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Cornell University

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps

NROTC at Cornell University

Active Duty & Civilian Staff

Captain Scott A. Hardy, USN

Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science

 

The son of an Army Master Sergeant, CAPT Scott “Cooter” Hardy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1986 attending boot camp at MCRD San Diego.  His tours included HMH-462 in Tustin, CA and HMX-1 in Quantico VA where he supported Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. from 1987 to 1991.  After transitioning to the Marine Reserves, he attended Texas A&M University graduating in 1994.  In the summer of 1995 he attended Officer Candidate School at NAS Pensacola and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1997.

CAPT Hardy is currently serving as the Commander of the Cornell University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. He most recently served as the Commander of Fleet Activities Okinawa where his command encompassed five installations, 30 tenant commands and 2000 Sailors.  In that tour, he was the Senior Navy Officer on Okinawa working in close coordination with his joint service partners, local mayors and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.

His operational sea tours include a Flag Air Ops tour with Carrier Strike Group Eleven (CCSG-11), on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) from 2014 to 2016; Commanding Officer tour with the Patriots of VAQ-140 in NAS Whidbey Island from Jan 2014 to Jun 2014; Commanding Officer tour with the Gauntlets of VAQ-136 at NAF Atsugi Japan on USS George Washington (CVN 73) and NAS Whidbey Island for transition from the EA-6B to the EA-18G from 2011 to 2014; Department Head tour with VAQ-135 Black Ravens with CVW-11, on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) from 2006 to 2009; Junior Officer tour with the Gauntlets of VAQ-136 at NAF Atsugi Japan and aboard USS Independence (CV 62) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) from 1998 to 2001.

His Individual Augmentee tours include Joint CREW Composite Squadron One (JCCS-1) in Baghdad, Iraq as the Assistant Director of Training from 2009 to 2010 and as Future Operations Officer for COMUSNAVCENT, Bahrain from 2003 to 2005.

His shore tours include Department Head tour for HAVOC, the EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack Weapons School, at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV from 2016 to 2018; Instructor tour with the EA-6B Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) at NAS Whidbey Island from 2010 to 2011; Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, Alabama earning a Masters of Military Science from 2005 to 2006; Instructor tour with the EA-6B FRS at NAS Whidbey Island from 2001 to 2003.

CAPT Hardy is married to the former Brandi Dawson.  They have two children: Bryce (17) and Skyler (9).  He has accumulated over 2800 hours in the EA-6B, EA-18G & C-12 aircraft and 845 carrier arrestments.  He holds nine personal decorations and numerous other citations.

 

Major Edwin B. Powers, USMC

Executive Officer and Associate Professor of Naval Science

 

Major Edwin “Ted” Powers is a native of Evanston, Illinois. He commissioned in May 2011 via the Platoon Leaders Class. He was the Supply Officer for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (2012-13) and Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (2014).

 

In 2015, he reported to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center as the Supply Officer. He also served as the Headquarters Company Commander for two years and earned the Winter Mountain Leader additional military occupational specialty.

 

He graduated with distinction from resident Expeditionary Warfare School in 2019. He then reported to the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit and served as the Supply Officer for the final rotation of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa in 2020. 

In July 2021, he assumed his current billet as Cornell University Naval ROTC Executive Officer and Marine Officer Instructor.

Major Powers is a graduate of the University of Maryland (BA, English and Communication) and Michigan State University (MS, Management, Strategy, and Leadership). Major Powers’ decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals. He placed first (2015, “Would You Follow You?”) and second (2016, “Fatherhood as Leadership”) in the Marine Corps Gazette Hogaboom Leadership Essay Contest. He was the 2020 First Lieutenant Travis Manion Marine Corps Officer Logistician of the Year. 

He is married to Major Megan Powers, USMCR. They have recently welcomed their newborn son, Lincoln into the Big Red family.

 

Lieutenant Tyler A. Durst, USN

Aviation Officer and Visiting Lecturer

 

Lieutenant Tyler Akira Durst was raised in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from The University of South Carolina Beaufort, earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. LT Durst received his commission through Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in 2018.

