LTC SHERMAN C. WATSON
Professor of Military Science
Contact Information:Phone: 334-718-3418
Email: swatson@tuskegee.edu
Lieutenant Colonel Sherman C. Watson Jr. is from Evergreen, Alabama. He enlisted in the Alabama National Guard in 1996 with 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment as a Unit Supply Specialist. He graduated from Auburn University Montgomery and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery in May 2001.
LTC Watson first duty assignment was 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery, 212th Fires Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While assigned to 2-18 FA BN he served as Platoon Leader, and deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM as a Battery Executive Officer. Upon redeployment from Iraq, LTC Watson was assigned as the Battalion’s Ammunition Officer and S1. LTC Watson’s follow-on assignment was 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, where he assumed command of Bravo Battery, then deployed to Mosul, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. LTC Watson later served as a Task Force Fire Support Observer Controller, Operations Group Rotational Exercise Planner, and Operations Group Chief of Plans with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany. LTC Watson was selected to attend, the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) following the Command and General Staff College. He deployed and served as the Operational Planner at ISAF Joint Command (IJC) CJ35 Future Operations Kabul, Afghanistan. Upon redeployment LTC Watson was assigned to 1st Armored Division where he served as the Battalion Operations Officer for 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Battalion, and Brigade Executive Officer for 1st Armored Division Artillery. In 2016, LTC Watson was assigned to 25th Infantry Division Headquarters Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he served as a SAMS Planner in the G35. In 2017, LTC Watson served as the Secretary for the General Staff (SGS) III Corps Forward/CJTF Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR), Iraq/Syria. LTC Watson commanded 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood Texas May 2018-June 2020. LTC Watson served as Senior Army Instructor at Army Joint Support Team Hurlburt Field Florida June 2020-June 2021. In July 2021, LTC Watson was assigned as Professor of Military Science (PMS) at ۿ۴ýUniversity.
LTC Watson holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Auburn University Montgomery, a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University, and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious
Service Medal (3 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (4 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
LTC Watson is married and have one son and one daughter.
MSG MICHAEL E. SIMPKINS
Senior Military Instructor
Contact Information:
Email: msimpkins@tuskegee.edu
Telephone: (334) 727-8385
MSG Michael E. Simpkins joined the Army in September of 2003 and attended One Station Unit Training (O.S.U.T.) at Fort Knox Kentucky, graduating as a 19 Delta Cavalry Scout.
MSG Simpkins is a graduate of: Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Combat Trackers Course, Military Army Combative Program (MACP) Courses Level 1-2, SFA Foreign Weapons Course, Small Group Instructor Training Course, Cavalry Leaders Course, Heavy Weapons Leaders Course, Master Resilience Trainer Course, Air Assault School, Sniper School, Airborne School, Jump Master School, Drill Sergeant School, and Ranger School.
MSG Simpkins previous assignments include 2nd SQDN 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 3rd SQDN 89th Cavalry Regiment 4th BDE 10th MNT DIV, 1st Battalion 509th ABN BDE Fort Polk, La from 2003-2008 where he served as a Driver, Gunner, Sniper Team Leader, and Section Leader. 1st SQDN 91st Cavalry Regiment 173rd ABN BDE Schweinfurt Germany from 2008-2011 where he served as a Scout Section Leader. 5th SQDN 15th Cavalry Regiment Fort Benning, GA from 2011-2012 where he served as a Drill Sergeant. United States Army Drill Sergeant School (USADSS) from 2012-2014 where he served as a Drill Sergeant Leader and Senior Drill Sergeant Leader. 1st SQDN 73rd Cavalry Regiment 2nd BDE 82nd ABN DIV Fort Bragg, NC from 2014-2019 where he served as a Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Operations Sergeant Major.
MSG Simpkins Combat experience include: Mosul, Iraq 2006-2007 In Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a Sniper Team Leader. Logar Province, Afghanistan 2009-2010 in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as a Scout Section Leader. Mosul, Iraq 2016-2017 in Support of Operation Inherent Resolve where he served as a Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant.
MSG Simpkins awards and decorations include Purple Heart, Bronze Star, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 5 Army Accommodation medals, 5 Army Achievement Medals, Meritorious Unit Award, 6 Army Good Conduct medals, National defense service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w 2 Campaign Stars, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3rd award), the Army Service Ribbon, The Army Overseas Service Ribbon (4th award), the NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Expert in Competition (Riffle) badge, and Ranger Tab. He is also a recipient of the Prestigious Order of Saint George.
