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Professor Military Science (PMS)

email: DBlankenhorn@jcu.edu • phone: 216.397.4354

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Daniel B. Blankenhorn

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Blankenhorn commissioned in 2004 from Syracuse University ROTC where he majored in History and Political Science. After commissioning, he served in numerous leadership positions within the 82nd Airborne Division from 2004-2008, deploying to Iraq in 2007 as an Infantry Platoon Leader. In 2008, LTC Blankenhorn attended Special Forces training and earned the coveted green beret in 2010. As a Captain within the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)—1st SFG(A)—he served as Company Executive Officer for Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st SFG(A), deploying to Afghanistan in 2010, as the Commander of Operational Detachment- Alpha 1323, deploying to Afghanistan again in 2012, and then serving as the 3rd Battalion Assistant S3 in 2014. Throughout this time in 1st SFG(A), he also participated in numerous joint and combined training events across the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. In 2014, LTC Blankenhorn was selected to attend the prestigious Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, California and graduated with a Masters in Science in 2016. After graduation, he returned to 1st SFG(A) as a Major to assume command of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st SFG(A), and deployed with his company for 6 months to Korea. Upon his return in 2017, he was selected to be the Commander of the 1st SFG(A) Advanced Specials Skills Company. In 2018, LTC Blankenhorn was hand-picked to serve at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) as an Observer-Coach-Trainer for rotational Special Operations Forces (SOF). In 2020, LTC Blankenhorn joined the Special Operations Command–Africa in Stuttgart, Germany. Serving in positions of increasing responsibility within the Command, he served as the lead planner for a multinational SOF exercise, mission director for an intel fusion cell, and lastly as the Current Operations Division Chief and Joint Operations Center Officer in Charge. In summer of 2023, LTC Blankenhorn assumed the duties of Professor of Military Science for the Wolfpack ROTC Battalion hosted by ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University in Cleveland, Ohio.

LTC Blankenhorn’s military decorations include: Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star with 2 OLC, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 OLC, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 1 OLC, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 3 OLC, Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 stars, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal with numeral 5, and the NATO Medal. His foreign awards include the German Sportsman Performance Badge (Deutsches Leistungsabzeichen) Gold, Canadian Jump Wings, and Australian Jump Wings.

LTC Blankenhorn was married in 2008 to Courtney Ciereck and together they have three children.

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Military Science Instructor

email: TBennett@jcu.edu • phone: 216.397.4620

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SERGEANT FIRST CLASS T. KYLE BENNETTÌý

Sergeant First Class Bennett was born in Prince Fredrick Maryland on 20 DEC 1984. He joined the Army in May of 2005 and attended OSUT (One Station Unit Training) at Fort Knox, KY as a Cavalry Scout.Ìý

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Over the course his career, SFC Bennett served as a Military Science Instructor, Observer Coach Trainer, First Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, Active Component Reserve Component Observer Coach Trainer, Squad Leader, Team Leader, Highly Mobile Multiuse Wheeled Vehicle Gunner, Scout and as a Rifleman. He deployedÌýto Operation Iraqi Freedom three times, one deployment to Kosovo, and one assignment in Kuwait.Ìý

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Sergeant First Class Bennett has been assigned to the following units: HHC (BN Scouts) 2nd Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Hood Texas, C Troop 1st Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment Fort Hood Texas, B Troop 1st Squadron (Airborne) 40th Cavalry Regiment Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Alaska, Senior BN Scouts OC/T in HHC 1st Battalion 360th Infantry Regiment Fort Bliss Texas, D Troop 1st Battalion (Airborne) 509th Infantry Regiment in Fort Polk Louisiana, and Operations Group Task Force 4 in Fort Polk Louisiana.ÌýÌý

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Sergeant First Class Bennett’s military education includes Javelin Gunner’s Course, Commander’s Total Fitness Course, Basic Leaders Course, Airborne School, Advanced Leader’s Course, Cold Weather Leader’s Course, Equal Opportunity Leader’s Course, Observer Coach Trainer Course, Maneuver Senior Leaders Course.Ìý

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Sergeant First Class Bennett’s awards and decorations are the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge, Valorous Unit Award,Ìý Meritorious Unit Citation(1 Oak Leaf Cluster),Ìý Army Superior Unit Award, Meritorious Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (7 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (4 star devices), Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal Expeditionary, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3rd award),Ìý Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (5th award), NATO Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal(5th award), and the Order of St. Maurice.Ìý

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SFC Bennett is single and has one son Vicente (Age 16).

Assistant Professor of Military Science

email: kgerald@jcu.edu • phone: 216.397.6211

Bio and photo coming soon.

