Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC Samantha Ross

Professor of Military Science

Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Ross is a native of Seattle, Washington.  She was assigned as the Professor of Military Science and Leadership at Siena College in December 2010.

LTC Ross began her Army career as an enlisted soldier in 1989, serving three years in the Army Reserves as a Transportation Coordinator.  Upon graduating from the University of Washington in 1992, in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, she was commissioned as an Engineer.  She is a graduate of Basic and Advanced Individual Training, the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Command and General Staff College.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree from Chapman University in Psychology.  She is a certified marriage and family therapist in the state of New York and a National Board Certified Counselor. 

Her most recent assignment was a combat deployment to Afghanistan, serving as the Deputy Commander for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan Engineer District -  South, located in Kandahar Province.  Previous assignments have taken her all over the globe and include serving as Platoon Leader, Assistant and Primary Battalion S4 and Company Executive Officer in the 94th Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy), Hohenfels and Vilseck, Germany; Executive Officer, 82nd Combat Support Equipment Company at Camp Edwards, Korea; Battalion S-1 and HHC Commander, 14th Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Wheel) and Observer Controller Team Chief for the 3/364th Training Support Battalion (Engineer) at Ft. Lewis; Instructor and Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership and Special Assistant to the Commandant for Human Relations at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point and Deputy Area Engineer for West Point operations, District S3 and Special Projects Officer for the New York District, United States Army Corps of Engineers. 

Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with one oak leaf cluster) and the Parachutist badge.  She is also a recipient of the Army Engineer Association’s Bronze de Fleury medal.

CPT Rick Powell

Recruiting Operations Officer / Assistant Professor of Military Science

Captain Richard Powell is currently serving as Commander of the 727th Military Police Detachment Law and Order for the New York Army National Guard.

CPT Powell received his commission in 2004 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Siena College. After graduating from the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in 2004, he was assigned as the Company Fire Support Officer for Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum, NY. After serving two years as the Company FSO, he transitioned to the Battalion Targeting officer as a First Lieutenant. During his 16 month deployment to Afghanistan, CPT Powell served as the FSO for Headquarters, Headquarters Company and as the Provincial Coordination Center, Kunar Province, Officer in Charge. Upon completion of his deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, he transferred to the Field Artillery School in Ft. Sill, OK as a Fire Support Instructor for the Basic Officer Leadership Course, instructing one class as the Senior Fire Support Instructor of the Field Artillery School. In May 2009, CPT Powell then transitioned to the New York Army National Guard as a Military Police officer in the 104th Military Police Battalion. In order to further his military education, he completed the MP Captains Career Course at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO in 2010 and served as the Area Security Officer from May 2009 until February 2010.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, the International Security Assistance Force Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Meritorious Unit Citation. CPT Powell has been married to his wife Lauren Powell for five years and has two children Grace Elizabeth Powell and Richard William Powell III, currently residing in Albany, NY.

MSG Richard Larson

Senior Military Science Instructor

Master Sergeant Larson has been the Senior Military Science Instructor at Siena College since JUN 2009.

MSG Larson was born in Connecticut and raised predominantly on Cape Cod, Massachusetts where he graduated from high school in 1988.  He entered the U.S. Army later that year when he attended Basic Training and 13F Fire Support Specialist training at Ft. Sill, OK.

MSG Larson was then assigned to Ft. Lewis, WA where he served for almost three years. He then ETSd from the Army for a period of 2 ½ years, serving temporarily in an Army Reserves Drill Sergeant Unit, and then in the Massachusetts National Guard.  He re-entered the Active Army in 1994 and was assigned to Ft. Campbell, KY.  Follow on assignments include Camp Casey, Korea; Heidelberg and Babenhausen, Germany; and Ft. Carson, CO before being assigned to Siena College.

MSG Larson has served in many leadership positions throughout his career.  He has served as a Forward Observer; Fire Support Sergeant at Company, Battlalion, and Brigade levels; Warrior Leader’s Course Instructor; Operations Sergeant for the 101st NCO Academy; Operations Sergeant for the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and the V Corps Artillery Fire and Effects Coordination Cells; and as a First Sergeant for three separate units. He deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom on four different occasions; two as a Battery First Sergeant and two as an Operations Sergeant.

MSG Larson graduated as the Distinguished Honor Graduate or with Honors from all levels of NCOES through to the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, the Battle Staff NCO Course, and the First Sergeant’s Course. His civilian education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences from Thomas Edison State College.

MSG Larson’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2-OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (2-OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (5-OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (5-OLC), the Good Conduct Medal (6th award), the National Defense Service Medal (1 bronze star), the Iraqi Campaign Medal (4- bronze stars), the Global War on Terrorism-Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism-Support Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (numeral-3), the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (numeral-5). He is also awarded the Air Assault and Airborne Badges. Additionally, MSG Larson is a member of both the prestigious Sergeant Morales and Sergeant Audie Murphy Clubs.