Academic Year 2019-20
Lieutenant Colonel Michael F. Hammond
Research Topic: Fighting the Logistics Battle of a Two-Front War
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ed Dorn
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Michael F. Hammond received his commission into the Armor Branch in 1997 from Texas A&M University. In 2000, he transitioned as part of the Branch detail program to the Quartermaster Corps. His duty assignments include ACO, 2-72 Armor Regiment, Camp Casey, Korea, where he served as an Tank Platoon Leader. Following his posting to Korea, LTC Hammond was then assigned to DCO, 2-8 Cav, Regiment, 1st ABCT, 1CD as an Armor Platoon Leader. Upon completing his Branch Detail Program, LTC Hammond was assigned to the 27th Main Support Battalion, DISCOM, Fort Hood, Texas, as a Class II, IV, VII Warehouse Platoon Leader and Battalion S4. Following completion of the Logistics Captains Career Course in 2002, LTC Hammond was assigned to the 2nd BCT, 101 ABN DIV (ASSLT), as the Brigade S4 and deployed to OIF-I. After completing this assignment, he assumed command of the Distribution Company, 526 Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 101 ABN DIV (ASSLT), and deployed to OIF 05-07. LTC Hammond later served as the Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer in 526 Brigade Support Battalion and deployed to OIF 07-09. Following this assignment LTC Hammond served as an Aide de Camp to the Army Materiel Command Deputy Commanding General. He subsequently attended the Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon completion of his studies, he was assigned as a G5 Operational Staff Planner, 1CD, and then assumed duties as the Brigade Executive Officer of 1st ABCT, 1CD, from 2013 to 2014. Prior to assuming command, LTC Hammond served as the Chief of Future Operational Planning, J4 Directorate of Engineering and Logistics, CENTCOM Headquarters, Macdill Air Force Base, Florida. While there, he deployed in support Operation Inherent Resolve as a staff planner at the US Embassy Baghdad from 2014 to 2015. LTC Hammond commanded the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3 ABCT, 1CD, Fort Hood, Texas, from May 2016 to May 2018 and deployed his battalion in support of Operation Spartan Shield. LTC Hammond last served as the 26th Goldminer 07, senior logistics trainer, National Training Center.
His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Logistics Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, and Air Assault School. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, a Masters degree in Logistics and Transportation from North Dakota State University, and a Masters Degree in Military Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies.
LTC Hammond’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medal, Korea Service Medal, and the Air Assault Badge.
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Kreitz
Research Topic: The New Neighbors: Re-emerging Russian Influence In Latin America and US Foreign Policy Response
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kiril Avramov
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Eric Kreitz was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery in May of 2001 from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. His first duty assignment was the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served with 3rd Brigade (Rakkasans) and the 101st Aviation Brigade. He deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) I from 2003 to 2004 and OIF V-VII from 2005-2006. After transitioning to the Psychological Operations (PSYOP) branch in 2007, LTC Kreitz was assigned to the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (POB) (A), which provides PSYOP forces to Central and South America. The following year, he deployed as the Military Information Support Team Commander to the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. While there he supported OPERATION WILLING SPIRIT and OPERATION JAQUE, the latter which resulted in the rescue of 3 US and 12 Colombian hostages from the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). LTC Kreitz then served as the Operations Officer of 6th POB (A), which provides PSYOP forces to Europe and as the Operations Officer of 7th POB (A), which provides PSYOP forces to Africa. He was the PSYOP Division Chief at Special Operations Command – South prior serving as the commander of 6th POB (A). His executive level positions include Aide-de-Camp to the USASOC Deputy Commanding General (2009) and the USASOC Commander’s Initiatives Group (2014 and 2019).
LTC Kreitz’ military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course (2002), the Armor Captain’s Career Course (2005), the Psychological Operations Officer’s Course (2007), US Army Intermediate Level Education (2011) and Joint Professional Military Education II (2015).
His civilian education includes a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from St. Mary’s University, a Master’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati, a Master’s in International Studies (Interagency Studies Program) from the University of Kansas, and a certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University.
