Academic Year 2017-18
Chaplain (Colonel) Gary T. Fisher
Research Topic: Moral Injury
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Howard Prince
Army Mentor: Chaplain (Major General) Paul Hurley
Chaplain Gary T. Fisher entered active duty in 1999. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Biblical Languages and a Master of Arts degree in Biblical exposition from Pensacola Christian College, Pensacola, Florida. He then attended Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina graduating with a Masters of Divinity degree.
His previous assignments include: The Division Chaplain of the 10th Mountain Division (LI), The Chief of Initial Military Training at the United States Army Chaplain Center and School, Fort Jackson South Carolina; The Senior Chaplain Observer Coach and Trainer, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana; The Deputy Division Chaplain, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas; Deputy United States Division South Chaplain, Basra, Iraq; Brigade Chaplain, 1st Brigade Combat Team Chaplain, Fort Riley, Kansas; 477th Signal Battalion Chaplain, Fort Gordon, Georgia; 1st Squadron 4th US Cavalry Regiment Chaplain, Schweinfurt, Germany; Task Force Saber Chaplain, Operation Iraqi Freedom II, Samarra, Iraq; 1st Battalion 34th Infantry Chaplain (Basic Combat Training), Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
His military education includes the Chaplain Officer Basic and Career Courses, the Command and General Staff College, the Joint Planning Course, and the Defense Strategy Course.
Chaplain Fisher has served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Resolute Support.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Combat Action Badge.
Chaplain Fisher is a native of Louisiana.
Colonel Matthew T. Gill
Research Topic: Deterrence and Information Dominance
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Suri
Army Mentor: Brigadier General Laura Potter
Colonel (COL) Matthew T. Gill was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and received a commission in the Field Artillery upon graduation from Mississippi State University in 1996. His first posting was with the 1st Battalion, 9th FA, 3rd Infantry Division in Ft Stewart, Georgia, as a Fire Support Officer for D Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th IN. During Operation Intrinsic Action, he served as a Platoon Leader for A Battery, 13th FA. Upon redeployment, he was reassigned as Aide de Camp to the Commanding General, 18th Airborne Corps Artillery Headquarters, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
After attending the Military Intelligence Officer Transition, Advanced, and Signals/Electronic Warfare Officers Courses, COL Gill was assigned as the S2 for 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. In 2002, he was posted as the Assistant Brigade S2 and Targeting Officer for the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment for Operation Enduring Freedom 2. On return, he was assigned as the Assistant S3 and immediately deployed the Battalion to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. After redeployment, he was selected as the Commander, D Company, 313th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne).
COL Gill also served in multiple positions and deployments within the Joint Special Operations Command and its subordinate elements. After graduation from the Naval War College, he was assigned to the Joint Staff as the Director for Counterterrorism Intelligence Operations and the Special Operations Intelligence Advisor to the Deputy Director of Special Operations, the Joint Staff Director of Intelligence, the Office of General Counsel to the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
COL Gill recently served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G2 Director of Intelligence for the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
His prior duty assignment was as the Director for Intelligence Operations, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, headquartered at Kelly Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.
COL Gill recently deployed as the CJ2 for Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
COL Gill’s military qualifications include Master Parachutist, Air Assault Badge, Special Operations Identifier and the Joint Staff Badge.
He is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the Naval War College and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies
Colonel Brian Greata
Research Topic: Megacities/Dense Urban Terrain
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sarah Lopez
Army Mentor: Lieutenant General Austin Miller
Colonel (COL) Brian Greata was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Northern Virginia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1994 as an Infantry Officer, assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
COL Greata graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1999. He was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he served as a Company Executive Officer and Detachment Commander for Operational Detachments-Alpha (ODAs) 743, 745, and 792. During these assignments he deployed in support of security cooperation and contingency operations in Colombia, Uruguay, El Salvador, and Haiti. As the Company Commander of the Headquarters and Support Company, he deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan from 2002-2003.
In 2005, he departed 7th Group to attend the Spanish Joint Staff School in Madrid, Spain. Afterwards, he returned to 7th Group, and from 2006-2009 was a Plans Officer, Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer (S3), and Group S3 / Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan Deputy Operations Officer. In these positions, he was primarily responsible for planning, training, and executing Battalion and Group combat deployments to Afghanistan.
