Cadre (Staff)
Lt. Col. Ernesto Curiel
Detachment 003 Commander
Professor of Aerospace Studies
3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Lt Col Ernesto F. Curiel, is is the Commander of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, Texas. He is responsible for recruiting, educating, training, and inspiring men and women to become the highest quality leaders in the United States Air Force.
Lt Col Curiel received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and commissioned from The Citadel in 2005. He attained a Master Buisness Administrative from Trident University in 2013.
Lt Col Curiel served as the Chief of Staff Executive Officer for both Headquarters United States Air Forces Central Command and 24th Numbered Air Force. He was selected to represent the National Air and Space Intelligence Center as a Liaison Officer while deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Lt Col Curiel also served as the Deputy Director for the Technical Coordination Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) with duty under the Defense Intelligence Agency at Patrick AFB, manned by 81 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. Concurrently, he worked as the Director of Operations for the Defense Intelligence Agency's Quick Reaction Capabilities Branch and led a team of 36 joint members, managing more than 50 funded national projects, over 6000 ISR assets, two dozen airborne and maritime capital assets, and five facilities on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, totaling over $40M. Prior to his current position he was the Detachment Commander for AFTAC, the organization established to provide state-of-health support for the Global Positioning System/Nuclear Detonation Detection System.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, The Citadel, Charleston, SC
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Master Business Administrative, Trident University
2017 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2005 – July 2006, Navigator Student, 562d Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
- August 2006 – July 2009, Radar Project Management Officer in Charge, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
(August 2008 – February 2009, Deployed NASIC LNO, Al Udeid AB, Qatar) - August 2009 – June 2010, Operations Support Section Officer in Charge, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
- July 2010 – July 2012, Orders Production Branch Chief, 624th Operations Center, Lackland AFB, TX
- August 2012 – April 2014, Chief of Staff Executive Officer, 24th NAF, Lackland AFB, TX
(July 2013 – January 2014, Deployed Chief of Staff Executive Officer, HQ AFCENT, Al Udeid AB, Qatar) - May 2014 – July 2015, Cyber Radar Sensors Branch Chief, Technical Collection Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center with duty under the Defense Intelligence Agency, Science and Technology Directorate, Patrick AFB, FL
- August 2015 – May 2017, Deputy Director, Technical Collection Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center with duty under the Defense Intelligence Agency, Science and Technology Directorate, Patrick AFB, FL
- June 2017 – June 2019, Commander, Detachment 46, 22nd Surveillance Squadron, 709th Surveillance & Analysis Group, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Schriever AFB, CO
- July 2019 – May 2022, Director of Staff, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL (March 2021 – October 2021, Deployed SOJTF-OIR/Levant Planner, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait)
- June 2022 – Present, Commander, AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, TX
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC) Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (2 OLC) National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
2017 U.S. AF Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Research Management of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
| Second Lieutenant | June 1, 2005 | |
| First Lieutenant | June 1, 2007 | |
| Captain | June 1, 2009 | |
| Major | October 1, 2015 | |
| Lieutenant Colonel | April 1, 2020 |
ACQUISITION CERTIFICATIONS
Level III, Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering Systems Engineer
Level I, Program Management
Level I, Science and Technology Manager
(Current as of June 2022)
Capt. David Whitfield
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Captain David Whitfield is the Education Officer for Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, Texas. He is accountable for 63 cadets who report to Air Education and Training Command’s Southwest Region. His primary focus is to ensure safe but effective training for those interested in pursuing a career as officers in the United States Air Force. This includes training on military history, focusing on physical fitness standards, mentorship, as well as providing sound leadership to future 2nd Lieutenants.
Captain Whitfield entered the Air Force in 2017 after graduating from Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Prior to his current position, he served as the Officer In-Charge in the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Mcguire Dix-Lakehurst. While there, he was accountable for 210 Airmen, managed support equipment valued at $704M, and provided leadership for 9 Air Force Specialty Codes. The core of his responsibilities also included long range planning that would enable partner aircraft units to provide supression of enemy air defenses, intelligence, air to air dominance, and humanitarian relief.
