Green & Gold News

STUDENTS Kenneth Bracewell

My highest rank was a E-4/ Specialist Promotable. My job in the U.S. Army was Infantry for four years. I served in Ft. Benning, Georgia, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, and one combat tour in Iraq for one year. Currently, I am a student at UAA.

Anthony Carrington

I served as a specialist in the U.S. Army, doing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, I am a Business Management and Automotive Service Technician student. (2011)

Joshua Courson 

Joshua Courson served as an AM2/ES in the U.S. Navy. Today, he is a second year Accounting student. (2010)

 Sean Eichrodt

I was stationed at Fort Wainwright and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice — once with 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and once with 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. I am currently a junior at UAA. (2011)
 

Fabrice Evengue

Fabrice Evengue served in the U.S. Navy as a PO3 (SW). Today he is a Human Services major at UAA.(2010)

Land Hayward

Land Hayward served in the U.S. Army, E-4, Charlie Co., 1/501st PIR. This photograph was taken in Thailand during his days as a paratrooper. Today he is pursuing his bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus in Management. (2010)

Esdras Jean

I served as a Specialist in the Army 2/377 PFAR 425th IN, Fort Richardson Alaska. Our unit was the very first airborne artillery. I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006-07, extending for 14-month long deployment. This photo symbolizes how much interaction we had with the Iraqi civilan population.  Currently, I am an officer in the Student Veterans of UAA, and pursuing a career and degree in Air Traffic Controller, Aviation Technology.  (2011)

Caleb Jordan

I served six years active duty in the following locations:

• Elmendorf AFB, Alaska-703rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (2006-2009)
• Cheyenne, Wyoming-30th Airlift Squadron (2009-2011)
• Deployment to Ramstein AFB, Germany (2009)
• Deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan (2010)

I am currently a freshman majoring in professional piloting here at UAA. (2011)

Michael Kocher

Michael Kocher served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Corporal. In this photo, he is pictured in the Iraqi town where he was stationed during his deployment. Michael didn’t send in his current status, but we will update this if we hear from him. (2010)

 Terry Nuss

Terry Nuss served as a Lance Corporal (E-3) Infantry SAW Gunner with the U.S. Marine Corps in al-Anbar Province, Iraq. Today he is attending UAA full-time, majoring in Language and Psychology.(2010)

Katherine Josephine Pavia

Katherine Josephine Pavia served in the U.S. Air Force from 1990-99, with four tours for Operation Desert Storm (three tours from Langley Air Force Base in VA and one from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in NC.) She also served a remote tour to Keflavik, Iceland in 1994-94. Today she is a student at UAA. (2010)

 Shana Roberson

Shana Roberson served in the U.S. Air Force for six years as a Staff Sergeant. Today she and her husband, Chris Roberson, attend UAA as students. In 2011, Shana became the Executive Editor of The Northern Light, the UAA award-winning student newspaper. (2010)

Chris Roberson

Chris Roberson served as a (T) Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, on active duty for 10 years. Today, he is a student at UAA, along with his wife, Shana Roberson. (2010)

Andrya Silberman

Andrya Silberman served three years as a Public Affairs Specialist-Journalist. In the photo above from her deployment last year in Afghanistan, she is posed with two Afghan border policemen after conducting an air assault. Today, she is attending UAA to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Graphic Design.(2010)

 James Scott

 
James Scott completed six years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force and is now in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, serving as an Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) supporting the F22 Raptor. He is attending UAA full-time, pursuing an AAS in Telecommunications, Electronics and Technology. He wrote: “Thank you for inviting me to be in your publication. I think this is a great way to introduce veterans in a very military-friendly community.” (2010)

 Stephen Spencer

Stephen Spencer served in the U.S. Air Force as a Master Sergeant. In this photo, he was compiling a daily report after a long day of providing dental treatment in Selawik during his last Arctic Care Mission in November of 2008. He is retired now and attending UAA as a Dental Hygiene student in the Class of 2011. He wrote: “My thanks to UAA for all the campus does to support our Vets!” (2010)

Mark Southwick

Mark Southwick served in the U.S. Navy. He’s pictured here in 1981. Today he serves UAA in Facilities & Campus Services.(2010)

Nichole Tovar

I’m an Army Medic/LPN. I served on active duty from 2002-2006 and was deployed once to Iraq in 2004. This photo is from 2004 when I was serving as a nurse in Iraq. I will have my associate degree in culinary arts this December, and am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Management. Nichole is currently serving as the president of Student Veterans of UAA. She gave this interview on her ambitions for this organization in summer, 2011. (2011)

Brock Tucker

My name is Brock Tucker and I served as a Sgt. in the Airborne Infantry of the U.S Army at Ft. Richardson, Alaska and Fort Benning, Georgia — with combat deployments to the Middle East as part of the Global War on Terror. I am a sophomore and full time psychology major at UAA. I am the president of UAA’s chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology. (2011)
 

STAFFTom Case

Tom Case retired from the Air Force as a 3-star Lt. General. A 1969 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Tom began his 33-year military career flying in Vietnam, served at the Pentagon, and was  selected as the first Air Force Chief of Staff Chair on the faculty of the National War College. He eventually went on to command two fighter wings, a numbered air force and Alaskan Command. He also served as deputy commander and chief of staff for the United States’ two largest geographic joint combatant commands.

Today he serves UAA as its Chancellor. 