Following OCS graduation, LT Durst reported to Pensacola, Florida for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API). Upon completion of API, he reported to VT-10 at NAS Pensacola for primary flight training and then reported across the street to VT-4 for advanced training in the big wing community, where he earned his “Wings of Gold” as a qualified Naval Flight Officer selected to fly the P-8 Poseidon in 2019.

LT Durst then reported to VP-30 in Jacksonville, Florida to complete the P-8 Fleet Replacement Squadron syllabus before reporting to VP-4 at NAS Whidbey Island in 2020. During his tour with VP-4, LT Durst qualified as a Tactical Coordinator (TACCO) leading his crews in mission sets across various sites in the FIFTH and SIXTH Fleet AORs and in coordinated exercises in Hawaii and at home with over 40 hours of adversary submarine tracking. LT Durst served as VP-4’s Ground Safety Officer, Tactical Publications Officer, Preflight Insertion Data Officer, Command Budget Officer, NFO Tactics Officer and finished his tour as the Current Operations Officer.

In July of 2023, LT Durst assumed his current billet as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science and Naval Aviation Advisor for NROTC Unit at Cornell University.

LT Tyler Akira Durst has received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various campaign, service, and unit awards. As a Naval Aviator, he has accumulated over 800 mishap-free flight hours in various training as well as big wing aircraft. 

Lieutenant Brandy M. Kinnunen, USN

Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer and Visiting Lecturer

 

Lieutenant Brandy Kinnunen grew up in a Navy family, having the opportunity to live all around the United States for the first half of her childhood before her family eventually settled in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She graduated from Marquette University in May 2018, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a commission through the Marquette NROTC program.

Her first sea tour was on the USS ROSS (DDG 71), homeported in Rota, Spain. While there, she served as the Operations Intelligence Division Officer and participated in two and a half forward deployed Ballistic Missile Defense patrols in the SIXTH Fleet AOR. During those patrols, she participated in multiple operations with NATO allies, to include BALTOPS 2019 and three separate operations with the FS CHARLES DE GAULLE (R91) Carrier Strike Group. In May 2020, she earned her Surface Warfare Officer qualification.

In June 2020, Lieutenant Kinnunen reported to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command and then later to Nuclear Power Training Unit – colloquially known as ‘Prototype’ – in Charleston, SC. She completed her nuclear training in July 2021.

Lieutenant Kinnunen served onboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) from August of 2021 through September of 2023. There, she held the position of Reactor Controls Division Officer during an 18-month docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA. Following the DPIA, she conducted a homeport shift to San Diego, CA, where she participated in sea trials and deployment work-up certifications as the Assistant Reactor Electrical Assistant (A-REA).

In October 2023, Lieutenant Kinnunen assumed her current billet as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science and the Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer Advisor for the Cornell University NROTC Unit.

Her personal awards include a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various service and unit awards.

Gunnery Sergeant Shawn R. Green, USMC

Assistant Marine Officer Instructor

 

Gunnery Sergeant Green was born on 16 January 1987 in Glendale, California. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 5 May 2006. He attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Pendleton, California. Following completion of MCT, he attended Military Occupational Specialty School at 29 Palms, California, for Tropospheric Multi Channel Equipment Operator course (0623).

In December 2006, GySgt Green received orders to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 Miramar, California, where he served as the Transportable Radio Communications-170 operator. In June 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Lance corporal.

In July 2008, GySgt Green deployed to Korean Village, Iraq as a Radio Operator in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In January 2009, he returned from deployment back to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and continued with his term at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.

In June 2010, GySgt Green received temporary Assigned Duty orders to the Advisor Training Cell located at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. While there he was assigned the billet of Machine Gunner and Radio Chief. In October 2010, Sergeant Green deployed to southern Afghanistan with Border Mentor Team Two. In May he returned from a successful deployment and returned back to his parent command at MCAS, Miramar, California.

