Since the creation of the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion at Eastern Washington University (EWU) in 1952, the Army has assigned a Professor of Military Science (PMS) to lead and administer the program. The PMS who also serves as the Chair for the Military Science Department, executes the important role of developing future Army officers and being a liaison to the local community and the EWU faculty, staff, and senior leadership. Below is a chronological listing of all Professors of Military Science that were assigned to Eastern Washington University since 1952.
Note: If you have any specific memories you want to share about any of the PMS’s listed below please leave a comment and share it with us.
Benjamin J. Van Meter
Lieutenant Colonel, Signal Corps
2021-present
Jonathan Stafford
Lieutenant Colonel, Air Defense Artillery
2018-2021
Michael Eliassen
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
2016-2018
Jason Pape
Lieutenant Colonel, Armor
2012-2016
Michael Kirkland
Lieutenant Colonel
2009-2012
David Millet
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
2005-2009
Kevin Arbanas
Lieutenant Colonel, Aviation
2002-2005
Charles Green Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, Finance
2000-2002
Alan Westfield
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
1996-2000
James McMullin
Lieutenant Colonel, Armor
1993-1996
William Zorn
Lieutenant Colonel, Aviation
1990-1993
Douglas Morgan
Lieutenant Colonel, Field Artillery
1985-1990
Ronald Walter
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
1983-1985
George Massey
Lieutenant Colonel
1981-1983
Thomas Coonelly Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, Engineer
1978-1981
Emilio Zamora
Lieutenant Colonel, Transportation
1974-1978
Darrell Irvin
Colonel, Field Artillery
1972-1974
Andy Pribnow
Lieutenant Colonel, Air Defense Artillery
1967-1972
Edgar Fenstemacher
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
1963-1967
Erwin Nilsson
Colonel, Infantry
1959-1963
Eccles Scott
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
1955-1959
Daniel Carter
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
1952-1955
Howdy Tom Coonelly..Good. Job.
Sir, I hope this finds you well. You Commissioned me in June 1980, while I was still an academic Sophomore. I would serve in a local Army National Guard Redeye unit until graduation in 1983, and accession to Active Duty (by then a 1LT).
In properly filling out the Accession Branch Preference forms, I showed my degree as ENG for ENGlish. In what was surely the greatest mistake that ever happened to me, I was Accessed into our beloved Engineer Corps, where I would serve for 20 years until retirement in 2003!
ESSAYONS!
Mr. Coonelly, glad you were able to find the site. EWU Army ROTC is still going strong. If you are ever in the area feel free to stop by Cadet Hall. All the best to you.