Pete Garcia

Pete Garcia is pictured here as a member of the U.S. Army in 1980. Today he serves UAA as a member of Facilities & Campus Services. (2011)

 John Godsey

John Godsey provided this photograph from U.S. Navy boot camp in 1973. Today he works in Facilities as an HVAC CT-2, and has been there for three and a half years. He wrote, “Thanks for letting me share.” (2010)

Jeanette D. Gonzalez

Jeanette D. Gonzalez is a retired Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Currently she serves UAA in the Computer Information & Office Systems as an instructional research lab technician. (2010)

Kim Heidemann

Kim Heidemann is a Petty Officer 1st Class in the Navy Reserve. She was on active duty in Iraq from October 2007 though through March 2009. She is pictured here shaking the hand of Sen. John McCain. Today she serves UAA as an administrative secretary in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and she is also a student in the fire sciences program. (2010)

Bill Howell

Bill Howell served in the U.S. Navy as a Commander (O-5). He retired in 2004. Currently he serves as the Director of Student Services at Kenai Peninsula College. This photo was taken in Norfolk, VA in 1990.(2010)

 Suzan (Fisher) Farris

Suzan (Fisher) Farris served in the U.S. Air Force, E-1 to E-4, and from E-4 to E-6 in the Alaska Air National Guard. Today she serves UAA as an administrative assistant in the Department of Biology. (2010)

Mike and George Halko

Mike Halko served in the U.S. Army as a Captain from 1978-92. He submitted a photograph of his father, George Halko, above, to pay tribute to his military service as well. Click on the photo to see a present-day photograph of Mike Halko, who serves UAA as Director of Environmental Health Safety/Risk Management. (2010)

Marvell Johnson

 I served in the U.S. Army for eight years with the 4th Infantry Division (Rank Sgt.) Today, I am a Custodial Supervisor /Contract Inspector in the Department of Facilities and Campus Services.

Mel Kalkowski

Mel Kalkowski served in the U.S. Army as a Broadcast Specialist from 1967-70. Today he serves UAA as Director of Military Programs UAA/CTC. (2010)

Terry Muehlenbach

I served in the U.S. Navy from 1966-69 as a Photographer’s Mate and frogman (rank E-5) with Underwater Demolition Team Twelve, completing two tours in Vietnam and on the Apollo Eleven Recovery Team. In 1977, I earned a B.A. in Art at UAA and have worked there for the past 34 years. Currently I work as a Media Technician at the UAA Learning Resources Center. This photo was taken in December 1967 in Okinawa, Japan.
 

Ken Schultz

I am an U.S. Army E-7, retired. I served at Fort Knox, KY; Schofield Barracks, HI; Fort Rucker, AL; Camp Zama, Japan; Fort Hood, TX; Fort Belvoir, VA; Fort Jackson, SC; Camp Humphreys, Korea; Fort Richardson, AK. 

I am an administrative assistant in the School of Social Work, and also a student. This photo of me while I was on active duty was taken in 1991. On my lap is son Kyle, now serving in the Army stationed at Fort Rich. (2011)

 Bill Spindle and his daughter, Jennifer

Bill Spindle is pictured here with his daughter, Jennifer, when she graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1996. Bill served as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force with 25 years of service. He describes this as “my favorite photo.” Today, Bill Spindle serves UAA as Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. (2010)

Stephen L. Strom

I retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 2006, serving 21 years as a transportation and logistics officer.  Prior to my retirement, I served as the AFROTC detachment commander and professor of aerospace studies at UAA. Today, I serve as an associate dean in the UAA Community & Technical College. (2011)
 
 
 

 EG Sutton

EG Sutton served in the U.S. Marine Corps; this photo was taken in 1968. Today he works in Facilities & Campus Services at UAA. (2010)

Sherry Trumpower

Sherry Trumpower is pictured here in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1982. Today she serves UAA in Facilities & Campus Services.(2010)

Chris Turletes

Chris Turletes served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, Engineer (Airborne, Ranger) from 1977 through 2003. Today, he serves UAA as Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities & Campus Services. (2010)

Gary Turner

Gary J. Turner retired from the U.S. Air Force as a captain in 1994. He began his career as an enlisted public affairs specialist and was chosen as One of the Twelve Outstanding Airmen for the Year in 1982 from more than 500,000 enlisted personnel. He served at the U.S. Air Force Survival School, NORAD, U.S. Space Command, in Belgium, U.S. Air Force Academy and Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. He has been the director of Kenai Peninsula College since 2002. (2011)

Shane York

Shane York is pictured here in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1982. Today he serves UAA as a member of Facilities & Campus Services.(2010)

FACULTY

Rocky Capozzi

Rocky Capozzi served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. This photo is from 1992. Today, he serves UAA as the Director of the Aviation Technology Division. (2010)

George Charles

George Charles is pictured here on the Mekong Delta in a landing craft. He served as a Petty Officer Third Class, U.S. Naval Support Detachment, Electronics Technician. Today, after achieving his Ph.D., Dr. Charles is the Director of the National Resource Center for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Elders in the College of Health and Social Welfare at UAA. (2010)

Darlene Gill 

Darlene Gill served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years. She retired in September 2003 and began working at UAA the same month. She started teaching in the Computer Information & Office Systems in the fall of 2005. Today she is an assistant professor. (2010)

Ron McGee

Captain Ron McGee shaking hands with First Lady Barbara Bush, circa 1989. Ron retired as a Major from the Air Force and now serves UAA as an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism & Public Communication. (2010)

 Bill Swears

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Swears served as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S.Coast Guard, retiring in 2004. He broke his back in a ditching incident in November 2003, so took his English degree through Vocational Rehab. He currently teach PRPE A108 and tutors in the writing center. Shortly he will be putting his UAA MA in English to use as a technical writer and editor for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulatory Enforcement. (2010)

 

 

Tom Skore

 

Tom Skore served in NORAD (North American Air Defense Command)  in the early 1970s, rank E4. He has no photographs from his time in the service almost 40 years ago. Today, he serves UAA as a professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance. (2010)