LEARN LEADERSHIP FROM THE BEST
LTC David Sherck, Professor of Military Science
LTC Dave Sherck assumed duties as the Professor of Military Science at West Virginia
University in June of 2021 and brings more than two decades of military experience
to the program. He began his military career as an infantryman in the Florida
National Guard in 2002 before commissioning from Florida State University in
Armor in 2006. A career Cavalryman, LTC Sherck has served as a Tank and
Scout Platoon Leader, Tank Company Executive Officer, Cavalry Troop Commander,
and Cavalry Squadron Operations Officer. His most recent assignment was as
the Squadron Executive Officer for the newly formed 3rd Squadron, 5th Security
Force Assistance Brigade. LTC Sherck’s operational experience includes three
combat deployments to Iraq, hurricane relief operations in Florida, and a variety
of multinational and joint exercises. LTC Sherck holds a bachelor’s in History
from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Defense and Strategic
Studies from the Naval War College. His military education includes the Armor
Officer Basic Course and Career Courses, the Army Reconnaissance Course, Basic
Parachutist Course, the NATO Staff Officer Course, and the Security Forces
Assistance Advisor Course.
LTC Sherck is a Chicago native and the proud father of three daughters, Reese, Alice and Valerie, who he raises with his wife, Morgan, a registered nurse originally from Austin, Texas. In his free time, LTC Sherck enjoys watching hockey, exploring the outdoors with his family, and taking care of their numerous pets including Mountaineer Merlin. E-mail: david.sherck@mail.wvu.edu
MSG William O'Neal, Senior Military Science Instructor
MSG William O'Neal assumed responsibility as the Senior Military Science Instructor in Fall 2023. A native of nearby Mount Pleasant, Pa., he initially enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1996 as a Motor Transport Operator (88M), but transitioned to active duty on September 21st, 2000, earning the 19K MOS as an armored vehicle crewman at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he earned the Armored Vehicle Crewman MOS (19K).
His career has covered a number of armor assignments both stateside and overseas including: tank driver, tank gunner, tank commander (1-13 AR), observer-coach trainer (OC-T, 1-34 AR), platoon sergeant (DDHB, 1ID), battalion master gunner (1-64 AR), battalion operations OC-T (1 ABCT), brigade master gunner, culminating in two first sergeants billets (3-69 AR & 1-64 AR) before arriving in Morgantown.
MSG O'Neal has four combat deployments, three times to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, once to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and multiple deterrence deployments to Europe and Korea. MSG O'Neal's military education includes the Basic Airborne School, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Army Instructor Training Course, M1A2 SEP Tank Commander's Course, Combatives levels I, II, and III, Senior Leader Course, Abrams Master Gunner Course, Commander/First Sergeant Course, and the Master Leader Course. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Upper Iowa University and is a recipient of the Oder of St. George.
MSG O'Neal's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), the Combat Action Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge and the Master Gunner Identification Badge among several others. E-mail: william.oneal@mail.wvu.edu
CPT (P) Elaine Altman, Assistant Professor of Military Science
CPT Altman is the Lead MS I instructor and the S4/Sustainment Officer for the battalion. Born and raised in Pitman, Pennsylvania, she commissioned as a Transportation Officer from Virginia Tech where she graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a Minor in Leadership Studies through the Corps of Cadets. CPT Altman assessed onto active duty in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, where she served as the Distribution Platoon Leader for E/2-227 General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), 1st Air Cav for 14 months. She then served for 2 years as executive officer for E/227 Gray Eagle Company, 1st Air Cavalry Division, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. After completing Logistics Captains Career Course at Fort Lee, she was assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. There she served as the Battalion S4 for 12 months. She completed her key development assignment as the B/10 BSB Field Maintenance Company (FMC) Commander for 16 months before taking on the role of the S3/Operations officer for the battalion for 6 months before being reassigned to the Mountaineer Battalion. E-mail: elaine.altman@mail.wvu.edu
CPT Josh Crissey, APMS & Army National Guard Liaison
CPT Joshua Crissey is the Assistant Military Science Instructor for MS IVs and the S3/Operations Officer for the Mountaineer Battalion. He commissioned as an Armor Officer from West Virginia University with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology in August of 2017. He also earned an M.S. in Safety Management from WVU in Spring of 2019.
