EWU Army ROTC Faculty and Staff
The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army ROTC faculty is extremely experienced with over 100 years of combined military service with assignments across the nation, multiple deployments, and overseas duty. Faculty members in the past year were awarded the U.S Army Cadet Command 2019 Instructor of the Year, the Cadet Command 2019 Human Resource Assistant of the Year, the 2020 Instructor of the Year, 2021 Instructor of the Year, and 2023 Instructor of the Year. EWU ROTC was the only faculty out of 274 ROTC programs to receive five national awards in the past five years. We also had a faculty member awarded the 2019 Spokane Armed Forces Person of the Year. The EWU ROTC faculty was also named the 2019 Team of the Year within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Our mission is your success, and these accolades show that we will accomplish that mission!
Professor of Military Science
Thomas Hammerle
Lieutenant Colonel, Special Forces- Strategic Intelligence
203 Cadet Hall
Phone: 509-359-6109
Email: thammerle@ewu.edu
Lieutenant Colonel Tom Hammerle is the Professor of Military Science at Eastern Washington University. He is responsible to lead the recruiting, teaching, training, development, retention, and inspiration of Cadets aspiring to obtain an Army commission at EUW.
Lieutenant Colonel Hammerle graduated from Texas A&M University and received an Active Duty commission as an Infantry Officer in 2008. During his first assignment, he served as a Stryker platoon leader with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, where he deployed to Baqubah, Diyala Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course, he commanded a Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha specializing in Mountaineering Operations in 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he deployed to Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Following Detachment Command he served as an Operations Officer in the 4th Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) overseeing all sensitive activities in support of special operations within the USCENTCOM AOR.
Upon becoming a Strategic Intelligence Officer, he was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment where he served as the Regimental Strategic Intelligence Officer and Sensitive Activities Director. Lieutenant Colonel Hammerle’s time at the Regiment included three deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel as part of a Special Operations Command Joint Task Force.
Most recently, Lieutenant Colonel Hammerle was assigned as a Director of Operations and Intelligence Planner in the Intelligence Directorate at United States Strategic Command Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Other positions at USSTRATCOM included Aide-de-Camp for the Deputy Commander, China Division’s Military Forces Branch Chief within the Joint Intelligence Operations Center in the Directorate of Intelligence, and Deputy Chief of a USSTRATCOM Russia-focused Intelligence Crisis Action Team during the initial stages of Russia’s operations in Ukraine.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Global War on Terrorism Service Medals, and NATO Medal, among others. He has earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces and Ranger Tabs, and the Parachutist Badge.
Lieutenant Colonel Hammerle holds a Master of Agriculture Science from Colorado State University, a Master of Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, and a Graduate Certificate of Strategy and Policy Development from the U.S. Army War College.
Lieutenant Colonel Hammerle is married to the former Shalane Bellinghausen of Watauga, Texas. They have three children, Audrey (10), James (7), and Dorothy (6), and currently reside in Cheney, Washington.
Senior Military Science Instructor
Tyler Acles
Master Sergeant, Infantry
206B Cadet Hall
Phone: 509-359-2350
Email: tacles@ewu.edu
Master Sergeant Tyler J. Acles is the Senior Military Instructor of Military Science at Eastern Washington University. He is responsible for leading the recruiting, teaching, training, development, retention, and inspiration of Cadets aspiring to obtain an Army commission at EWU.
Master Sergeant Acles enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2008 as an Infantryman. After Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and the U.S. Army Airborne School, Master Sergeant Acles attended the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) and upon completion was then assigned to the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. During his first assignment, he served as a Rifleman, Grenadier, Squad Automatic Rifleman, Rifle Team Leader, Sniper, Sniper Team Leader, Rifle Squad Leader, and Headquarters Platoon Sergeant. He deployed six times as a member of a Special Operations Command Joint Task Force to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
After completing his service with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, Master Sergeant Acles was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as a Marksmanship Instructor, Demolitions Instructor, and NCOIC of the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP 1). During his time at RASP, Master Sergeant Acles was responsible for successfully training, assessing, and selecting over 800 candidates for service in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Most recently, Master Sergeant Acles was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as a Ranger Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Sniper Team Sergeant, and Battalion Air NCO. During this time, he deployed twice to Iraq as a member of a Special Operations Command Joint Task Force.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Global War on Terrorism Service Medals, and NATO Medal, among others. He has earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Expert Marksman Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Rated Parachutist Badge, and the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge.
Master Sergeant Acles Military Education includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, the U.S. Army Jumpmaster Course, the Joint Special Operations Command Military Freefall Course, the U.S. Army Ranger Course, the U.S. Army Sniper Course, Accuracy First Sniper Course, the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP), Ranger Assessment and Selection Program Phase 2, Ranger Team Leader Course, the Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Senior Leader Course, the Master Leader Course, Marine Corps Special Operations Mountain Warfare Course, SERE School, Advanced Land Navigation Course, 75th Ranger Regiment Master Breacher Course, and Combative LVL 1. Master Sergeant Acles is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security from the University of Charleston West Virginia.
