Commanding Officer

Captain Bauknecht was raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from Auburn University in March 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management. Captain Bauknecht was commissioned through the NROTC program.

Following his designation as a naval aviator in May 1986, he reported to HSL-41 in San Diego, California, for initial SH-60B Seahawk training. Captain Bauknecht's first operational assignment was with HSL-42 in Mayport, Florida. He completed a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf where he participated in Operation "Praying Mantis" aboard USS Simpson (FFG-56). While assigned to HSL-42, he was temporarily assigned as air officer on the staff of COMDESRON 36 for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in the summer of 1989.

Following his initial sea tour, he reported to VX-1 in December 1989. He was assigned to the squadron's evaluation section as LAMPS MK III Operational Test Director. In this position, he was responsible for the LAMPS MK III integration of the Penguin Missile System. Subsequently, he conducted the first operational test of the Penguin Missile.

In April 1991, Captain Bauknecht joined Carrier Group Eight on deployment on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) as Flag Lieutenant. He then went to Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. Following graduation, Captain Bauknecht reported to HSL-41 as the training officer. He departed HSL-41 in December 1995 for his next tour of duty at HSL-37 in Barbers Point, Hawaii. He deployed as Officer-in-Charge of Detachment Seven, a two aircraft detachment, aboard USS Fletcher (DD-992) to the Persian Gulf. Ashore, he served as squadron Maintenance Officer.

In April 1998, Captain Bauknecht reported to the Pentagon as an Aviation Program Analyst, in the OPNAV Planning and Programming Division (N80). Following his tour in OPNAV, Captain Bauknecht became a student at the USMC Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia. He graduated in June 2000 and reported as Executive Officer of HSL-42.

In January 2002, Captain Bauknecht assumed command of HSL-42. Following his command tour, he reported to the Pentagon as the Head Helicopter Requirements officer on the staff of the Director of Air Warfare (OPNAV N78).

Captain Bauknecht assumed command of HSL-40, the Navy’s East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) for the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, in April 2005. Following his bonus command tour, he reported to Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. During this year tour, Captain Bauknecht served as the Director of the Maritime Operations Center (MOC).

In July 2008, Captain Bauknecht reported to Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet at Naval Base Coronado, San Diego, California. He served as the Commander from February 2010 to July 2011.

Captain Bauknecht’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (two gold stars) and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Executive Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Albert Lagore is a proud native of Philadelphia, PA. He was commissioned in May of 1990 through the NROTC program at Marquette University and reported to The Basic School followed by the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course.

Lieutenant Colonel Lagore’s tours in the operating forces include Battery B 1/10 and Fire Support Officer with the 26th MEU and command of Battery A 1/10 in Camp Lejeune, NC. As a major, he served as the 4th Marines Regimental Fire Support Coordinator and Executive Officer of 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines in Okinawa. His major deployments include operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997 as well as the transitions team chief in An Najaf and Al Anbar, Iraq from 2005 to 2006.

Lieutenant Colonel Lagore's “B” Billets have all been with the Army of Northern Virginia. He served as an Action Officer and Aide de Camp with the Marine Corps Recruiting Command and years later as a Career Assignments Monitor in Manpower. His most recent “B” billet was as the Artillery/Rockets Requirements Officer at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. The latter of these resident schools allowed for attaining a Master’s of Military Studies.

Lieutenant Colonel Lagore's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards) and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards) as well as various other decorations.

2/C Advisor

Lieutenant Daniel Martz is a native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Lieutenant Martz initially enlisted in the navy in 2001 and began training as a nuclear field electronics technician and reactor operator. During his training he distinguished himself and was selected for the Seaman to Admiral program. After completing his training as a reactor operator, he transferred to the ROTC unit at The Citadel where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Following commissioning in 2006, he completed the nuclear training pipeline a second time and then attended submarine officer basic course. He then completed the nuclear training pipeline again, as well as attending navy dive school and submarine officer basic course.

Lieutenant Martz’s initial sea tour was onboard the USS Oklahoma City(SSN-723), where he served as ship's diving officer, damage control assistant, chemical and radiological controls assistant, communications officer and assistant weapons officer. He reported at the tail end of a CENTCOM deployment at the end of 2007, and then took the ship to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for an overhaul and modernization period which was completed successfully shortly after his departure in 2010. In the summer of 2009, he took a brief break from the shipyard to complete his qualifications as a submarine officer on board USS San Juan (SSN 751).

After leaving the boat in October of 2010, he spent a year overseas working as the assistant submarine operations officer at Fifth Fleet/Naval Forces Central Command. He then reported to Marquette NROTC in December of 2010.

He is currently assigned as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science, Junior Class Advisor, and Nuclear Programs Officer. He teaches Weapon Systems and Engineering.

His decorations include two Navy Achievement Medals, a Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terror Service and Expeditionary Medals, and various others.

3/C Advisor

Lieutenant Jon-Andrew Anderson graduated from the University of Nebraska and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer. His first assignment was as Main Propulsion Officer and Electrical Officer in USS MOMSEN (DDG 92) from 2007-2008. He fleeted up for his second division officer tour in MOMSEN and served as the Navigator/Administration Officer 2008-2011.

Aboard MOMSEN he was certified as a Search and Rescue Swimmer and served as a part of MOMSEN’s Visit Board Search and Seizure team for two Western Pacific and Horn of Africa deployments with the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group.