Following completion of Armor Basic Officer Leadership Course, CPT Crissey served as Scout Platoon Leader in the 1-150th Cavalry Squadron (WVANG) for 38 months during a deployment train-up cycle, National Training Center rotation, and deployment to Tower 22 along the Syrian DCZ in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Upon redeployment, CPT Crissey attended the Army Reconnaissance Course and entered the AGR program with the WVANG, serving as the 1-150th S4/Sustainment Officer for 18 months. He is married to Madison Crissey, a West Virginia University grad (2018), and a registered nurse at Ruby Memorial Hospital. E-mail: jjcrissey@mail.wvu.edu; Phone: (304) 293-7558
MAJ Andrew Pollick, Adjunct Professor of Military Science
MAJ Andrew Pollick is assigned to WVU as Adjunct Professor of Military Science through 4th Battalion, 413th Regiment, 104th Training Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky. He is an assistant instructor for the MS4s. MAJ Pollick joined the National Guard in 2008. After completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he completed Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort McClellan, Ala. During his 12 years of service, he has served as a platoon leader, operations officer and civil engineer before completing command of the 589th Engineer Det., in Kaiserslautern, Germany. MAJ Pollick earned a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education, both from WVU. A Bridgeport High School math teacher, he resides in Bridgeport with his wife, Francesca, and daughters, Scarlett and Ruby. E-mail: apollick@mail.wvu.edu
CPT Trevarious Taylor, Assistant Professor of Military Science
CPT Trevarious Taylor assumes joins the Mountaineer Battalion and assumes duties as the Liaison Officer to Fairmont State and Waynesburg Universities. He commissioned as a Quartermaster officer from Jackson State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice in May of 2015. CPT Taylor assessed onto active duty in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as the maintenance platoon leader for 602nd Support Maintenance Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. He then served as executive officer for the 62nd Quartermaster Company for 13 months before attending Logistics Captain Career Course at Fort Lee, Virginia. After completing Captains Career Course, CPT Taylor was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, where he went on to serve as the 25th Sustainment Brigade transportation officer, 25 DSTB S3 operations officer, and Golf Forward Support company commander for the 1-27 Infantry Battalion. E-mail: trevarious.taylor@mail.wvu.edu
CPT Catherine Castonguay, Assistant Professor of Military Science
CPT Catherine Castonguay is a native of Jay, Maine. She began her military career with the Vermont Army National Guard as a Motor Transport Operator in 2012 before commissioning as an Ordnance Officer through the Norwich University ROTC Program in 2016. She has earned a BA in Psychology and an MA in Transportation and Logistics Management. CPT Castonguay assessed onto active duty in the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, where she served as the maintenance platoon leader and maintenance control officer for two years in 1st Battalion 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). During that time, she deployed to Eastern Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. She then served as the battalion S4 for the 299th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), 2ABCT for one year before attending Logistics Captains Career Course at Fort Lee, Virginia. After completing Captains Career Course, CPT Castonguay was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, where she went on to serve 14 months as the 2BCT brigade S4 before serving 19 months as the B/210th BSB Field Maintenance Company (FMC) Commander. CPT Castonguay’s military education includes the Tactical Information Operations Planner Course and the MACP Basic Combatives Course. E-mail: catherine.castonguay@mail.wvu.edu
CPT Terrence J. Gifford, Assistant Professor of Military Science
CPT Gifford is an MSIV instructor for the Cadet BN Staff and the S3 Operations Officer for the Battalion. He commissioned as an Engineer Officer from Liberty University where he graduated with a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling as a Green to Gold Cadet. CPT Gifford enlisted into the Army in 2011 and commissioned in 2015. Since commissioning he served as a Vertical and Horizontal Platoon Leader, a Battalion and Division construction officer, Company XO, Assistant S3, and Company Commander for HHC 41st BEB, Fort Drum, NY. He lives in Morgantown with his wife, Racheal, and seven children. Email: terrence.gifford@mail.wvu.edu
CPT (P) Leon Geiger, Assistant Professor of Military Science
CPT (P) Leon Geiger assumed duties as an Assistant Professor of Military Science in Spring 2024. He commissioned onto active duty through ROTC at Lehigh University, Allentown, PA, and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Alvernia University in 2013 as an ROTC Scholarship recipient. Previously, He served as Platoon Leader, 139th MP Company; Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 546th MP Company, 385th MP BN, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Plans Officer (Forward) and Assistant S3, 3rd Group (CID), Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; and Plans Officer, 519th MP BN Company Commander, 258th Military Police Company, Fort Johnson, Louisiana. His deployments include Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with duty in Jordan and Afghanistan and as the Crisis Response Force at the Southwest Border of the United States. He also holds a master’s in leadership from Alvernia University and a master’s in business and organizational security management from Webster’s University. He lives in Morgantown with his wife, Caitlyn Floyd Geiger, and their three sons. E-mail: leon.geiger@mail.wvu.edu
SFC Lashifha Rogers, Military Science Instructor
SFC Lashifha Rogers is a native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, and has served on active duty for 14 years. She has served in multiple duty positions such as a Drill Sergeant, Postal NCO, Human Resource Sergeant NCOIC, and as an Executive Administrator. SFC Rogers deployed to Iraq (twice). She is currently performing duties as the MS1 Instructor. E-mail: lashifha.rogers@mail.wvu.edu
SFC John Skowyra, Military Science Instructor
SFC John Skowyra is a 20-year Army veteran and a native of Warren, Massachusetts. An Infantryman, SFC Skowyra has served with the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as well as serving on detailed recruiting and drill sergeant assignments. He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2005 through March 2006 and January 2007 through March 2008, as well as deploying to Tunisia as a member of Task Force Currahee from September 2019 through March 2020.