EDUCATION
2017 Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History, Xavier University of Louisiana
2017 Aircraft Maintenance Officer School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2021 Maintenance Officer Intermediate School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2022 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
- September 2017- July 2018, Flight Commander, Propulsion Flight, 35th Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
- July 2018 - December 2018, Flight Commander, Maintenance Flight, 35th Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
- December 2018 - February 2019, Flight Commander, Accessories Flight, 35th Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
- February 2019 - July 2019, Assistant Officer In-Charge, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
- July 2019 - March 2020, Assistant Officer In-Charge, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
- April 2020 - April 2021, Officer In-Charge, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
- April 2021 - May 2022, Maintenance Lead, KC-46 Program Integration Office, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
- June 2022 - Present, Recruiting and Education Officer, Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
Deployment History
- June 2021 - February 2022, Officer in Charge, Extender Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATION
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant - 14 May 2017
First Lieutenant - 23 May 2019
Captain - 24 May 2021
TSgt. Madison Robbins
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Administration3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Technical Sergeant Madison A Robbins is the Non-commissioned officer in charge of administration for cadets and cadre within Detachment 003. She is responsible for managing personnel records and processing administration tasks for 6 cadre, 24 AFIT/AECP students and over 77 cadets. She is responsible for the life cycle of over 100 cadets from 17 colleges and universities in the Houston Texas area.
EDUCATION
- 2009 Information Management Technical School, Keesler AFB, MS
- 2013 Airman Leadership School, Hill AFB, UT
- 2013 Community College of the Air Force, Information Resources Management Degree, Hill AFB, UT
- 2020 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, CO
ASSIGNMENTS
- November 2008-January 2009, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
- January 2009-April 2009, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler AFB, MS
- April 2009-January 2014, Wing Knowledge Operations, 75 Air Base Wing, Hill AFB, UT
- February 2014-January 2016, Supervisor Passenger Travel, Joint Forces Command NATO HQ, Naples, Italy
- January 2016-February 2018, NCOIC, Commander’s Action Group, JFC/US Navy NATO HQ, Naples, Italy
- February 2018-August 2021, NCOIC, Administration, Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Carson, CO
- August 2021-Present, NCOIC, Administration Management, AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Navy Commendation Medal
- Army Commendation Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
SSgt. Dacion Brown
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Personnel3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
EDUCATION
- 2018 Deliberate Crisis Action Planning & Execution Segment, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
- 2018 Silver Flag, Tyndall AFB, Florida
- 2020 Airmen Leadership School Altus AFB, Oklahoma
ASSIGNMENTS
- September 2016–November 2016, Trainee, 331st Basic Military Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
- November 2016–January 2017, Technical school student, Personnel Apprentice Course, 335th Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
- January 2017–July 2018, Force Management Technician, 97th Force Support Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma (July 2018–Feb 2019, PERSCO Sustainment, 379h Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
- April 2019–October 2021, Installation Readiness Technician, 97th Force Support Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
- October 2021–Present, NCOIC Personnel, AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- AF Outstanding Unit Award
- Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Mrs. Lisa Meza-Duran
Office Supervisor
3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Lisa Duran is Office Supervisor, Air Force ROTC Detachment 003, at the University of Houston. A University of Houston employee, Mrs. Duran is responsible for preparing officer candidates for Air Force commissioning through a comprehensive college program. Detachment 003 is composed of over 100 cadets from 17 colleges and universities in the Houston, Texas area.
Ms. Duran has been with Detachment 003 since it stood up.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Oct – Dec. 2006
- SW Region Civilian of the Year, 1 Jan. – 31 Dec. 2006
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Oct – Dec. 2007
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Jan. – 31 Mar 2008
- Sw Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 July – Sept. 2008
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Jan – Mar. 2010
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Apr – 30 June 2011
- SW Region Civilian of the Year, 1 Jan – 31 Dec. 2011
Air Force ROTC
University of Houston | 3875 Holman Street Room 109 | Houston TX 77204-5048
Phone: 713-743-4932 | afrotc@uh.edu
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