Captain (CAP) Keanu Gerald assumed duty as Assistant Professor of Military Science December of 2023.ÌýÌý

Assistant Professor of Military Science email: lsikon@jcu.eduÌý• phone: 216.397.4421

Photo coming soon

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Captain (CAP) Lee C. Sikon is an Assistant Professor Military Science (APMS) since May 2023.

Captain (CPT) Lee Sikon is a native of Mentor, Ohio. He enlisted as an 11B Infantryman after graduating in 1997 from Mentor High School. He graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology in 2011 and received his active duty commission in the Infantry as a Second Lieutenant through ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University ROTC.

His first assignment was Fort Carson, CO, 4th Infantry Division from 2012-2015, where he served as a Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader in 3-61 CAV, and the assistant G-9 at 4th ID HQ. He deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2013).

Following the Maneuver Captains Career Course from 2016-2019, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. He served on Battalion staff as the S-4 for 2-78 IN BN for ten months. In 2017- 19, he commanded Delta Company, 2-87 Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 12 months of which was deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2018).

From 2019-21, he was assigned to the 5th Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB), where he served as 1st Battalion 5th SFAB HHC Commander. As one of the newest Army units, Lee was one of the first few officers assigned to stand up and deploy teams into the Pacific within one year. During his time at 5th SFAB he deployed to Thailand and Singapore.

In addition to other military professional and civilian education, he also completed Basic Airborne School, Mortar Leaders Course, Army Reconnaissance Course and Combat Advisor Training Course. His awards and badges include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

CPT Sikon is married to Ashlea Sikon of Salina, KS; they have two children: Zoe (24) and Ayden (16).

Wolfpack Battalion Recruiter (ROO)

email: wolfpack.rotc@jcu.eduÌý• phone: 216.397.4421

Ms. Theresa M. Bodnar is incredibly excited to return to ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University (¿Û¿Û´«Ã½) to serve as the Recruiting and Operations Officer for the Wolfpack Battalion.Ìý She is a ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ ROTC Alumna (’01) and also a Colonel in the US Army Reserve.Ìý Theresa is a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, and was commissioned in the Quartermaster Corps in 2001, after graduating from ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education.Ìý She also holds a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Robert Morris University, and a Masters of Business Administration and Executive Masters in Policy Administration from Syracuse University.Ìý Theresa completed 20 years of Active Federal Service on 30 Sep 2021 and is now an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (part-time Reservist) with the Center for Strategic Analysis, US Army War College.Ìý

Active Duty Assignments (2001-2005):ÌýÌý Supply Support Activity (SSA) Platoon Leader and Executive Officer (XO) for the 147th Maintenance Company in Kitzingen, Germany; and, Assistant Group Adjutant for the 7th Corps Support Group in Bamberg, Germany.ÌýÌý

Mobilizations (2005-2007): Observer Controller Trainer and Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) Commander for 2/312th Training Support Battalion (TSBN) at Fort Dix, NJ.

Active Guard Reserve Assignments (2007-2021): Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS), University of Pittsburgh; Chief of Marketing and Recruiting, 7th Brigade, US Army Cadet Command; Logistics Program Analyst, Office of the Chief Army ReserveÌý Program Analysis and Evaluation DirectorateÌý (OCAR PAE); Student, Defense Comptroller Program (DCP), Syracuse University; Senior Manpower Analyst, OCAR PAE;Ìý Army Reserve Programs Analyst (Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1);Ìý Manning Programs Branch Chief and Integration Branch Chief, OCAR PAE.

Awards:ÌýÌý Meritorious Service Medal (7), Army Commendation Medal (1), and Army Achievement Medal (2).Ìý

Military Education:Ìý Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Exercise Course, Operations Research Analyst Military Applications Course (ORSA-MAC), Defense Comptroller Program (DCP), Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Course, the FA 49 Qualification Course, and the Master Resilience Training (MRT) Course.

Other Notable Accomplishments: Theresa is a certified Army Master Resilience Trainer (MRT), Positive Psychology Practitioner, Eating Psychology Educator, Stress Mastery Educator, and Resilience Building Leader Program Instructor.Ìý She is also the author of Get UPP!: Understanding Positive Psychology, a poetry book dedicated to positive psychology concepts;Ìý co-author of Gratitude Mission 2:Ìý More People, More Gratitude, More Inspiration and Dear 2020 Anthology; and a former columnist with The Teen Mentor.Ìý Theresa gave a TedX talk in 2018, entitled The Gift of Gratitude in Foresight about using Gratitude to become more resilient.

Theresa is single.Ìý Her parents, Paul and Antoinette Bodnar, sisters Sarah Izzi and Julie Severino, brother-in-laws Steve Severino III and Alex Izzi, nephew Steve Severino IV, and nieces Ava Severino, Annalina Severino and Rosalia Izzi, all live in Ashtabula, Ohio.