LTC Kreitz’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. He is a native Spanish speaker and is Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder and Jumpmaster qualified.
Chaplain (Colonel) Khallid M. Shabazz
Research Topic:
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Leonard Moore
Chaplain (CH) Khallid M. Shabazz’ military assignments are as follows: 94th AMMDC Command Chaplain; 7TH Infantry Division Chaplain; I Corps Deputy Command Chaplain, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington; Assistant Deputy Command Chaplain III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; BDE Chaplain Air Calvary BDE 1st CAV DIV, Fort Hood, Texas; USAREUR Strategic Plans and Operations, AFN Radio and STRATCOM Officer, Heidelberg, Germany; Ethics Student at Duquesne University, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; U.S Army Ethics Instructor at Captain Career Course, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Battalion Chaplain Air Calvary BDE, Fort Hood, Texas 1st CAV DIV; Senior Advisor to the Commanding General on all Religious affairs at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Battalion Chaplain 3-13th infantry battalion Ft Jackson, South Carolina; Battalion Chaplain 1-33 FA Bamberg, Germany.
His military education includes the LTC Course, Command General and Staff College, BDE Chaplains Course, Defense Strategy Course, NATO Chaplains Course, Religious Internal and External Advisement Course, Chaplain Basic and Advanced Officer Course, and the Primary Leadership Development Course.
CH Shabazz holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas (Biology). He also holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Trident University International and Doctorate of Ministry from North Texas Theological Seminary at Tyler Texas. He holds four Master’s Degrees: Claremont University (Interfaith Action); Hartford Seminary (Comparative Religion); Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Philosophy& Ethics); Trident University International (Higher Educational Leadership).
He also serves as a Dissertation Chair at Trident University, Adjunct professor at Claremont Lincoln, & United Theological Seminary and is a Lecturer at the University of Washington. Lastly, he studied Arabic at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan.
CH Shabazz’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters; Joint Army Commendation and Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal; Army service Ribbon; Overseas Ribbon with Numeral 3 Device; and NATO expeditionary Medal. He was also awarded the humanitarian award for outstanding volunteerism, The Saint Michael’s Medal for service to Army Aviation, Saint Barbara’s Award for service to the Field Artillery Corps.
Colonel Douglas L. Simon
Research Topic: Making the Uniform Code of Military Justice More Uniform
Faculty Advisor: Professor Stephen Vladek
Colonel (COL) Douglas L. Simon began his military career by enlisting in the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1989 as a Cannon Crewmember with the 1/151st Field Artillery. He served in field artillery until February of 2000 when he received his commission into the Judge Advocate General Corps as a First Lieutenant. His assignments include: Staff Judge Advocate for the State of Minnesota, Joint Force Headquarters, from 2015 to the present; Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the 34th Infantry Division, from 2012-2015; Command Judge Advocate for the 347th Regional Support Group, from 2010-2012; Brigade Judge Advocate for the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, from 2006-2009; and Operational Law Attorney for the 34th Infantry Division, from 2002-2004. COL Simon has deployed two times. His first deployment occurred in 2003, where he served as the Operational Law Attorney, 34th Infantry Division, which contributed to Operation Joint Forge, SFOR 14, a mission that operated near Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The second deployment occurred with Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008-2009, where he served as the Brigade Judge Advocate for the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, located at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
COL Simon’s military education includes a Master’s in Law (LL.M) from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (with a specialization in Military Law), graduate of the Command General Staff College Intermediate Level Education, and graduate of the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course. COL Simon is also published in the Military Law Review, with an article that focuses on cruel and unusual punishment in the military.
His civilian education includes a Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) in Political Science and History from Southwest Minnesota State University, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (M.P.A) from the University of South Dakota, a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of South Dakota School of Law, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from South Dakota State University. Associated with his civilian education, COL Simon is a tenured full professor at Southwest Minnesota State University.
COL Simon’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, and the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with Bronze Numeral 2.