CPTEstefania E.Snyder
MSIVINSTRUCTOR
Contact Information:
Email:
Telephone: (334) 727-8379
CPT Estefania E. Snyder was born in the Republic of Panama (Central America) and relocated to Douglasville, GA at the age of 12. She entered the active military service in March, 2010. She attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Upon completion of training, she was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 68W, Combat Medic. She is a graduate of Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course, Warrior Leader Course (Commandants list), Unit Prevention Leader Course, Combatives Level I, Combat Life Saver Course, Defense Language Institute’s Pashto Phase 1 Course, Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected Vehicle Course, Joint Capabilities Release Course, and Tactical Ground Reporting System Operator Course.
CPT Snyder’s first assignment was to Charlie Company 325th Brigade Support Battalion out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in October 2010 as a Combat Medic. In April of 2011, she was deployed to Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as an attachment to HHC 325th BSB as a Battalion Personal Security Detail (PSD) Medic. Following her deployment in April 2012, she was reassigned as a medic to HHC, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment as part of the Women in Combat Roles Pilot Program. She moved to Ft. Bragg in September 2013, where she was assigned to HHC, 44thMedical Brigade as the Brigade Command Suite NCOIC. In 2014, she was awarded a Green to Gold 3-year Scholarship and earned her commission from the University of South Carolina’s Army ROTC Program. She selected to branch Field Artillery. Upon completion of FA BOLC, CPT Snyder was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 11Th Field Artillery out of Schofield Barracks, HI. She served as the interim Battalion Medical Officer, 2-14CAV B Troop Fire Support Officer (FSO), and the Brigade Assistant FSO.
CPT Snyder now lives in Eufaula, Alabama serving the ROTC program here at ۿ۴ýUniversity. She is married to another Army service member, and she has a 13 year old daughter.
MR. MICHAEL BENTON
MS IInstructor
Contact Information:
Email: mbenton@tuskegee.edu
Cell Phone: (313)-848-5755
Mr. Michael Benton was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to the proud parents of Marvin Benton and Gina Jones. He is the middle child of seven. Michael had the privilege of attending Davis Aerospace Technical High School, where he discovered his passion for engineering. While in high school Michael completed one year of JROTC where he served as class leader. Prior to graduating from high school in 2009, Michael was awarded the prestigious Army ROTC National Scholarship, which afforded him the opportunity to attend ۿ۴ýUniversity.
Michael graduated from ۿ۴ýUniversity in May 2014, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Aerospace Engineering and commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant. He maintained a 3.3 GPA while participating in organizations such as the Michigan Club and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). His accomplishments include Battalion Commander for the Golden Tiger Battalion 2012, graduate of Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC) in Fort Lewis, Washington, Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Ranger Challenge, and Color Guard. His awards and decorations include the Superior Cadet Decoration Award, APFT Gold Award, and Cadet of the Month Award.
After graduating from Tuskegee, Michael served as a Recruiting Officer for the Army ROTC program until he reported to the Basic Officer Leader Course. Upon graduating from the Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course (EBOLC) in December 2014, Michael was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he served as an Engineer Officer for four years. He deployed to Afghanistan in September 2015 where he served as a combat engineer platoon leader. As a result of Michael’s courage and tenacity during his deployment, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. Michael now lives in Montgomery, Alabama and is happily married to Dr. Brooke Robinson Benton, a family physician and former student of Fort Deposit Elementary School. He enjoys inspiring the youth and looks forward to getting involved in the Montgomery community. Michael now serves in the United Army Reserve as an Engineer Officer assigned to the 926 Engineer Brigade Headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama.
MRS. BRENDA MCDADE
Human Resources Technician
Contact Information:
Email: bmcdade@tuskegee.edu
Telephone: (334) 727-8789
Mrs. Brenda McDade was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, at John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital, the facilitynow home to the U.S. National Bioethics Center on the campus of ۿ۴ýUniversity; shewas reared in Montgomery, Alabama. She is agraduatefromAlabama A & M University, Normal, Alabama, in 1984, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management.
Mrs. McDade has been employed by the Department ofDefense and with the Army ROTC program for over 29years as aHuman Resource Assistant. She began her career with the Auburn University “Tiger” Battalion in 1984, andtransferred to ۿ۴ýUniversity's “Golden Tiger” Battalion in 1994.
Mrs. McDade is a member of the Mt. Meigs Church of Christ where her husband serves as the Assistant Pastor and Youth Minister. Mrs. McDade and her husband Anthony have six children: Vinson, Anginetta, Breanna, Antonia, Anthonese, and Anthony II.