SFC Skowyra’s awards and badges include the Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Rated Jumpmaster Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge and Recruiter Badge among others. He is a graduate of the Senior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, and Warrior Leaders Course. SFC Skowyra earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Post University in 2018. He has been married to his wife Kendra since 2012. E-mail: john.skowyra@mail.wvu.edu
John Dowling, Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO)
John Dowling brings more than 38 years of military experience to the position as the Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO) where he has served since 2013. He is responsible for all facets of recruiting, enrollment-scholarship processing, and mission set management. A product of the Mountaineer Battalion and a 1989 West Virginia University graduate, Mr. Dowling retired as a colonel from the Army Reserve in 2018. Mr. Dowling has commanded units at the company and battalion level and has served as a primary, special and personal staff officer. He has been mobilized four times for contingency operations including overseas deployments to Bosnia (SFOR 12) and Kuwait (2012-13). Mr. Dowling earned a Master of Public Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University .
Office: (304) 293-7546
Cell: (304) 894-6641
Email:
armyrotc@mail.wvu.edu
Chris Kinney, Senior Military Science Instructor
Sean Ruth, Military Science Instructor
Charlotte Marbury, Administrative Secretary
Charlotte Marbury has more than 25 years of experience as a WVU employee
assigned to the Mountaineer Battalion. She plans and coordinates all special
events such as commissioning and award ceremonies. She also works closely with
the potential Cadets in scheduling DODMERB physicals and follow-up appointments.
Office: 304-293-7579
E-mail: charlotte.marbury@mail.wvu.edu
Henry Sherman, Human Resources Assistant (HRA)
Henry Sherman brings more than 25 years of military experience to the program as a Human Resources Assistant. During his time in the Army, Mr. Sherman served as an Infantry Team Leader, Squad Leader, Recruiter, Recruiting Station Commander, Operations NCO, and Guidance Counselor. Mr. Sherman was deployed two times while serving, combat deployment to Iraq, and a humanitarian deployment to Haiti. His military education includes the Primary, Basic, and Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course, the Army Recruiting Course, the Recruiting Station Commanders Course, and the Guidance Counselors Course.Mr. Sherman’s past military assignments include Fort Bragg (82nd ABN Div), Fort Polk (JRTC), Fort Carson (4th IN Div), recruiting duties in New England, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg (Pa.- Operations NCO), Fresno, (CA - Guidance Counselor), and Atlanta Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). His military awards include: Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Wings (68 jumps), Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Army Accommodation Medal (5 awards) & the Army Achievement Medal (7 awards). He is a WVU graduate and is currently working on a Masters in Corporate and Organizational Communications.
Office: 304-293-7561
E-mail: henry.sherman@mail.wvu.edu
John Gulledge, Human Resources Assistant (HRA)
John Gulledge joined the Mountaineer Battalion in Spring 2020 as a Human Resources Assistant. He is a native of West Virginia and previously served as an administrative military technician in the Army Reserve. Mr. Gulledge has a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in sociology. He currently serves as a logistics officer (major) in the Army Reserve. A graduate of the Army Logistics University Captains Career, Mr. Gulledge deployed to Iraq in 2003 and Kuwait in 2022.
Schuyler Humphrey, Logistics Technician (Logtech)
Schuyler Humphrey comes to the Mountaineer Battalion from the National Park Service where he had served for two years in the maintenance department. He is a native of Fairmont, WV, and brings 10 years of military experience to the program having served in the United States Marine Corps as a supply technician. During his time in the Marine Corps, Mr. Humphrey was assigned to the Combat Service Support Detachment 36 (CSSD-36) in Iwakuni, Japan, as a supply tech, Headquarters Battalion (HQBN) 2nd Marine Division G-4 at Camp Lejeune, NC, and the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy (SNCO Academy) at Camp Geiger, NC, as the Supply Chief. Mr. Humphrey was deployed two times for Operation Tandem Thrust - the premiere U.S.-Australia training exercise - in Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, and a combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005.
E-mail: schuyler.humphrey@mail.wvu.edu