Cadre

LTC Christopher Talcott was born in Pomona, California. He grew up in Hillsboro, Oregon and attended Oregon State University where he played varsity baseball and participated in the ROTC program. Upon graduation from Oregon State University, LTC Talcott earned a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine.

LTC Talcott entered Active Duty in September 1990. His initial duty station was Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf, Germany. His initial assignment was as a Company Fire Support Officer in the 2d Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment (155mm-SP, Howitzers), with which he deployed to Southwest Asia in December 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Subsequent assignments after returning from the war include: Battery Fire Direction Officer, Platoon Leader, and Battalion Fire Direction Officer for 3d Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment (155mm-SP, Howitzers) in Bamberg, Germany.

LTC Talcott’s second duty station was Fort Hood, Texas. His first assignment was with the 2d Armored Division as a Field Artillery Intelligence Officer. After the division re-flagged to the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) subsequent assignments include: Assistant Fire Support Coordinator for the Assistant-Division Commander for Maneuver, Task Force Fire Support Officer for 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment, Aide-de-Camp for the Division Commander, Assistant S3 Division Artillery, and then Commander, Battery C, 4th Battalion, 42d Field Artillery Regiment (155mm-SP, Paladins).

LTC Talcott was assigned to the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY from June 2001 to December 2004. He was assigned as an Instructor in the Psychology Directorate and taught General Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Statistics, and Engineering Psychology courses.

LTC Talcott’s most recent assignment was at Ft. Hood and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom II) from December 2004 to July 2006. He served as both a Brigade Fire Support Officer in 5th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and later as a Battalion Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 82d Field Artillery, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

LTC Talcott’s military schooling includes the Field Artillery Officer’s Basic Course and the Field Artillery Officer’s Advanced Course. He was selected in 2001 to attend the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS and graduated in 2004.

LTC Talcott received his civilian education from Oregon State University and Wright State University, OH, from which he graduated in 2001 with a Master’s in Human Factors Engineering and a minor in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

LTC Talcott’s awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leafs, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leafs, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Overseas Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, and the Combat Action Badge.

Captain Casey Miner received an active duty commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps through the R.O.T.C. program at the University of Southern California in 1999.

CPT Miner is a graduate of the University of Southern California, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, and minors in History and Peace and Conflict Studies. He is also a graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills, with a Masters of Arts degree in Negotiation and Conflict Management.

CPT Miner is a graduate of the Signal Officers Basic Course, Airborne Course, Public Affairs Course, the Combined Logistics Captain's Career Course, and the Military History Instructors Course. He is a prior service enlisted Soldier, and a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Intelligence Analyst Course, and the Technical Intelligence Course.

CPT Miner's past assignments include: Signal Officer, Regimental Support Squadron, 11th ACR, Fort Irwin, CA; Regimental Public Affairs Officer, 11th ACR, Fort Irwin, CA; Company Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, the National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, CA; Secretary of the General Staff (AGR), 311th Corps Sustainment Command, Los Angeles, CA; including a deployment as Secretary of the General Staff, 377th Theater Support Command (Forward)(Operation Iraqi Freedom), Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. During his enlisted service, CPT Miner served as an Intelligence Analyst, 651st Military Intelligence Company (USAR), Pasadena, CA; Intelligence and Security NCOIC, 103d Military Intelligence Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany; Senior Intelligence Analyst, 1-6 and 2-15 Infantry Battalions, 3d Infantry Division, Camp Able Sentry, Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia; Southeast Asia Team Leader, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, WA.

CPT Miner's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Service Medal (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (Three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal (1 BSS), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (M Device), the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the United Nations Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the German Efficiency Badge (Gold), and the Thai Army Basic Parachutist Badge.

CPT Thomas W. Higginson became an Assistant Professor of Military Science and the Enrollment Officer in August of 2005. He serves as the advisor for the MSI Cadets and teaches first year military science courses.

CPT Higginson is a UCLA alumni and Bruin Battalion graduate. He commissioned in 2000 through the Army Green-to-Gold scholarship program.

CPT Higginson originally served as a helicopter door gunner with the 1st Infantry Division prior to accepting a commission as an officer. He has served in a variety of leadership and staff assignments since his commission. His initial assignment was with the 101st ABN DIV (AASLT), where he served as Platoon Leader to Bravo Battery, 2-44th ADA BN, and as Task Force ADO to 3-502nd IN "Widowmakers." CPT Higginson later served as a Battery Executive Officer for two batteries and as Battalion Assistant Operations Officer with 2-44th ADA during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his return from Iraq, CPT Higginson commanded the Widowmakers, Charlie Company, 2-10 IN, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

In addition to Operation Iraqi Freedom, CPT Higginson has deployed with the 1st Infantry Division, SFOR 97/98, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and has participated in one 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

CPT Higginson's military schools include the Helicopter Repairer Course, Air Defense Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Combat Communications Course, Strategic Deployability School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, and the Army Ranger School. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (two oak leaf clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Aircraft Crewmember Badge, Parachutists Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

Captain Rio Miner became Assistant Professor of Military Science at UCLA in August 2006. He graduated from the University of Oregon in June of 1999 with a Bachelor of Sciences in General Science.

