Cadre

Michael Ariano assumed duties as a Military Science Instructor and Military Historian at Loyola University, Maryland, in August 2025. He currently serves concurrently as a Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander with the 1174th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, Army Reserve. In 2004, he commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps, detailed to the Infantry. He holds a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science with minors in Mathematics and Meteorology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Michael's military assignments include Assault Platoon Leader (1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division), Executive Officer, Personal Security Detail (PSD) Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Assistant Brigade S-4, Brigade RESET Officer, J-3 Current Operations Officer, Mobilization Officer, Logistical Advisor NSOCC (NATO Special Operations Component Command), Brigade S-4 (Special Operations Advisory Group), G-5 Sustainment Planner, Training and Doctrine Officer, civilian at the Pentagon supporting the G-6, Army CIO, and Center for Military History, and Battalion Commander. He served from 2004 to 2012 on Active Duty, from 2012 to 2022 in the North Carolina National Guard, and from 2022 to present in the Army Reserve. Michael has deployed twice with 10th Mountain Division and once with 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division to Iraq for a total of 35 months in theatre. He has additionally deployed to Kosovo with 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Afghanistan under NSOCC and Poland with 1st Infantry Division.

Michael’s military education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Advanced Operations Course, Logistics Captain’s Career Course, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Army Mountain Warfare School, and Aerial Delivery School. He is a designated military historian who has rewritten the history portion of the newcomers’ booklet for all NATO Officers on the history of Kosovo and NATO in the Balkans. He is a civilian licensed pilot and member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Captain (CPT) Jacob Lee assumed duties as the Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science at Loyola University, Maryland, in June 2025. He grew up in Laredo, Texas. After leaving home, CPT Lee served for two years as a full-time missionary in Rosario, Argentina. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Brigham Young University and commissioned through the university’s Army ROTC program in 2017 as an Armor Officer.

After completing the Armor Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, CPT Lee was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, “Blackhorse”, at Fort Irwin, California, where he led a Tank Platoon in Gunslinger Troop, an Anti-Tank Platoon in Killer Troop, and completed 31 National Training Center rotations. Upon completion of the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2021, CPT Lee was reassigned to 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, “Dagger”, in 2022 and deployed in support of Operation European Assure, Deter, and Reinforce in Poznan, Poland. While deployed, he served as the Brigade Liaison to Division for 1st Infantry Division and 4th Infantry Division before serving as Company Commander of Blitz Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment. With Blitz Company, CPT Lee supported Operation Trident Ready.

CPT Lee’s military education includes the Cavalry Leader’s Course, Armor Basic Officer Leader Course, and Maneuver Captain’s Career Course. Outside of work, he can be found on local hiking trails with his family, fishing with his three children, or cooking dinner with his wife, Summer.

Captain (CPT) Juan Ospina enlisted in the United States Army in 2008 and graduated Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Lee, Virginia as a 92Y Unit Supply Specialist. In 2008, he served as a Unit Supply Specialist and Unit Supply Sergeant with the 275th Signal Company, 41st Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade, Eighth Army, at Camp Coiner, South Korea. In 2010, he was reassigned as a Unit Supply Sergeant to D Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).

He served as an enlisted Soldier for four years before enrolling in ROTC in 2012 at Florida Atlantic University. He commissioned in May 2016 as a Quartermaster Officer and a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and minor in Military Science. Upon graduating from the Quartermaster Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC), he was reassigned to the 40th Composite Supply Company, 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 25th Sustainment Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as a Water, Shower, and Laundry Platoon Leader and Petroleum Platoon Leader. Captain Ospina deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield in November 2017 before moving forward to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve with the 40th Composite Supply Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 38th Sustainment Brigade. Upon the unit’s return from deployment, he served as a Company Executive Officer for the 536th Support Maintenance Company, 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 25th Sustainment Brigade.

Captain Ospina graduated from the Logistics Captain’s Career Course in May 2020 and was reassigned as the Battalion S4 for the 68th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado before assuming Company Command of Alpha Company, 68th Division Sustainment Support Battalion in May 2021.