At Marquette LT Anderson is an Instructor for Seamanship, Naval Operations, and Navigation, the sophomore midshipmen advisor and the Nurse Corps Club advisor. He is also a candidate for a M.A. in International Affairs.

LT Anderson’s personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, the Global War on Terror Service and Expeditionary Medal, the Coast Guard Special Operations award, and various others.

4/C Advisor

Lieutenant Jonathan Jacesko is a proud native of Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated with honors from the U. S. Naval Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a minor in French. He then received a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Maine in 2005. After reporting to flight school in Pensacola, FL, LT Jacesko earned his Naval Flight Officer "Wings of Gold" in November, 2006. His first assignment was to Patrol Squadron 26 at Naval Air Station Brunswick, ME, flying in the P-3C Orion multi-mission aircraft. During that tour he completed two six-month deployments, the first in the CENTCOM theater of operations--for which his squadron earned the Battle "E"--and the second in the EUCOM and SOUTHCOM theaters. Personal qualifications include Patrol Plane Tactical Coordinator and Mission Commander.

LT Jacesko is currently assigned to Marquette Naval ROTC as the Fourth-Class Advisor. His personal awards include the Strike/Flight Air Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, and various other decorations.

MOI

Captain Peterson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant via the Marine Enlisted Commissioning and Education Program (MECEP) in December of 2004 after graduating from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology.

Prior to being commissioned Captain Peterson served in the enlisted ranks on active duty for eight and half years. Beginning his career in MCRD San Diego in June 1996 Captain Peterson graduated boot camp as the series honor guide earning him a meritorious promotion to Lance Corporal. After completing MCT and his occupational specialty school in Aberdeen, Md as an Electro-Optical Ordnance Repair Technician, He was assigned to 2nd Bn, 8th Marines in Camp Lejeune. Serving as the battalion “optics tech” through a deployment to Japan and a NATO exercise in Greece, he was promoted to Sgt just prior to receiving orders to the 10th Marine Regiment in April of 2000. At 10th Marines he served as the regimental armory chief and assistant ordnance officer. While serving in this billet Sgt Peterson was selected both to MECEP as well as to SSgt. SSgt Peterson departed 10th Marines in June 2002 to begin MECEP and earn his commission.

After completing The Basic School in October 2005 and the Marine Corps Engineer School in February 2006, he was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion where he served as Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer of Support Company. While a platoon commander with Charlie Company 2nd Lieutenant Peterson supported 2nd Bn, 8th Marines as their Engineer Officer departing in July 2006 for OIF 05-07. Upon returning to CONUS 1st Lieutenant Peterson was assigned as the Executive Officer for Charlie Company during which he deployed with the company in September 2007 in support of RCTs 2 and 5 during OIF 06-08. 1st Lieutenant Peterson returned in April 2008 and assumed command of Engineer Support Company in May 2008. In March of 2009 Captain Peterson unfurled the Delta Company guidon and assumed command to lead D Company into Afghanistan in support of RCT 3 for Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon returning in November 2009 he again resumed command of Engineer Support Company until his departure for MOI duty at Marquette University.

Captain Peterson’s personal awards include the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device and gold star, the Navy-Marine Corp Achievement Medal with gold star, Combat Action Ribbon with gold star, and the Good Conduct Medal with bronze star.

AMOI

Gunnery Sergeant Eakathat Khanthasa enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1997 and graduated Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA as a PFC in April. After completing Marine Combat Training/School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, CA, he reported to Supply School at Camp Johnson, NC, where he learned to manage basic supply stock control as a clerk. His first duty assignment was to Marine Corps Air Station, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Cherry Point, NC for duty as a fiscal clerk. While serving there he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

In 2001 Sergeant Khanthasa received orders to 9th Marine Corps District, Recruiting Headquarters, Indianapolis, IN where he served in an “A” billet assignment as supply clerk, and also as the Color Sergeant. Sergeant Khanthasa was in direct support of all the Recruiting Stations and Sub-stations in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. While stationed there he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Staff Sergeant Khanthasa wanted to challenge himself and further his career so he requested orders to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. Starting in January 2005, he went through months of rigorous training and learned the skills he needed to turn civilians into Marines. Upon gradation, he was assigned to 2d Recruit Training Battalion, Fox Company where he did his “B” billet assignment serving as a Drill Instructor for 4 full cycles and Senior Drill Instructor for 3. He then moved to Echo Company where he served as Chief Drill Instructor for 2 full cycles. Staff Sergeant Khanthasa also served as an Academics Instructor with Support Company until 2008.

After completing his tour as a Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant Khanthasa received orders to report to Camp Pendleton, Jacksonville, NC, where he was assigned to 2d Marine Logistics Group as the Supply Chief for Combat Logistics Battalion-26 where he deployed twice, first aboard USS San Antonio and then aboard USS Ponce. After being deployed, Staff Sergeant Khanthasa wanted to make a greater impact on the leadership of the Marine Corps, so he decided to submit a package to become an assistant Marine officer instructor.

In January of 2011, Staff Sergeant Khanthasa received orders to Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the assistant Marine officer instructor. En route to his new duty station he served at Officer Candidate School, where he was selected and promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. He has been serving at Marquette since September 2011.

Gunnery Sergeant Khanthasa’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Four Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

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