Born in San Francisco, CPT Miner moved to Livingston, Montana at the age of 11 where he graduated from Park High School in 1995. Following his attendance at the U of O, CPT Miner was commissioned as an Infantry officer in June of 1999.

Captain Miner's assignments include Mechanized Rifle Platoon leader for A/2-2 Infantry, 3rd Brigade (BDE), 1st Infantry Division (ID) and 3rd BDE Assistant S4 (Transportation Officer) in Vilseck, Germany; S4 for the 101ST Military Intelligence Battalion (MI BN), 1ID in Wuerzburg, Germany; Brigade Intelligence Officer (S2) for the Division Support Command (DISCOM), 1ID in Tikrit, Iraq; and Assistant Operations Officer (S3) for the 309th MI BN (AIT) at FT Huachuca, AZ.

Captain Miner's awards include the Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Army Achievement Medal (3 awards), the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) NATO medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2 awards), the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, and the German Schutzenschnur Bronze Award.

Captain Robert B. Johns became Assistant of Military Science at CSUN in December 2004. He graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in December of 1998 with a Bachelor of General Studies.

Captain Johns grew up in Monroe, Louisiana and graduated West Ouachita High School in West Monroe, LA. Captain Johns is a former enlisted soldier and was commissioned as an Aviation Officer in December of 1998.

Captain Johns' assignments include Assistant S-3 and Platoon Leader 1-227th, the 1st Cavalry Division's Longbow Attack Helicopter Battalion; Aviation Operations Officer (C3AIR) in Camp Doha, Kuwait; Assistant C3 AIR and C3 AIR in Baghdad, Iraq (V CORPS).

Captain Johns' awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards), the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (2 Awards), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, the Army Aviator Badge and the German Schutzenschnur Gold Award.

Captain George Zuniga became Assistant of Military Science at CSUN in 2006. He graduated from Kansas State Univeresity with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Marketing in May 1997.

Captain Zuniga's assignments include Assistant S-3, 2/383 TSBN Operation during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Platoon Leader, 129th TC during Operation Enduring Freedom; MEPS Testing Officer; Task Force Hawk (G1); Plans, Policies and Operations Officer (G1) and Battalion S-1, STB, V Corps.

Captain Zuniga's awards include the Combat Action Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster), Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Expeditionary Forces Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Kosovo NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Driver Badge (Wheeled).

SFC Keith A. Gasaway grew up in Mounds, OK and graduated from Mounds High School in 1989.

SFC Gasaway entered active duty in July 1994 as an 11H Tow Gunner and reclassed to a 19D CAV SCOUT in 1996.

SFC Gasaway past assignments include 1st BN 64th AR FT. Stewart, GA as the Scout Platoon Sergeant, K TRP 3/3 ACR FT. Carson CO, 1st BDE Recon Troop 4th ID FT Hood, TX, E CO 1st BN 9th ID Korea and E CO 2/7 CAV 1st CAV DIV FT Hood, TX.

SFC Gasaway deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom III, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and SFOR 7 Bosnia.

SFC Gasaway awards include Bronze Star Medal W/V dev., Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 4 oak leafs), Army Achievement Medal (with 3 oak leafs), Good Conduct Medal (3 award), National Defense Medal (1BSS), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd award), Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, The Korean Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with number 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO (Bosnia) Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation and the Army Superior Unit Award.

Victoria Sanelli was born in Santa Monica, California and raised in Camarillo, California. She attended UCLA, where she participated in AIESEC (International Association of Students in Business and Economics), worked at Kerckhoff Coffeehouse, was a student reseracher for Prof. J. Fred Weston and earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Economics.

After graduation, Vicki worked as a banking intern in Kyoto, Japan. On her return to the United States, Vicki worked for The Disney Channel as a sales analyst where she focused on national accounts and strategic planning and analysis. Vicki then worked for Mattel as Sales Research Analyst for International Markets.

In 1998, Vicki joined DIRECTV to start up their Sales Communications Department. Over the next 7 years, she planned and implemented a wide range of programs to support DIRECTV's sales initiatives and oversaw day-to-day operations related to the execution of all retail communications.

Vicki has been with the Department of Military Science since 31 October 2005. Vicki is also an active volunteer the North Westdale Neighborhood Association and REP America and is a long-time member of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics and Slow Food Los Angeles. In her free time, Vicki is working her way through the U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Proffesional Reading List, waiting for Ben Folds to play L.A. again and trying to teach the family dog JoJo new tricks.