On 2 January 2012, GySgt Green reported to Drill Instructor school located at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. While serving as a Drill Instructor. GySgt Green completed seven full cycles and finished as a Senior Drill Instructor. He was then sent to the Battalion routing office where he was First Battalions Routing Chief.

In May 2015, GySgt Green Received orders to 7th Communication Battalion, Okinawa, Japan. Once he arrived, he assumed the billet of Platoon Sergeant. He was later sent on temporary Assigned duty (TAD) to Special Operations Training Group in order to support an exercise in the PACOM region. On 1 October 2015, GySgt Green was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was then sent to be 7th Communications Head Quarters Company Gunnery Sergeant.

In October 2018, GySgt Green received orders to 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO). Once he arrived he assumed the billet as 2nd Brigade Communication Chief as well as the Brigade Platoon Sergeant. During his time at ANGLICO he supported the exercises Cobra Gold 19, Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) 19.2, and National Training Center (NTC) rotation 20-05.

GySgt Green’s personal decorations include one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals in lieu of second award.

GySgt Green is married to Yumi Green. They have (1) son: Rico Shirai Green (1yr).

 

 

 

Mr Gary J. Bartholf

Chief Supply Tech

 

Mr. Bartholf was born and raised in Ithaca, New York. After a brief stint in the hotel food & beverage management career in Washington, DC, Mr. Bartholf enlisted in the US Navy in April of 1995. During his enlistment, he did a combat tour in Iraq from 2006 – 2007 in support of Iraqi Freedom. After spending 20+ years in Logistics and as Military Police. He retired from active duty in May of 2015.

He is currently the Chief Supply Tech for Cornell Naval ROTC.

Ms Terri A. Bird

Executive Administration

 

Mrs. Bird returned to Upstate NY in 2021 after more than 25 years in the NY and Philadelphia Metropolitan areas working for high profile executives in major Fortune 500 companies.  She brings with her years of C-Suite executive experience across multiple corporate industries. That experience helps her enable the unit and its students to excel.

She is currently the head Executive Administrator for Cornell Navy ROTC. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Robert Roy

Human Resources Administration

 

Mr. Roy is from Norfolk, NY. He has served as the unit’s HRA since November 2019. His tasks include processing scholarship applications for incoming Midshipmen, resolving medical and payment issues, and processing commissioning paperwork. Mr. Roy served in the US Air Force for 20 years and retired in February 2009 as a Staff Sergeant.

Mr. Roy was stationed in San Antonio at Lackland AFB for a little over four years. While at Lackland AFB, Mr. Roy worked in the ID Card section and in the Separations and Retirements section during the drawdown of the early ’90s. His most significant involvement while at Lackland AFB was the recall of over 5,000 former AF active duty members during Desert Shield/Storm.

He then spent four years in Belgium stationed at Chievres AB as the unit’s HRA. While stationed there, he supported the mission to fly the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) to various destinations from his headquarters at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). His most significant duties were the processing of awards, decorations, and performance reports that required the SACEUR’s signature.

Mr. Roy was also stationed at Bolling AFB in Washington DC for about five years, Where he served as the NCOIC of the performance evaluations and customer service section. Mr. Roy also served as the base deployment manager at Bolling AFB. While serving in this position his actions as a member of the Crisis Action Team on 9-11 ensured 100% accountability of all AF military personnel and their family members at Bolling AFB as well as the deployment of additional AF security forces to safeguard Bolling AFB from other AFB’s and successful relocation of the AF’s senior leadership from the Pentagon to a secure location at Bolling AFB, thus ensuring the continuation and continuity of AF operations and response to 9-11.

During the last seven years of his Air Force career, Mr. Roy was the unit HRA for the Cornell Air Force ROTC Detachment.  After retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Roy held several positions with various organizations and businesses prior to joining the NROTC Unit at Cornell in 2019.  During this time, Mr. Roy earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, as well as three Graduate Level Certifications, focused on Non-Profit Management, Human Resources, and Veterans Affairs. He has also continued his educational goals by taking classes toward his Master’s degree in Business Administration.