Faculty and Staff

Commander
Aerospace Studies

Assistant Professor
Aerospace Studies

Technical Sergeant
Aerospace Studies

Major Susan Frank is currently the Assistant Director of Operations of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 880 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Her responsibilities include instructing, developing, and mentoring students to become quality leaders for the United States Air Force.

Major Frank entered the Air Force in 2007 after graduating from Virginia Tech at Blacksburg, Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication.  A career Logistics Readiness Officer, she has led Airmen primarily at the squadron level, as well as served in logistics staff positions on two separate deployments.  Prior to her current position, she was the Director of Operations at the 919th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron at Duke Field, Florida.

EDUCATION

• 2007 Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
• 2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
• 2011 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
• 2012 Master of Science degree in Public Administration, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida

ASSIGNMENTS

1. May 2008 - May 2009, Officer-in-Charge, Fuels Operations & Fuels Information Service Center, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
2. May 2009 - October 2010, Flight Commander, Materiel Management, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
3. October 2010 - May 2011, Deputy Director, Maintenance and Logistics (J4), Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component
4. June 2011 - April 2012, Executive Officer, 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida
5. April 2012 - September 2012, Officer-in-Charge, Operations and Compliance, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
6. October 2012 - August 2014, Flight Commander, Materiel Management, 919th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Duke Field, Florida
7. September 2014 - July 2016, Director of Operations, 919th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Duke Field, Florida
8. August 2016 - present, Assistant Director of Operations, Air Force ROTC Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
• Humanitarian Service Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

• Second Lieutenant July 17, 2007
• First Lieutenant July 17, 2009
• Captain July 17, 2011
• Major July 17, 2016

(Current as of September 2016)

Assistant Director of Operations
Aerospace Studies

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Kusek is the Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies assigned to Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.  In this capacity, he is responsible to recruit, train and develop high-quality cadets into officers for the US Air Force from a cadet wing comprised of approximately 300 members.   Lt. Col. Kusek is a Reserve Officer with 21 years of varying experiences in four separate career specialties to include: instruction; aircraft maintenance; munitions maintenance; and acquisitions.

Lt. Col. Kusek received his commission in May 1995 from AFROTC Detachment 207 at Parks College of St. Louis University.  His assignments include a breadth of both aircraft and munitions maintenance roles through the squadron commander and deputy group commander level.  Additionally, Lt. Col. Kusek deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia to make munitions preparations for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  Furthermore, he deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as the Deputy Intelligence Director for Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay.  Upon separation from active duty in 2008 Lt. Col. Kusek served as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) as a member of the USAF Reserves while working for Honeywell Aerospace as a quality and production manager.  He accepted a limited return to active duty for his current position.

EDUCATION

• 1995, Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, Parks College of St. Louis University, MO
• 2001, Air Force Squadron Officers School (in-residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
• 2007, Master of Arts, Human Resources Management, Webster University, St. Louis, MO
• 2012, Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 

ASSIGNMENTS

1. July 1995 – May 1997, Logistics Manager, Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, NM
2. May 1997 – June 1998, Assistant Munitions Accountable Systems Officer, subsequently, Munitions Accountable System Officer, 898th Munition Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM
3. June 1998 – April 2001, Flight Commander, Special Activities and Emergency Action Controller, 852nd Munitions Support Squadron, Buechel AB, Germany
4. May 2001 – January 2003, Flight Commander Systems flight, subsequently, Flight Commander Materiel Flight, 18th Munitions Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
5. January 2003 – February 2004, Officer-in-Charge, 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kadena AB Japan.
6. February 2004 – February 2006, Program Manager, Laser-Guided Munitions, Munitions Directorate, Hill AFB, UT.
7. February 2006 – May 2007, Operations Officer, Munitions Sustainment Group, Hill AFB, UT
8. May 2007 - January 2008, Commander, 18th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
9. January 2008 – September 2010, IMA Operations Officer, Munitions Division, Hill AB, UT
10. September 2010 – September 2013, Education Flight Commander, subsequently Recruiting Flight Commander, subsequently, Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 025, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
11. September 2013 – May 2014, IMA Nuclear Surety Program Manager, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, NM.
12. May 2014 – Jul 2016, IMA Deputy Commander, 319th  Missile Maintenance Group, Hill AFB, UT
13. August 2016 – Present, Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force Reserve Operations Training Corps Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

• Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
• Air Force Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

• Second Lieutenant - 19 May 1995
• First Lieutenant - 17 June 1997
• Captain - 17 June 1999
• Major - 1 November 2005
• Lieutenant Colonel - 1 November 2012

(Current as of April 2017)

Capt. Juan Mayssonet serves as Education Flight Commander and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 880 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.  His responsibilities include instructing, developing, and mentoring 197 cadets to become quality leaders for the United States Air Force.

Capt. Mayssonet attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. where he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering upon graduating in 2005. Following his commissioning through Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala., Capt. Mayssonet began his Air Force career at Los Angeles Air Force Base in 2007.

During that time, Capt. Mayssonet performed duties supporting the Defense Weather Systems Directorate as the Integration and Test Project Engineer, where he led a 50 person government and contractor team in the parallel processing of two $450M weather satellites. Prior to his current position, the Captain served as Executive Officer, 53d Electronic Warfare Group, 53d Wing, Air Combat Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida where he led Group Command Section daily operations recommending and coordinating actions for the mission of electronic warfare support to F-35, F-22, B-2 aircraft and 24 allied nations.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

• 2006     Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.
• 2008     Fundamentals of Systems Acquisition Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio
• 2008     Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
• 2009     Officer Space Prerequisite Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
• 2011     Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa.
• 2013     Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS/DUTY HISTORY

1. October 2007 – June 2010, Project Engineer, Defense Meteorological Satellite Squadron, Los Angeles Air Force Base (AFB), California
2. June 2010 – March 2011, Lead System Engineer, Defense Weather Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, California
3. March 2011 – November 2011, Executive Officer, Defense Weather Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, California
4. November 2011 – March 2012, CSAR Branch Chief, 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida
5. March 2012 – November 2013, RWR Branch Chief, 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida
6. November 2013 – September 2014, Conventional Systems Flight Commander, 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida
7. September 2014 – June 2015, Advanced Systems Flight Commander, 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida
8. June 2015 – June 2016, Executive Officer, 53d Electronic Warfare Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
9. June 2015 – Present, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

• Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
• Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
• Major General Jeanne Holmes Briefing Excellence Award

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

• Second Lieutenant              21 September 2007
• First Lieutenant                    21 September 2009
• Captain                                 21 September 2011

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

• Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering Systems, Level II
• Test & Evaluation, Level II
• Program Management, Level I
• (Current as of September 2016)

Assistant Professor
Aerospace Studies

Captain Patrick Newton is currently the Recruiting Flight Commander and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 880 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.  His responsibilities include instructing, developing, and mentoring cadets to become quality leaders for the United States Air Force.

Captain Newton entered the Air Force in 1999 after graduating from Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland.  He has deployed in direct support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.  Prior to commissioning as a Developmental Engineer in 2012, he was a career aircraft maintainer with one special-duty tour as an Enlisted Accessions Recruiter.

Prior to his current position, he was a Test Manager the Central Inertial and GPS Test Facility (CIGTF) at Holloman AFB, New Mexico.  During that time, Capt Newton was directly responsible for 10 test programs spanning 450 hours and a $2.4M test budget.  He drove a GPS-denied, environmental evaluation of the $15M Small Diameter Bomb upgrade as well as a validation effort for the Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile guidance system upgrade.  Additionally, the Captain planned, provisioned and executed the first successful test of a GPS jammer locator into a live target for the $45M Joint Direct Attack Munition program, supporting a $60M acquisition decision.  His culminating achievement was the rapid field testing and deployment of a CENTCOM-directed counter Unmanned Aerial Surveillance system.

