LTC Michael J. Smith

Professor of Military Science, Battalion Commander

Lieutenant Colonel Smith was born in Oklahoma City, OK and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps upon graduation from Old Dominion University in May 1993.

In his 19- year career, he has served as a Platoon Leader, Company Commander, various staff positions from Battalion, Brigade, and Division level commands, and as a senior advisor to the Afghanistan National Police. His assignments included the 4th Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), 1st Cavalry Division, and the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. He has served in several stateside locations including, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Virginia, and his overseas assignments include Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, and Germany.

His awards and decorations include three Bronze Star Medals, seven Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, six Army Achievement Medals, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, two National Defense Service Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal with one bronze star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon 5th award, four NATO Medals, Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge.

Mr. Steven Lopez

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Steve Lopez served 28 years as an Infantry Officer upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy. He served in Ranger and Mechanized Infantry units, Special Operations, and instructor assignments at the Infantry School and the U.S. Command and Staff College.

He commanded Mechanized Infantry and Psychological Operations Companies and a battalion comprised of CGSC instructors. Prior to becoming an Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Houston, he worked as a Controller for the U.S. Army Battle Command Training Program at Ft. Leavenworth. He retired from the army as a Lieutenant Colonel.  His awards include the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Expert Infantryman’s Badge. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the National Defense Service Medal.

MAJ Hope Usé

Executive Officer

Major Hope Usé commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of the Adjutant General Corps through Officer Candidate School (OCS). She graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Criminal Justice, and from Webster University with a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management.

She is a graduate of the Adjutant General Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, PSYOP Officer’s Course, and CAS3. Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Parachutist Badge. 

Mr. Timothy McGregor

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Timothy McGregor is a native of Austin, Texas. In 1989 he attended both Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He joined the Texas Army National Guard in September of 1994 and the Army Reserve in September of 1999, where he is currently a Sergeant Major.

His active assignments include Mechanized Infantryman, 3rd Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany; and Mechanized Infantryman, 24th Infantry Division, Ft Stewart, Georgia. His TXARNG assignments include Squad leader, Signal Specialist, Texas Troop Command, Houston, Texas. His Army Reserve assignments include Detachment First Sergeant, 450th Chemical Battalion, Houston, TX; Section leader, Signal Specialist, Battle Projection Group, Houston, TX; First Sergeant, Battle Projection Group, Houston, TX; Operations Sergeant Major, 2BCTG, Houston, TX, and Exercise Branch Alpha NCOIC, 2BCTG, Houston, Texas. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 as Iraqi Army trainer.

His military education includes Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic NCO Course, Advanced NCO Courses, 1SG Course, Battle Staff Course, SGM course. His civilian education consists of an Associate of Arts degree in English from North Harris County College; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Radio, TV, and Film from Sam Houston State University; and a Master’s in Education from Prairie View A&M University. He is currently working on another Associate degree in Business.

His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC); Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC); Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award); Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (4th OLC); National Defense Ribbon (2nd Award); Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Award; Global War On Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (M Device); NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3rd Award); Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Superior Unit Award; and the Combat Infantry Badge.

MSG Craig A. Buck

Senior Military Instructor

Master Sergeant Buck was born in Grand Island, Nebraska and enlisted in the United States Army on 4 April 1994.

He has served in nearly every position within an Infantry company, from rifleman, Sniper, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant and Company First Sergeant.

He is a graduate of the Warrior Leader Course, Advance Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, Air Assault Course, Rappel Master Course, Pathfinder Course, US Army Sniper School, Malaysian Combat Man-tracking School, Combat Lifesaver Course, and Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) Course.

His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal-5, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, two Iraq Campaign Medals with 5 bronze campaign stars, NCO Professional Development Ribbon-3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon-6, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge and the Order of St. Maurice (Centurion Level)

SFC Rian Harden

Sergeant First Class Harden was born in Urbana, Illinois and enlisted in the United States Army on 10 September 1997 as a 19K Armor Crewman.

He has served in nearly every position within an Armor/ Cavalry Unit, from Driver, Loader, Gunner and Tank Commander to Platoon Sergeant.