CPT Ospina is a dual military service member married to Captain Vanezza Ospina, who is currently an Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS) at Johns Hopkins University Army ROTC. His military education includes Basic Combat Training, Quartermaster Advanced Individual Training (92Y), Unit Armorer Course, Air Assault School, the Quartermaster Basic Officer Leader Course (Honor Graduate), the Logistics Captain’s Career Course (Honor Graduate), and the Master Educator Course. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland, a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville, and a Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Florida International University.

Awards and Decorations:

CPT Ospina’s awards and decorations include the Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Operation Inherent Resolve Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award).

Captain (CPT) John Smith commissioned on May 11, 2013, as an Infantry Officer from West Virginia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He graduated the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course (IBOLC) at Fort Benning, Georgia, in February 2014.

Upon graduation, he was reassigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, at Fort Bliss Texas, where he held the positions of Platoon Leader, Assistant Operations Officer, Battalion Adjutant, Distribution Platoon Leader, and Forward Support Company Executive Officer. He supported the unit during their deployment to Afghanistan in 2017 and served as a guest Observer Controller/Training at the National Training Center in 2016 and the Joint Readiness Training Center in 2018.

Captain Smith graduated from the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course and was reassigned in 2019 to the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, United Nations Command Security Battalion, Joint Security Area, in Panmunjom, South Korea (the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ), where he served in the Military Armistice Commission Headquarters Tactical Operations Center. He was then reassigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, “Blackhorse Regiment”, at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, where he served as a Regimental Plans Officer in Charge, Assistant Operations Officer for First Squadron, Mechanized Infantry Troop Commander for Blackjack Troop, and Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (“Palehorse”) Company Commander. During his time at the National Training Center, Captain Smith oversaw training for 48 Army Brigade Combat Teams comprised of over 200,000 Soldiers.

Captain Smith’s military education includes Airborne School, Air Assault School, the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course, and the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course.

Awards and Decorations:

CPT Smith’s awards and decorations include the Army Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge

Lieutenant Colonel Evan Westgate assumed duties as the Professor of Military Science at Loyola University, Maryland in August, 2025. In 2000, he entered the Army as a Psychological Operations Specialist, deploying in support of Operation Joint Guardian, Kosovo, before enrolling in the Green to Gold Program and Commissioning through Millersville University in his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2005.

His military assignments include service as an Infantry and Military Intelligence Officer within the Airborne and Special Operations communities, including 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Special Forces Group, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, deploying to Afghanistan during each assignment. He also served as Mission Director, Detachment-Alpha, 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion and most recently as Chief, Analysis and Control Element, 18th Airborne Corps.

Lieutenant Colonel Westgate served as a Platoon Trainer for the Army Officer Candidate School, and as an instructor in the Department of Physical Education at the United States Military Academy. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Millersville University, a Master of Arts degree in Intelligence Studies from American Military University, and a Master of Education degree in Physical Education from the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Captains Career Course, and the Command and General Staff Course. Lieutenant Colonel Westgate is authorized to wear the Senior Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Space Badge, and Combat Infantryman Badge.

He enjoys traveling the world with his wife of 19 years, Lauren, and their daughter.

Assignment History:

Master Sergeant (MSG) Gene Zhang enlisted in the United States Army in July 2008 and graduated One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning Georgia as an 11B Infantryman. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville.

MSG Zhang has served in various Airborne, Light, and Mechanized positions as an Infantryman, to include SAW Gunner, Gunner, Team Leader, Bradley Gunner, Bradley Commander, Squad Leader, Weapons Squad Leader, Senior Sniper, Sniper Section Leader, Drill Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Military Science Instructor, and Senior Military Science Instructor. MSG Zhang has multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Spartan Shield, and Operation Faithful Patriot.

MSG Zhang's military education includes the United States Army Sniper Course, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course, Pathfinder School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Drill Sergeant School, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Master Resilience Trainer Course, Combatives Level 2 Instructor, Rappel Master Course, Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, Master Leader Course, and Master Educator Course.