Army ROTC

Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Greening is originally from Bowie, Maryland. His military career started as a 11B Infantrymen with the Maryland Army National Guard and attended BCT/AIT in Ft. Moore (Benning), Georgia in 1999. In 2001 Ryan was award a four-year ROTC scholarship to Towson University in Towson, MD. He graduated in December 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. Ryan completed Officer Basic Course in Ft. Sill, OK in September 2004. 

LTC Greening’s Company grade and platoon Leader time included a tour in Korea with 210 Fires BDE in C-BTRY 6-37 MLRS. Then a tour in Iraq in support of OIF as Platoon Leader and Training Officer with 4th BDE 1st Calvary Division. Following completion of Field Artillery Captains Career Course in October 2008, he then would complete a second tour in Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters. Upon returning in 2010, Ryan would take command of C-BTRY 1-21 Field Artillery of the 41st Fires Brigade in Ft. Cavazos (Hood), TX, and completed a first tour to Afghanistan in support of OEF in 2011. After returning from OIF, he was selected to resident Command and General Staff Officer Course in Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and graduated in December 2014.

As a Field Grade Officer, he first served with the NATO Special Operations Component Command in Afghanistan is support of OEF in 2015. Ryan was then assigned to JBLM in Washington state serving as a Battalion Executive officer then Brigade Executive Officer with the First Army’s 189th Combined Arms Training Brigade. Ryan has also served with the Mission Command Training Program in Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and his most recent assignment was at First Army Headquarters in Rock Island, IL, as the Current Operations Chief. 

LTC Greening’s military and civilian education includes Bradley Fighting vehicle course, Company Commanders course, Joint Fire Power Course, Combatives, Collateral Damage and Precision Fires Course and Certified Faculty Development Instructor course (CF-DIC). Ryan also received a Master’s in Sociology with Florida METRO Univ. 

LTC Greening’s decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Defense Meritorious Service Medal), Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Iraq Campaign Medal (3 Stars), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 Stars), Korea Service Medal, and NATO Service Medal.

Ryan is married to his wife Christine and has two daughters Karis and Keira.

MSG Charles R. (Chuck) Lee was born and grew up in Medon, TN. He graduated from Southside High School and was a brick and stone mason for several years before joining the Army as a Fire Support Specialist in 2006.

MSG Lee attended Basic Training and Advance Individual Training at Fort Sill, OK. He then volunteered to go to Airborne school after AIT to become a Paratrooper. He has previously served as a Radio Telephone Operator, Combat Observation Lasing Team Chief, Forward Observer, Fire Support Sergeant, Targeting NCO, Fire Support NCO, Senior Enlisted Adviser, First Sergeant, and Command Sergeant Major. His previous units include HHC 4th BCT 82 ABN, A 2-508th PIR, HHC 2-508th PIR, HHC 173RD IBCT (A), A 2-503rd PIR, 1st JSOAC, B 4-319th AFAR, HHC, 173RD IBCT (A), and 54th BEB (A). He has deployed to Afghanistan six times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 

MSG Lee’s military education includes Basic Training, Advanced Individual Training, Airborne School, Basic Leader Course, Joint Fires Observer, Joint Firepower Control Course, Precision Fires Target Mensuration, Advanced Leader Course, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System Operators Course, Senior Leader Course, Jumpmaster School, Pathfinder, International Civil Military Relations Course, Senior Leader Course, Information Operations Capabilities Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School, Joint Collateral Damage Estimation, Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course, Joint Operational Fires and Effects Course, Master Leader Course, and the Company Commander/First Sergeant Pre-Command Course. 

His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal with C Device (1OLC), Army Commendation Medal (5OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award (1 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (6), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (4CS), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4), NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, German Parachutist Badge (Gold), Thai Parachutist Badge, Hungarian Parachutist Badge, Italian Parachutist Badge, Ivory Coast Parachutist Badge, Netherlands Parachutist Badge, Order of St. Barbara, and Order of St. Michael.

CPT Jacob D. McConnell was born in Flint, MI in 1995. He graduated from Clio High School in 2013 and went to Louisiana State University on an Army ROTC Scholarship. He graduated in 2017 with a degree in Political Science and was commissioned as a Transportation Officer. CPT McConnell then served as cadre to cadets at Fort Knox, KY prior to attending Basic Officer Leader’s Course at Fort Lee, VA. CPT McConnell was assigned to the Rakkasans at Fort Campbell, KY where he served as a Distribution Platoon Leader, Maintenance Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Plans Officer. CPT McConnell was also sent to Orlando, Florida as part of a vaccine task force to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic.

CPT McConnell attended the Logistics Captain’s Career Course at Fort Lee, VA. Upon graduating LOGC3 in November of 2021, he proceeded to Fort Stewart, GA and served as the Battalion Operations Officer for 703d BSB, 2ABCT, 3ID prior to moving to 3-17 ACS.

CPT McConnell took commanded Echo Forward Support Troop, 3-17ACS, 3CAB, 3ID from February 16th, 2023 to September 20th, 2024. As a commander, he deployed to Eastern Europe in support of Operations Atlantic Resolve and ASSURE, DETER, and REINFORCE.

CPT McConnell’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal (1OLC), and the Army Service Ribbon. CPT McConnell has also been awarded the coveted Air Assault Badge and the Expert Soldier Badge.

CPT McConnell is happily married to Angela. They have two sons, Kreft and John.

SFC Jason A. Hickman was raised in Mount Vernon, WA. He graduated from Alger High School and worked in construction for several years before enlisting in the Army as an infantryman in 2006.

SFC Hickman attended one station unit training (OSUT) at Ft. Benning, GA. He has served as a Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and First Sergeant. His previous units include A CO. 1-67AR 2nd BCT 4ID, D CO, B CO, 1st BN and HHC 4th BN 3rd US Infantry Regt (The Old Guard), A BTRY 1-79 FA 434th FAB, 5-20 INF BN 1-2 SBCT. He has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

SFC Hickman’s military education includes Infantry One station Unit Training, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Master Leaders Course, Air Assault School, Drill Sergeant School, Company Intelligence Support Team, Unit Armor School, Equal Opportunity Leader, Unit Movement Officer Course, Stryker Leaders Course.

His Awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (1OLC), Army Commendation Medal (5OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (6), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2CS), Iraq Campaign Medal (2CS), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), NATO Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, and the Order of St. Maurice.

The Chippewa Battalion welcomed Mr. Randy Wright in June 2022 as the Recruiting Operations Officer. Mr. Wright has been, and continues to be a Military Science Instructor at Ferris State University. He brings with him 29 years of active duty service, with leadership positions ranging from Team Leader to Brigade Command Sergeant Major. Mr. Wright has a vast knowledge on the Army and our ROTC program, and will bring on the next generation of leaders. 

Nick Dennison joined the staff in the summer of 2024 as a Military Science Instructor for freshman classes. He graduated from Ferris State in May of 2023 and commissioned the same month. Originally hailing from Muskegon, Nick came to Ferris State to run Cross Country and Track. Along the way, he tried ROTC and was influenced to join the National Guard as a combat engineer. Upon returning from training, he decided to join ROTC as a contracted cadet. With recent experience as a Second Lieutenant and in ROTC, Mr. Dennison has ample knowledge to help cadets be successful inside ROTC and after they commission.