior noncommissioned officer who has served in Stryker, Infantry and Cavalry units and has deployed in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

SSG Gabriela Lozano, is a Human Resources NCO for the Army ROTC ”Pioneer Battalion” She is the Administrative NCO for the ROTC Instructors and the Cadets. She has served in Engineer, Cavalry and Human Resource Units and has deployed to serve in the humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake and two Afghanistan tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

John Burns is a contractor who has been working with the Norwich U.S. Army ROTC program since 2017.He served two years in the U.S. Army after high school and then commissioned as an Army National Guard logistics officer through the University of Vermont ROTC program in 1992.

His National Guard career included many years of full-time service during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, training soldiers who were deploying to these conflicts and deploying twice to Afghanistan himself. He retired from the Vermont Army National Guard in 2020 as a lieutenant colonel with more than 30 years of service.

Thane Spears is the Recruiting Operations Officer working for the Norwich U.S. Army ROTC program.

Contact Information
1-802.485.2479
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