He is a graduate of the Warrior Leader Course, Advance Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, and Drill Sergeant School.

His awards and decorations include one Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal-4, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 2 Iraq Campaign Medals with 4 bronze campaign stars, NCO Professional Development Ribbon-3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon-4, Drill Sergeant Badge, and the Order of St. George (Bronze Level)

Mr. Roland Thomas

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Roland Thomas is a native of Houston, Texas. He enlisted in the Army on May 15, 1986 as a Chemical Operation Specialist. He attended the Basic Combat Training and Advance Individual Training at Ft. McClellan, AL. In 1989, he re-enlisted and changed his Military Occupation Specialty to Preventive Medicine (PM) Specialist.

His career has taken him to various assignment and duties. He served as the unit NBC NCO with the B-37th Engineer Company in FT Bragg, NC; PM Specialist for the 5th Preventive Medicine Unit in Yongsan, Korea; Squad Leader for 172nd Medical Detachment (MED DET) in Ft. Ord, CA; Detachment Sergeant for 172nd MED DET in Hunter Army Airfield, GA; PM Leader for the 1st Support Battalion of Sinai, Egypt; Instructor/Writer for the Academy of Health Services at Ft Sam Houston, TX; Platoon Sergeant and PM Division NCOIC for the 123rd Main Support Battalion of Wiesbaden, Germany; and his last assignment as PM Division NCOIC for General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, MO.

He deployed to the following exercises and operations: Task Force ARRIBA 89 in Honduras, Central America; Display Determination in Turkey; Flood Relief of 1994 in Macon, GA; Operation Bright Star 1994 and 1995 in Egypt; Operation Sea Signal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Olympic Support in 1996 at Atlanta, GA; and the Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) in Sinai, Egypt. In his last deployment, he was assigned with the 1st Armored Division for 15 month. He served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom within Baghdad, Iraq and Operation Iron Saber in the areas south of Baghdad.  He retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class.

His  military education includes the: Master Driver Course, Faculty Development Course, the Equal Opportunity Leadership Course, Airborne School, and Air Assault Course. He is a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic, and Advance Non Commissioned Officer Course. His civilian education and achievements include; a Associate Degree in General Studies from Central Texas College of Killeen, TX, a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University of Plainview, TX, and a Master of Science in Environmental Management from Webster University of St. Louis, MO.

His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Cluster, a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Humanitarian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with a Silver Knot, National Defense Service Medal, Global War Terrorism Expedition Medal, Global War Terrorism Service Medal, and U.S. Army Drivers’ Badge.

Ms. Lyza Gross

ROTC Recruiter

Ms. Lyza L. Gross is a native of Houston Texas. In May of 2007 she graduated with honors from Eisenhower High School. She enlisted in to the US Army Reserves and completed Basic Combat Training and Advance Individual Training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. In the spring of 2008 she enrolled into Prairie View A&M University where she then joined the University’s Army ROTC program. In the spring of 2012, Ms. Gross received her bachelors of science in psychology and commissioned into the US Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps.

2LT Steven B. Moon

Gold Bar Recruiter

Second Lieutenant Moon is a native of San Antonio, TX. In 2010, he entered the Army ROTC program at the University of Texas at San Antonio and commissioned into the Adjutant General Corps in 2012. While attending UTSA, he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and a Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Teaching.

As a cadet, he graduated from the Leader’s Training Course at Ft. Knox, KY and served with the Texas Army National Guard, 4-133^rd Field Artillery Battalion, under the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). His follow on assignment will be to serve on Active Duty with HHC, 4^th Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colorado upon completion of AGBOLC at Ft. Jackson, SC.

Civilian Cadre

Mr. Shawn Chase

Supply Technician

Email: slchase@central.uh.edu
Phone: 713-743-3878
Location: HP-44

Mrs. Susan Mangum

Office Coordinator

Email: smangum@uh.edu
Phone: 713-743-3875
Location: HP-28

Mrs. Audrey Smith

Human Resources Technician

Mrs. Melissa Pavlacka

Human Resources Technician