LtCol Mark Benz
AFROTC Detachment 195 Commander
Professor of Aerospace Studies
Lieutenant
Colonel Mark R. Benz is the Commander of Detachment 195, Air Force Reserve
Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), Illinois Institute of Technology in
Chicago, Illinois. Detachment 195 is the only AFROTC Detachment
in the greater Chicago area, serving cadets from 17 different colleges
and universities. Prior to this assignment, he served in various
wing staff positions with the 5th Bomb Wing from where he
also deployed for combat missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lieutenant Colonel Benz was commissioned in May 1986 via the AFROTC program. He is a Command Pilot with just under 4,000 total flight hours, flown primarily in the B-52. He is also a Joint Service Officer, having served in staff positions in the joint and headquarters level.
EDUCATION
1986 Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
1992 Master of Arts Degree in History, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA
1993 Squadron Officers? School, Maxwell AFB, AL
1998 Air Command and Staff College, Seminar
2000 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2003 Air War College, Seminar
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1986 - February 1988, Student Pilot, 82nd Training Squadron, Williams AFB, AZ
2. February 1988 - June 1988, Student Pilot, 329th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Castle AFB, CA
3. June 1988 - June 1994, B-52 Pilot/Instructor Pilot, 325th Bomb Squadron, Fairchild AFB, WA
4. June 1994 - March 1997, Academic/Flightline Instructor Pilot, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
5. March 1997 - September 1998, Flight Commander, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
6. September 1998 - April 2000, Flight Commander, 2nd Operational Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
7. April 2000 - June 2000, Student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
8. June 2000 - August 2003, Staff Officer, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE
9. August 2003 - August 2005, Chief of Nuclear Plans and Exercises, Minot AFB, ND
10. August 2005 - January 2006, Chief of Wing Plans and Exercises, Minot AFB, ND
11. January 2006 - July 2006, Director of Staff, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, ND
12. July 2006 - Present, Commander, Detachment 195, AFROTC, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES
Second Lieutenant August 8, 1986
First Lieutenant August 8, 1988
Captain August 8, 1990
Major May 1, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel November
1, 2002
(As of Aug 06)
Maj Charles Morgan
Unit Education Officer
Major
Charles Morgan is the Unit Education Officer and an Assistant Professor of
Aerospace Studies at Detachment 195, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
(AFROTC), Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois. Detachment 195
is responsible for educating, training, and commissioning officer candidates and
is the only AFROTC Detachment in the greater Chicago area; serving cadets from
17 different colleges and universities.
Major Morgan was commissioned in May 1997 via the AFROTC program upon graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and History. He is an Air Force meteorologist and prior to his present assignment he was the Weather Flight Commander for the 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
EDUCATION
1995 Associates of Applied Science Degree in Weather Technology, CCAF
1997 Bachelor of Science Degree, University of Mary Hardin - Baylor
2004 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1997 ? July 1999, OIC, Combat Weather Team, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Carson, Colorado
2. July 1999 ? July 2002, Assistant Flight Commander, Weather, 18th Operations Support Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
3. July 2002 ? July 2005, Flight Commander, 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
4. July 2005 - Present,
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Detachment 195, AFROTC, Illinois
Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES
Second Lieutenant May 24, 1997
First Lieutenant July 1, 1999
Captain July 1, 2001
Major April 1, 2007
(As of Jun 08)
Capt Ivan Acosta
Commandant of Cadets
Captain Ivan Acosta is the Commandant
of Cadets and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Detachment
195, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), Illinois Institute of
Technology in Chicago, Illinois. Detachment 195 is responsible for educating,
training, and commissioning officer candidates and is the only AFROTC Detachment
in the greater Chicago area; serving cadets from 17 different colleges and
universities.
Captain Acosta was commissioned in May 1999 via the AFROTC program upon graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He is acquisition officer and prior to his present assignment he was the chief of satellite program missions at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
1999 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2001 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, Edwards AFB, CA
2004 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1999 - January 2001, Development Engineer and Solar Thermal Propulsion Project Manager, Space and Mission Propulsion Division, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA
2. January 2001 - August 2002, Squadron Section Commander and Executive Officer, Detachment 7 and Propulsion Directorate West, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA
3. August 2002 - July 2003, Education With Industry Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, United Space Alliance, Kennedy Space Center, FL
4. July 2003 - January 2004, Spacecraft Flight Commander, 1st Space Launch Squadron, 45th Operations Group, 45th Space Wing, Cape Canaveral AFS, FL
5. January 2004 - October 2005, GPS IIR/IIRM Field Program Manager, 1st Space Launch Squadron, 45th Launch Group, 45th Space Wing, Cape Canaveral AFS, FL
6. October 2005 - May 2006, Chief, Current Satellite Missions, 45th Launch Support Squadron, 45th Launch Group, 45th Space Wing, Cape Canaveral AFS, FL
7. May 2006 - Present, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Detachment 195, AFROTC, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with one bronze star
EFFECTIVE DATES
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
(As of Jun 08)
Capt James Hunt
Unit Admissions Officer
Captain James Hunt is the Unit
Admissions Officer and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Detachment
195, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), Illinois Institute of
Technology in Chicago, Illinois. Detachment 195 is responsible for educating,
training, and commissioning officer candidates and is the only AFROTC Detachment
in the greater Chicago area; serving cadets from 17 different colleges and
universities.
Captain Hunt was commissioned in May 2002 via the AFROTC program upon graduation with a Bachelor of the Arts in History/Political Science. He is a services officer and prior to his present assignment he was officer-in-charge, plans and readiness at Holloman Air Force Base, NM.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of the Arts Degree in History/Political Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
2008 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2002 - October 2002, ADD Lieutenant, Detachment 485, AFROTC, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
2. October 2002 - April 2003, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, TX
3. April 2003 - July 2006, Officer-in-Charge, Plans and Readiness, 49th Services Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
4. July 2006 - Present, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Detachment 195, AFROTC, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
(As of Jun 08)