EDUCATION

• 1999 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
• 2003 Airman Leadership School, Barksdale AFB, LA
• 2004 Air Force Recruiting School, Lackland AFB, TX
• 2012 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, College Park, MD
• 2012 Basic Officer Training, Maxwell AFB, AL

ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 1999 - May 2004, B-52H Crew Chief, Phase Inspection Team Member, 2nd Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
2. May 2004 - May 2008, Enlisted Accessions Recruiter, 344th Recruiting Squadron, Lewisville, TX

Assistant Professor
Aerospace Studies

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Jay Thompson is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies assigned to Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA.  He received his commission as a Distinguished Graduate in May 1986 from Virginia Military Institute and retired in 2006 with experience in the missile operations and security forces career fields. Upon retirement, he taught Air Force Junior ROTC for ten years in Lynchburg City Schools and Roanoke County Schools before accepting his current assignment with VMI Air Force ROTC in 2018.  

 EDUCATION

1986, Bachelor of Arts in Economics and German, Virginia Military Institute
1989, Master of Science in Management, Troy State University
1990, Squadron Officer School (residence), Maxwell Air Force Base
1998, Air Command and Staff College (seminar program)
2001, Marine Corps Command and Staff College (nonresident program)
2005, Air War College (nonresident program)
2015, Master of Public Administration, James Madison University
2017, Master of Education, James Madison University

ASSIGNMENTS

• Jan 1987 – Feb 1988, Ground Launch Cruise Missile Officer/Instructor, 302d Tactical Missile Squadron/487th Tactical Missile Wing, Comiso AS, Sicily
• Feb 1988 – May 1990, Ground Launch Cruise Missile Crew Commander/EA Instructor, 11th Tactical Missile squadron/501st Tactical Missile Wing, RAF Greenham Common, United Kingdom
• May 1990 – August 1992, Minuteman II Combat Crew Commander, 67th Strategic Missile Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD
• August 1992 -- June 1994, Red Flag Executive Officer, 414th Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
• Jul 1994 – May 1997, Security Forces Operations Officer, 742d Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
• June 1997 – June 1999, Operations Officer, 3rd Security Forces Squadron,    Elmendorf AFB, AK
• June 1999 – June 2001, Security Forces Inspector, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, HI
• July 2001 – April 2003, Commander, 11th Security Forces Squadron, Bolling AFB, DC
• April 2003 -- May 2005, Complaints Resolution Officer, Air Force Inspector General, Pentagon, DC
• June 2005 – August 2006 – Commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 128, University of Delaware, DE

Assistant Professor
Army ROTC

Staff Sergeant Alisha Wyche, NCOIC Personnel, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA. Her responsibilities include managing personnel records and knowledge operations management for ten Cadre members and 230 AFROTC cadets. She also monitors and updates all cadet pay actions: tuition/fees, subsistence and textbook funds.

Staff Sergeant Wyche enlisted in the Air Force in January 2006 as a Personnel Apprentice, and was initially assigned to the 9th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Beale AFB, CA, where she worked on the Commanders Support Staff. She was later assigned to the 9th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Section. At which time she worked in Formal Training, Relocations, Retirements and Separations, Customer Support, Casualty Assistant Representative, and Force Management. During her time at Beale, she was selected for two deployments. The first was to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in 2010. While deployed she worked on the Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO) team. As part of the PERSCO team she was responsible for processing Emergency Leave, Deployment accountability, EPR /OPR tracking, Reenlistment and Extension coordination with the home station bases, and Casualty reporting. In 2012, she was deployed to United Arab Emirates where she was again assigned to PERSCO duties. While in the UAE she revamped the personal accountability process, processed ID cards for military and civilian employees, and assisted in the mass base in and out processing briefings.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. May 2006 – Dec 2013, Career Development Journeyman, 9th Force Support Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
2. Dec 2013 - Present, NCOIC Personnel, AFROTC Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award
AF Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Medal
Air Force expeditionary service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity service
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon
NATO Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Airman Basic 3 January 2006
Airman 3 July 2006
Airman First Class 3 May 2007
Senior Airman 3 January 2009
Staff Sergeant 1 September 2013

(Current as of March 2015)

Personnel Management
Aerospace Studies