In 2009, COL Greata was assigned to the U.S. Northern Command as an Operations Officer and Branch Chief in the Special Operations Division, where he led joint special operations forces theater security cooperation activities with partner nations in the area of responsibility, as well as contingency support planning and execution.
From 2013-2015 Colonel Greata was the Garrison Commander of the Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts. In 2015, Colonel Greata was assigned to the Operations Directorate of Special Operations Command South in Homestead, Florida.
COL Greata graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy. He also holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. His military schooling includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; Combined Arms Staff School; Airborne; Jumpmaster; Combat Dive Qualification Course; Ranger; Special Forces; Sapper Leader Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE); the Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Targeting, and Exploitation Techniques Course (SFARTAETC); and the Spanish Joint Staff School.
Colonel Cody McRoberts
Research Topic: US Army Opportunities to Strengthen US-Mexico Bilateral Relationship
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Edwin Dorn
Army Mentor: Lieutenant General Jeffrey Buchanan
Colonel (COL) Cody McRoberts graduated from the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Boise State University in 1996 and was commissioned a Regular Army Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. His first assignment was Ansbach, Germany, where he served as the Communications Officer (S6) for 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Upon arrival to Germany, he was deployed to Tuzla, Bosnia, in support of Operation Joint Guard. He was then assigned to Kitzingen, Germany, where he served as Platoon Leader then Executive Officer of C Company, 121st Signal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. He then deployed to Skopje, Macedonia, as the Communications and Automation Officer (G6) for Camp Able Sentry in support of Operation Joint Guardian. He was next assigned as the Battalion Adjutant (S1) for the 121st Signal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. He was then assigned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he assumed command of D Company, 86th Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade.
Upon leaving Active Duty, COL McRoberts joined the Idaho Army National Guard and was assigned as the Communications Officer (S6) for 2nd Battalion, 116th Armor Regiment, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team. He then served as the Automation Officer for the 145th Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team and deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. McRoberts then assumed command of the Headquarters Company, Joint Forces Headquarters, Idaho Army National Guard. He next served as the Operations Officer (S3) then Executive Officer (XO) of the 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion and deployed to Taji, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn. Upon redeployment, McRoberts served as the Battalion Commander of the 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion. After command, he served as the Team Chief, Computer Network Defense Team, Idaho Army National Guard. His most recent assignment was as the Deputy Chief Information Officer (G6), Idaho Army National Guard.
COL McRoberts’ military education includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, the Signal Officer Basic Course, the Signal Captain’s Career Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff College (Intermediate Level Education). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (x2), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (x5), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (x3), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (x2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Overseas Service Ribbon (x2), NATO Medal (x2), Army Superior Unit Award and Parachutist Badge. He was also awarded the Signal Corps Regimental Association’s Bronze Order of Mercury.
COL McRoberts is a native of Boise, Idaho, and holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boise State University.
Lieutenant Colonel Troy Shearer
Research Topic: Medical Readiness Effect on Army Reserve Operational Strength
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Doug Dierking
Army Mentor: Lieutenant General Charles Luckey
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Troy Shearer entered into military service with the Indiana Army National Guard in 1991 as a unit supply specialist for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) of the 1/151 Infantry Regiment. LTC Shearer has served in command of three company level units: 425th Quartermaster Company (Petroleum Supply), Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD) 380th Quartermaster Battalion, and HHC 63d Regional Support Command. LTC Shearer’s most recent assignment was the Assistance Branch Chief United States Army Reserve Command (USARC) Inspector General (IG) office.
LTC Shearer graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1996 from the University of Indiana, Bloomington. In 2009, he graduated with a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in Logistics from Touro University International. LTC Shearer received his Army commission through the Indiana University Army Reserve Officers Training Corps program.
LTC Shearer has deployed in support of the nation under several operations. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, LTC Shearer deployed with United States Army Central Command as the Theater Petroleum and Water Officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2011, LTC Shearer deployed as the United States Central Command Petroleum Liaison to the International Joint Command located in Kabul, Afghanistan. In his most recent deployment, LTC Shearer served as the Command Inspector General for the 4th Expeditionary Support Command (ESC) in 2016.
LTC Shearer’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal.
LTC Shearer is a native of Jeffersonville, Indiana.