Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC James P. Castelli

Professor of Military Science

Lieutenant Colonel Castelli received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Chemical Corps in 1994 through the Army ROTC program at Providence College, Providence, RI. Following the Officer Basic Course, LTC Castelli was assigned to the First Armored Division in Baumholder and Hanau, Germany where he served as the Battalion Chemical Officer for 3-12 Infantry Battalion (Mechanized), Platoon Leader in the 69th Chemical Company and Brigade Chemical Officer, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. During this assignment he participated in Operation Able Sentry in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Upon completion of the Chemical Captain’s Career Course and Combined Arms Service and Staff School in 1999, LTC Castelli was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC as the Division Artillery Chemical Officer and commanded the 101st Chemical Company (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps. Following the events of 9/11, he deployed the company to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2002.

From 2002 to 2005 LTC Castelli served as the Battalion Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Vermont, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Management. His next assignment was as the Deputy Chemical Officer, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, NY where he served as the Deputy G-3/7 for CJTF-76 during Operation Enduring Freedom VII in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007.

Following deployment, LTC Castelli was assigned to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as a Branch Chief in the Headquarters, Department of the Army, Protection Division G-3/5/7.  From 2007 to 2009 LTC Castelli managed the Army’s Emergency Management and Critical Infrastructure programs.

LTC Castelli was selected to be a Professor of Military Science and in 2010 was assigned to Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.  He currently resides in Cherry Hill, NJ with his wife Terri, daughter Olivia, and son Gavin.

Mr. Marc Young

Recruiting Operation Officer

Mr. Young is a 29 year veteran of the US Army.  He has served on Active Duty, The Army National Guard and the US Army Reserve.

Mr. Young originally enlisted in 1981 as a Private in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and completed the Infantry Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA.  He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1985 from Drexel University Army ROTC and where he completed a degree in Political Science and History. 

After completing the Military Intelligence Officers’ Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ, he was assigned at the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany where he participated in Exercise Reforger.  He served as an Assistant Squadron Intelligence Officer and an Electronic Warfare Platoon Leader.

Upon completing his active duty tour, Mr. Young was reassigned to the U.S. Army Reserve as an Assistant Brigade Intelligence officer with the 157th Separate Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) in Horsham, PA, and later as a Battalion Intelligence Officer within the same Brigade.

In 1996, Mr. Young joined the 265th Military Intelligence Company (Linguists), as Executive Officer and later took command of the company.  Following command,  Mr. Young was selected to be an Inspector General serving the Commanding General of the 99th Regional Readiness Command.  He was responsible for coverage of a four state area servicing more than 5,000 Soldiers.

In 1999, Mr. Young continued his service as an Inspector General with the 3rd US Army in Atlanta, GA.  Immediately after September 11, 2001, Mr. Young deployed with 3rd US Army in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as part of Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC).  Mr.Young performed his duties across Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Oman, and several other countries.

From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Young was assigned to the 656th Areas Support Group as an Operations Officer.  He was responsible for a five-state area and five subordinate commands.

In 2004, Mr. Young was mobilized again as an Inspector General in support of deploying Soldiers at Fort Dix, NJ.  Upon completing this assignment, Mr. Young continued to serve as Inspector General for the 99th Regional Readiness Command and later the 78th Training Division in Edison, NJ.

In 2010, Mr. Young was selected to command a Military Intelligence Detachment in Washington, DC.

Mr. Young has been instructing ROTC since 2000, first at Georgia State University Army ROTC and later at Temple University in Philadelphia. 

Mr. Young is a long time Philadelphia native and resides within the city with his wife, Jennifer, and infant son, Matthew.

CPT Matt Hagerman

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Captain Hagerman received his commission in the Field Artillery upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in 2004.  Upon completion of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Fort Sill, OK and Airborne School, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. 

CPT Hagerman served as a Company Fire Support Officer with 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, where he deployed to Al Anbar Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005.  During the deployment CPT Hagerman and Task Force Blue Devil participated in Operation River Gate and Operation Steel Curtain with Marine Regimental Combat Team 2 as well as numerous missions while attached to Task Force 145.

Upon completion of the deployment, CPT Hagerman next served as a Platoon Leader and Battery Executive Officer in 2nd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery (Airborne).  He was then assigned as Battalion Fire Support Officer for 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and deployed to Ghazni, Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2007 with Task Force Fury.

After returning from Afghanistan in 2008, CPT Hagerman attended the Maneuver Captains’ Career Course at Fort Knox, KY.  Upon graduation, he was assigned to Fort Riley, KS for Military Transition Team training in 2009.  Upon completion of training, CPT Hagerman was assigned as Team Chief for a Border Transition Team and partnered with the Iraqi Coastal Border Guard in Basrah Province.  Following his tour in Iraq, he was assigned to the cadre of Temple University’s ROTC program where he currently serves as Assistant Professor of Military Science and operations officer.