Assistant Professor of Military Science
Colton Crawford
Major, Logistics
206A Cadet Hall
Phone: (509) 359-6128
Email: ccrawford10@ewu.edu
Assistant Professor of Military Science
Zachary Ferry
Captain, Field Artillery
206C Cadet Hall
Phone: (509) 359-6128
Email: zferry@ewu.edu
CPT Zachary D. Ferry is a native of Spokane, WA. He commissioned as Field Artillery
Officer in 2013, after graduation from Washington State University. Upon commissioning, he spent the next 3.5 years in the Oregon National Guard, where he served in three separate United States humanitarian missions providing direct support to civilian and local authorities in Oregon, Washington, and Louisiana.
He then went Active Duty in 2017, where he was assigned to 1-37 FA, at Fort Lewis, WA. During his time in 1-37 FA, he was a Fire Direction Officer for Bravo Battery, a Fire Support Officer for B Troop 1-14 CAV, and finally the Executive Officer for HHB. After attending the Captain’s Career Course at Fort Sill, OK, he was stationed at Fort Cavazos, TX. Upon arrival at Fort Cavazos in October 2021 he deployed with 1-82 FA to Germany, for Atlantic Resolve 21 as the Assistant Operations Officer. While in Germany he transitioned to be the Squadron Fire Support Officer in 1-7 CAV.
CPT Ferry has attended multiple military schools including Airborne, Air Assault, Joint Operational Fires and Effects Course, Joint Firepower Course, and the Field Artillery Suite of Targeting Courses. He has received several awards to include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and four Army Achievement Medals. He currently has a Bachelor’s Degree in History, a Master of Business Administration from National University and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Eastern Washington University. He is currently working a Masters Certificate in Change Leadership. He has been married to his wife Diamante Ferry for 3 years, and has four dogs.
Military Science Instructor
Jon Stone
Sergeant First Class, Combat Engineer
206 Cadet Hall
Phone: (509) 359-6266
Email: jstone24@ewu.edu
SFC Jon Stone is a Military Science Instructor at Eastern Washington University. As part of the cadre, he is responsible for leading, coaching, mentoring, training, development and overall well being for cadets beginning within the program.
Sergeant First Class Stone graduated from Marcus Whitman High School in 2005 and immediately enlisted into active duty as a Combat Engineer, where he reported to Fort Leonard wood, Missouri to complete his Basic and Advanced Individual Training. During his first assignment, in Echo Co, 2-12 Cav, 1st Calvary Division, he served as a M240B Machine gunner on a small team while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After his first deployment, he went on to become a team leader with 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He soon later deployed again, to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as a team leader for a route clearance platoon,
He then continued to excel his career by going to the Drill Sergeant Academy in 2012 and awarded the Drill Sergeant Badge where he would continue to be a Drill Sergeant for Delta and Bravo Company 31st Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, in Fort Leanard wood, Missouri, where he trained thousands of Soldiers for a period of three years and was awarded promotion to Staff Sergeant.
He received his next assignment to serve as a Platoon Sergeant for Alpha Company, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion in Fort Carson, Colorado. He was hand selected to deploy separately from his company and attach to 1-12 Infantry Battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan where he served as a Tactical Operations Sergeant.
After deployment he was interviewed among his peers and chosen to serve as a Platoon Sergeant for the most unique Engineer Company in the Army, 911th Technical Rescue Engineer Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Military District of Washington in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The 911th was responsible for rescue operations within the District of Washington and in supporting any inauguration or passing of a President.
Most recent, he is assigned to Eastern Washington University as a Military Science instructor where he primarily focuses on developing freshman ROTC cadets and preparing them to become future commissioned officers and where he will retire for completing his 20 years of service.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Join Service Ahievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, and NATO medal among
others. He has earned his Combat Action Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge and Instructor Badge.
Sergeant First Class Stone holds certificates for Rescue Technician I and II, Sexual Harassment and Response Coordinator, Urban Mobility Breachers Course and Combative level I.
Sergeant First Class Stone has been married to Lisa Stone for 15 years. They currently have one child, Natalie Stone (13) and currently reside in Airway Heights, Washington.
Supply Technician
Abraham “AJ” Rivera Perez
202A Cadet Hall
Phone: (509) 359-6112
Email: ariveraperez@ewu.edu
Enrollment & Scholarships Counselor
Mr. Chris Ford
201 Cadet Hall
Phone: 509.359.6110
Fax: 509.359.6108
Email: cford16@ewu.edu
WAARNG Opportunities Advisor
Daisy Palencia
Second Lieutenant, Signal Corps
Phone: (509) 359- 2319
Email: dpalencia@ewu.edu
Human Resource Assistant
Jennifer Lundberg
203B Cadet Hall
Phone: 509-359-6104
Email: jlundberg2@ewu.edu
EWU ROTC Program Coordinator
Katie Brown
202 Cadet Hall
Phone: 509-359-2386
Fax: 509-359-6108
Email: ROTC@ewu.edu
