Cadre & Staff

UNH ROTC Cadre and Staff in conference room

The Wildcat Battalion Cadre are experienced U.S. Army Officers and NCOs who have been all over the world, and collectively represent 148 years of military service. their expertise ranges from Special Forces and Infantry, to Transportation, Military Intelligence and Medical Service. These men and women are teachers, mentors, and role models who guide the cadets through their college years and prepare them to confidently take a commission, and lead soldiers as Officers in the United States Army.

  • LTC Andrew Ruszkiewicz graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where he earned a Bachelor’ degree in History and was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer.  His first duty assignment was in the 6-37 Field Artillery Battalion at Camp Casey, Korea where he served as a Battery Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer.  After serving one year in Korea, he was assigned as a Fire Support Officer to the 82d Airborne Division. During his time in the 82d Airborne Division, he served…
  • SFC Alexander enlisted in the United States Army from Charlotte, NC in 2008. He completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, Georgia as an Infantryman. Serving in various enlisted leadership positions from Team Leader, Squad Leader, Weapon’s Squad Leader, Drill Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, and First Sergeant. SFC Alexander’s previous assignments include 1st Battalion 28th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion 1st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion 15th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion…
  • SFC Carlson has served 22 years in the United States Army, leading operational Infantry Soldiers as a SBCT Rifle Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant, an assistant Operations Sergeant at the BN and BDE level, and an acting BN OPS SGM. SFC Carlson has also served as an Observer, Coach/Trainer in the 1st Army, an Army Recruiter, and a Staff Admin at NATO LANDCOM in Izmir, Turkey. SFC Carlson has five combat deployments to the IRAQ AOR with the 82nd Airborne / 4th SBCT and an Operational deployment…
  • Staff Sergeant Susan Wendland is a native of Hamilton, Ohio. She graduated from Hamilton High School in 2007. She entered in the United States Army on 7 April 2009, attending Military Police One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. She is married to Mariana Arias and they have 1 daughter, Harlow (2). SSG Wendland has held many leadership positions to include: Team Leader, Squad Leader, Drill Sergeant, Senior Drill Sergeant, Senior Desk Sergeant, and Military Police…
  • SFC Kenyon enlisted in the United States Army from Rochester, NY in 2006. He completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, Georgia as an Infantryman. Serving in various enlisted leadership positions from Team Leader, Squad Leader, Recruiter, Drill Sergeant, and Platoon Sergeant SFC Kenyon's previous assignments include 2-2IN 1st Infantry Division, 1-73rd CAV 82nd Airborne Division, Albany Recruiting BN, 2-506 IN 101st Airborne Division, 2-58 IN 198th Training BDE, and 1-505 PIR…
  • Recruiting Operations Officer
    Recruiting and Retention
    CSM (RET) Joseph LaPlante Jr. was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He completed Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from January 1977 to September 1977. He served as a Fire Support Specialist, Armorer, and Career Counselor for B Battery, 1st Battalion, 29th FA from 1978 to 1980 at Fort Carson, Colorado. In October 1981, he completed the Army Recruiter Course and was assigned as a Field Recruiter to the New Bedford,…
  • MAJ Evan McGhee commissioned from the United States Military Academy, West Point in 2008 and was assigned to 1-73rd Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC.  While with the 1-73rd MAJ McGhee deployed to Haiti in support of Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE and Iraq (Operation NEW DAWN). Upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2014, MAJ McGhee was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he deployed to Uganda (Operation…
  • CPT Pat Mitchell was born and raised in Foxboro, Massachusetts and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2013 with a B.S. in Economics. Upon graduation, CPT Mitchell commissioned as a Transportation Officer and attended the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Lee, VA. He served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion S4 in the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command at Fort Lewis, WA. After graduating from the Logistics Captain’s Career Course, CPT…
  • MAJ James Moats arrived to the University of New Hampshire 01 March 2021. Prior to this assignment, MAJ Moats served as Field Artillery and TRADOC advisor to the Royal Saudi Land Forces with Unites States Military Training Mission, CENTCOM December 2019 – February 2021. As a Captain MAJ Moats Commanded the New Hampshire Recruiting Company, USAREC December 2016 – November 2020. MAJ Moats served as the Assistant Operations Officer for 1-9 Field Artillery June 2015 – November 2016.  MAJ Moats…
  • Military Personnel Tech.
    HR & Office Management
    Brenda is the personnel and administrative expert here at UNH Army ROTC. She is responsible for the handling of all cadet records and fielding all technical questions related to the program and military benefits.
  • Captain Luke Rand is from Derry, New Hampshire, and graduated from Norwich University in 2015 where he earned a Bachelor’ degree in Criminal Justice and was commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer. His first duty assignment was in 1-319th Airborne Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as a Maintenance Control Officer and Executive Officer. He was then assigned as the Executive Officer for Headquarters and Headquarter Company, 82nd Brigade…
  • Career Counselor
    Major Sanders started his higher education at Missouri State University with a degree in Public Administration, Urban & Regional Planning. He later received his M.S. degree in Economic Development, Community, and Regional Planning from University of Southern Maine. He began his Military Career branching into the Infantry as an enlisted soldier and achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class. Choosing to continue his career in the Officer Corp, he attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and…
  • CPT Maxwell Smith was born and raised in Jamestown, New York and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2015 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation, CPT Smith commissioned as an Infantry Officer and attended the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Moore, GA. Following completion of IBOLC and follow on schools, CPT Smith was assigned to 2-70th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS. While at Fort Riley, CPT Smith served as an Infantry…