March 1, 2011

Presents...

Air Force ROTC Detachment 772

Lt Col Mark Trudeau Retirement Ceremony

HISTORY of ROTC

The origin of military instruction in civilian col-leges dates back to 1819 when Captain Adden Par-tridge founded the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy at Northfield, Vermont. Today it is Norwich University. The Unites States Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Junior ROTC arose from the National Defense Act of 1916. World War 1 prevented the full development of civilian educators and military professionals working together. At the conclusion of WW1, the program was fully implemented on college campuses . In 1964, the ROTC added scholarships and expanded the Junior ROTC opportunities at high schools all across the nation.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

Opening Remarks

Arrival of Official Party

Presentation of Colors

National Anthem

Invocation Pastor Will Browning

Welcome

Remarks Colonel Jeffrey L. Stephenson

Special Presentation

Retirement Ceremony

Closing Remarks Lt Col (RET.) Mark A. Trudeau

Departure of Official Party

AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS DETACHMENT 772

Department of Aerospace Studies

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Trudeau Commander

Captain Christopher Saldana

Commandant of Cadets

Master Sergeant Debra Rogers, NCOIC Personnel & Information Management

BIOGRAPHY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

COLONEL JEFFREY L. STEPHENSON

Col Jeffrey L. Stephenson is the Air Force Chair, Na-

tional War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washing

ton DC. He is the Air Force lead and personal repre-

sentative for the CSAF & VCSAF at the National

War College (NWC). He instructs military strategy

and joint/combined warfighting courses to senior

military officers, government executives and

International Fellows. Additionally, he advises, coun-

sels and mentors students on professional/

intellectual development to prepare for contingency operations. Lastly, he

conveys the CSAF, VCSAF & Air Staff ideas and special interest items to the college, maintaining the Air Force focus at NWC. Colonel Stephenson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1985.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Liberal Arts in 1984 from the

University of Mississippi, a dual Master of Science Degree in Aerospace

Science Technology from Embry-Riddle University, a Master of Military

Airpower Art and Science from the School of Advanced Airpower Studies

and a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy from the

Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Colonel Stephenson is a joint

specialty officer and a command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours

with the following airframes: T-37, T-38, KC-135A/R, C-37, C-17.

Colonel Stephenson’s major awards are as followed:

Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster;

Airman's Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Meritorious

Service Medal; Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Aerial Achievement

Medal ;Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Joint

Service Achievement Medal; Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak

leaf clusters; 1998 Cheney Award

BIOGRAPHY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK A. TRUDEAU Lieutenant Colonel Trudeau was born in Palo Alto, California,

November 11th, 1963. He attended the United States Air Force

Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado where he received his

Bachelors of Science degree majoring in Humanities and was

commissioned, May 1986. Upon graduation from the Academy,

Colonel Trudeau was selected for flight training and attended

Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air

Force Base, Sacramento California where he earned his wings in

May, 1987. He continued flight training at Castle Air Force

Base, California completing the Combat Crew Training School

as one of the Air Force’s 1st KC-135 “R-model” navigators.

Colonel Trudeau is a Master Navigator who has accumulated over 3,300 flying hours in both

the KC-135R refueling tanker and C-130E tactical airlift airframes.

Lieutenant Colonel Trudeau’s initial assignment was to the 306th Air Refueling Squadron in

Strategic Air Command, Altus Air Force Base, Altus, Oklahoma where he certified on the

Strategic Integrated Operations Plan supporting the nation’s nuclear alert forces. During his

time at the 43d Air Refueling Wing, Colonel Trudeau deployed in support of Operations DE-

SERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, and PROVIDE COMFORT, flying 47 combat support

missions. In July 1993, Colonel Trudeau was picked as an instructor for the selectively-

manned Combat Crew Training School at Castle Air Force Base, California. After establishing

flight training operations at Altus, OK, Colonel Trudeau was chosen for the Central Flight

Instructor Course cadre. Colonel Trudeau was then assigned to Air Mobility Command, Scott

AFB, Illinois in 1998. While assigned to Scott AFB, Colonel Trudeau managed the transfer of

the C-141 Special Operations Low-Level mission to the C-17. His next assignment was back

into operational flying where he cross-trained to the C-130E at Pope AFB, North Carolina as

the 41st Airlift Squadron Chief Navigator, Chief of 43d Operations Group Stan/Eval, and Chief

of Wing Plans. While assigned to the 43d Airlift Wing he deployed in support of Operations

ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM as the Chief unit Navigator. Here he flew

over 20 combat missions into Iraq, Afghanistan carrying 278,000 troops and 47,000 short tons

of cargo.

Military decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, AF Aerial Achieve-

ment, Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and Outstanding Unit Award with (w/

Valor), Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 stars), & Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary

and Service Medals. He is married to the former Sheri Rene McFarland and they have three children, Ashley,

Shannon, and Hailey.

Thank You

These two words may seem so small and convey little meaning at all. We live in the land of the free and know it's because you and many others have made personal sacrifices for us to be able to do

that. We want you to know how very much we appreciate the work you do defending our country. We thank you for the time away from

your own family you give so we may be with ours.

We want you to know as we walk our streets free from fear or terror, we have you to thank. When we attend our church services and talk freely about our faith in God, we also express our many thanks to you for making this possible. We do not take for granted what you have

made possible to us.

As we watch and hear of people protesting the work you have done, our hearts break. How can these people not understand that what

you have done, they would have no freedom to express their opinions, much less so publicly. How blind can one be? I pray they will not

hurt nor discourage you, and that someday, they too will come to you full of gratitude for your service to their country. I pray also that many of these will soon choose to serve their county rather than

criticize those who do.

So as you take your final steps from the battle-field, please know we are praying for you and all who have served with you. We ask God to pour out His blessings on you and your family. We ask Him to keep

you safe and to fill you with His love and peace. We consider you our dear friend and great mentor and will forever be indebted to you for

your service!

May God bless you!

Sincerely,

Detachment 772

“Leadership is intangible, therefore no weapon ever

designed can replace it.”

- General Omar Bradley