Learn How People Have Gained from ROTC

LTC(R) John Davies

Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Kentucky Office of Energy Policy

LTC John H. Davies, retired from the U.S. Army in 1996 after serving 20 years as a Quartermaster Officer.  Commissioned as a Lieutenant upon his graduation from the University of Illinois, College of Agriculture in 1974, LTC(R) Davies has served in various command and staff positions both in the United States and overseas.   He served in Germany, Okinawa, Italy and had two tours with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Pentagon, Washington D.C.  His awards include Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Army Meritorious Service Medal and three oak leafs; Army Commendation Medal with four oak leafs; Army Achievement Medal and the Army Staff Badge.  He has a master’s degree from Florida Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Leavenworth, KS.  Upon retirement, Colonel Davies worked for Ferrellgas Inc. as a marketing coordinator and an area manger.  Currently, he serves as Director, Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, Frankfort, KY.

1LT Rebecca (Harar) Deforest

UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot, U.S. Army

First Lieutenant Rebecca DeForest graduated and received her commission from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 2002.  Currently, First Lieutenant DeForest has just returned from a deployment with the North Carolina Army National Guard as a Platoon Leader in Iraq with 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment.  She commanded 15 soldiers (pilots and crew) and flew 450 hours performing regular combat support missions and direct action missions.  Her life as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot has been challenging, but very rewarding.  She told this story from Iraq: 

"One of my favorite things about flying here is seeing the local people in the very rural areas wave to us.  It makes me think there really are many people who are happy that we are here to try and help them.  We have started to throw "candy bombs" to the children as we fly by too.  We tell the crew chiefs in the back where we see the kids and they throw a marked bag of candy out the window.  The kids go running for it, since they all know what that means when they see something like that fly out of a helicopter.  It is a lot better than having to shoot out the window, no?"

MAJ Susan (Stoltz) Mitchell

Assistant Professor of Military Science, Wheaton College

MAJ Susan (Stoltz) Mitchell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and received her commission as an Ordnance Officer from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 1994.  MAJ Mitchell has served in various positions around the world including;  Engineer Platoon Leader in Delta Company, 701st MSB, in Fort Riley, KS (1994-1995); Ground Support and Equipment (GSW) Platoon Leader, 514th Maintenance Company, Fort Drum, NY; Shop Officer, 514th Maintenance Company; Battalion Maintenance Officer, 548th Corps Support Battalion, Fort Drum 1997- DEC 1998; Adjutant, 16th Corps Support Group, Hanau, Germany 1999-2001; and Company Commander, 77th Maintenance Company, Babenhausen, Germany, Feb 01-Aug 02.   Since 2002, she has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.   MAJ Mitchell completed both Airborne and Air Assault Schools, Ordnance Corps OBC, CLC3 and CAS3.   She received her Masters Degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Lewis University in May 2005.  She is married to MAJ Robb Mitchell, also an alumnus of the University of Illinois.  The Mitchells have one son, Brody.