CPT Hagerman served four years in the United States Marine Corps, deploying twice in support of Operation Southern Watch.  He is a graduate from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.  CPT Hagerman currently resides near Philadelphia with his wife and daughter.

MSG Leonard Wilson

Senior Military Science Instructor

Master Sergeant Wilson entered the United States Army in February 1988 and attended Armor Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, KY.

MSG Wilson has served in every enlisted leadership position in Armor and Cavalry organizations from Squad Leader to Company First Sergeant. He served as an Armor Platoon Sergeant with 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Division, Germany during Operation Iraqi Freedom I and as Company First Sergeant  for Headquarters and Headquarters Company 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09.

MSG Wilson’s other assignments include Armor crewman 2nd Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, TX; Section Leader, Fort Knox, KY; Section Leader, Camp Casey, Korea; Tank Commander, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, Fort Hood, TX; and Warrior Leader Course Instructor, NCO Academy, Fort Hood, TX.  He currently serves as the Senior Military Science Instructor Temple University ROTC, Philadelphia, PA.

MSG Wilson’s military education includes Warrior Leader Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course, and the First Sergeant Course. MSG Wilson is working on his B.S. Degree in Business Management from Upper Iowa University.

MSG Wilson’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (7 OLC), The Army Achievement Medal (7 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (7th award), National Defense Service Ribbon (2nd award), Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 3), the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with numeral 5), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals.

SFC Eric Sheehan

Military Science Instructor

Sergeant First Class Sheehan joined the military June 1992 and attended OSUT Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky graduating as a Cavalry Scout.

SFC Sheehan has served in positions from Scout to Platoon Sergeant in Armor and Infantry organizations. He has deployed multiple times and served as a HWMMV Gunner in Operation Intrinsic Action, Kuwait 99-00, Section Leader Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-06 and Platoon Sergeant during Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-09.

SFC Sheehan’s other assignments included Scout and Bradley Driver 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, Budingen, Germany; HMMWV gunner in the Battalion Scout Platoon, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry, Fort Lewis, Washington; OPFOR dismount team leader and vehicle commander, 1st battalion, 4th Infantry, Hohenfels, Germany; Bradley Gunner, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Fort Stewart, Georgia; AIT Instructor, 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Section Leader, 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; and Platoon Sergeant, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

SFC Sheehan’s military education includes the Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Non-commissioned Officer Course, Advanced Non-commissioned Officer Course, Cold Weather Leaders Course, Malaysian Tracker Course, Unit Armorer Course, the Combat Lifesavers Course, the Army Safety Course, and the Instructor Trainer Course.

SFC Sheehan’s awards include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (5 OLC), The Good Conduct Medal (5th award), the National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Iraqi Campaign Medal (2 campaign stars), the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 3), the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with numeral 6), the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge and Valorous Unit Award.

SGT Russell Johnson Jr.

Assistant Supply Technician/ Assistant Training NCO

Sergeant Johnson entered the United States Navy in June 2002 and attended Boiler Tech A School In Great Lakes, Illinois. After basic training, he was assigned to the USS Detroit, in Earle, NJ. In October 2003, he deployed to the U.S. Fifth and Sixth Fleets’ areas of operation visiting Spain, Italy and the Untied Arab Emirates in support of Global War on Terrorism as part of the USS Enterprise Battle Group.  In February 2005, the USS Detroit was decommissioned and SGT Johnson transferred to the supercarrier USS Harry S. Truman in Norfolk, VA.  He then deployed again to the U.A.E. and England in support of combat operations and to New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina.

On June 26, 2006, SGT Johnson ended his Navy career, and joined the Army National Guard the following day. Assigned to the 28th Infantry Division, he attended the Warriors Transition Course in Fort Sill, OK in May 2007 and then the Armor school in Boise, Idaho in July 2007.  In May of 2008, he attended Infantry Carrier Vehicle Commander’s Course at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. In July 2008, he attended Mobile Gun System Operations Course at Camp Shelby, MS.  He deployed to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 56th Stryker Brigade in September 2008. SGT Johnson is currently stationed in West Chester, PA with B Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry.  SGT Johnson was accepted at Temple University ROTC as an Assistant Supply Technician, and Assistant Training NCO in December 2009.

Jackie Hankins-Kent

Administrative Assistant

Jackie Hankins-Kent is a native of Philadelphia.  She attended Murrell Dobbins Vocational Technical School.  Prior to graduation she joined Temple University in 1978.  She joined the Army ROTC program February 1989 as the department’s administrative assistant.

Katie Michelle Sasser

Supply Technician

Katie Sasser was in part of the 1st Infantry Division and stationed in Kitzingen, Germany and did a deployment to Iraq with HHC DISCOM.  She was also part of the Division that brought the 1st Infantry Division back to Ft. Riley, KS.  I joined the ROTC department on November 23, 2009.