ARMY ROTC:
University of Minnesota

GOPHER BATTALION

Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

The Army ROTC program is only as strong as its instructors. That's why we provide such highly qualified faculty and staff for Cadets. See the kind of varied and interesting experiences instructors have had that make them the best ROTC faculty and staff.

		LTC Fred DuFault Professor of Military Science LTC Fred DuFault is honored and proud to be the Gopher Battalion PMS. He is a Senior Army Aviator who is a 1995 South Dakota State Distinguished Military Graduate. He is a graduate of the Army Commanding General Staff College and earned an MS from Kansas State University in 2007. LTC DuFault is the husband of Tracy and they have four awesome children.
		MAJ Eric Runningen Battalion Executive Officer MAJ Runningen is originally from Bemidji, Minnesota. After high school he joined the Army where he was enlisted for seven years before graduating from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He commissioned through their ROTC program as an air defense officer and received a B.A. in General Studies. He has over 20 years of military experience and has been deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq. He currently lives in Rosemont with his wife Kimberly, two sons Thomas and Geoffrey, and his daughter Erin.
		MAJ Jon Dotterer Executive Enrollment and Scholarships Officer Major Jon Dotterer is a native of Osseo, MN. He enlisted as a 19D Cavalry Scout two days after graduating from high school in 1988, serving four years enlisted in Germany on active duty. He commissioned as a Armor Officer from the Wisconsin OCS Military Academy, and received a Bachlor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Stout in 1996.
		Mr. Mitchell Ruedebusch Senior Military Science Instructor Mr. Mitchell Ruedebusch is a native of Huron, South Dakota. He accepted an ROTC Scholarship to attend the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he received his Army Commission in Field Artillery and a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1995. He received a Master's of Art Degree in Management and Leadership through Webster University in 2009. He has over 14 years of active service with a deployment to Iraq and is currently an Army Reservist with the 4-413th Regiment (SROTC). He resides in Hudson, WI with his spouse Kristine and two boys, Taggert and Jagger.
		Mr. Douglas Haugen Administrative/Logistics Officer Mr. Douglas Haugen grew up in the twin cities metro area. He was enlisted as a 13F (Forward Artillery Observer) for five years before being commissioned through Ft. Benning OCS in 1988. He attended the University of Massachusetts-Boston and graduated with BA in Psychology. Mr. Haugen has held numerous positions throughout his career, including three battery commands. He was deployed to Bosnia in 2003.
		Mr. Dave Leard Senior Military Science Instructor Mr. Leard is originally from Chicora, Pennsylvania and now resides in Lakeville. He began his military career as an ROTC cadet at the Pennsylvania State University. He was commissioned as an Active Duty Army Officer and assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Engineering from Penn State and a Masters Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri - Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology). He had over 10 years of Active Duty service and 11 years of service in the Army Reserve. He did one tour of duty in Germany and deployed to Operation Desert Storm, Operation Restore Hope (Somalia), Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He retired from the Army Reserve in August, 2010.
		Mr. Charles Moore Senior Military Science Instructor Mr. Charles Moore is originally from Warroad, Minnesota. After graduating from Hamline University with a degree in Social Studies he enlisted for four years in the army serving as an Infantryman in Germany and the 82nd Airborne division. He commissioned through the Minnesota OCS program as an Infantry officer in 1998. He has over 20 years of military experience and has been deployed to both Bosnia-Herzegovinian and Iraq.
		MSG Dempsey Commandant of Cadets MSG Dempsey is originally from Bryson City, NC. He entered the Army on 01 August 1009 as a 19D Cavalry Scout. He has had numerous deployments, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Egypt. His previous assignemnts include Germany, FT Hood, FT Stewart, FT Carson, FT Knox, and FT Campbell. MSG Dempsey comes to the program from Carson, CO where he was serving as 1SG of a Cavalry Troop deployed to Afghanistan.
		SFC Ryan Philips Training NCO SFC Ryan Phillips began his military career in 1995 when he joined the Army Reserve straight out of High School, departing for Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA two weeks before his High School Graduation Ceremony. After one year in the Reserve Component he transferred to Active Duty. He has completed four operational deployments in support of global operations dating back to 1997; most recently as part of Operation Enduring Freedom VIII-IX in Afghanistan.
		Mr. David Lykens Military Science Instructor Mr. Lykens is a native of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He has 3 children, a daughter, Myeshia 19 and two boys, Joshua 14 and Noah 8. Mr. Lykens began his military career 29 days after his high school graduation in 1987.
		Jana Gunther Enrollment Administrator Jana is a native of Meeteetse, Wyoming. In 2003, she enlisted as an administration specialist and deployed in 2004. Jana pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Psycho-biology from Hastings College and received a direct commission in 2008. She is currently serving in the Reserves.
		Susie Wottrich Executive Secretary A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Susie Wottrich has recently completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Latin American Studies from DePaul University in Chicago. She joined the AROTC team in 2011 as a University employee.
		Shanna Young Human Resources Administrator Shanna Young is a native of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. She comes from a military background where both of her parents served in the Army. She applied for the civilian government Human Resources Assistant position at the University of Minnesota Army ROTC in the Spring of 2005 and left the Army in July 2005 when she was hired. Shanna provides all of the personnel management for our assigned cadre, as well as numerous personnel actions for our cadets – most notably, she assists in the administrative tasks associated with contracting cadets and commissioning our newest graduates.
		John Joyner Unit Supply Clerk One thing is certain for every cadet in Army ROTC, they need stuff. Whether it's uniforms, rank, boots, or paper to print out a midterm, John is the man who meets everyone's needs. John Joyner, a native of St. Paul , Minnesota , entered the Minnesota Army National Guard in May of 1969. He retired from the Military after 30 Years of Service as SFC, effective 1 Sep 99.