Cadre

Lt Col Cynthia Provost

Lt Col Cynthia Provost

• Professor of Aerospace Studies

Lieutenant Colonel Provost is the Commander, Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps Detachment 340 and Professor of Aerospace Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA. Her responsibilities include recruiting, educating and training cadets in preparation for active duty service in the United States Air Force through academic instruction in Air Force Doctrine and history, as well as practical experience in all aspects of leadership and officership. Lieutenant Colonel Provost is a 1988 distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Notre Dame. As an astronautical engineer and space operator with experience in space operations, intelligence, plans and programs, command and control, and protocol, she has served in a variety of Air Force and joint service positions around the world. She has commanded Global Positioning System satellites, served in Latvia orchestrating familiarization with NATO tactics, techniques, and procedures, and deployed to Central Command Headquarters in Qatar. Lieutenant Colonel Provost most recently served as the Director of Staff for the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, where she was responsible for executive leadership and administrative support for eighteen wing staff agencies supporting assured access to space.

Capt Vito A. Bussmann

Capt Vito A. Bussmann

Captain Vito A. Bussmann is the Recruiting Flight Commander, Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps Detachment 340. In this capacity, Captain Bussmann is responsible for recruiting and retention for Detachment 340 at the host institution of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, as well as the surrounding cross-town schools including Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Atlantic Union College, Becker College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Nichols College, Quinsigamond Community College, University of Massachusetts Medical Center and Worcester State College. This organization includes over 60 cadets.

Captain Bussmann was commissioned in 2007 after graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology. At the Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions Directorate, Captain Bussmann led several R&D efforts related to guidance and navigation. He worked extensively with the testing and development of weapon networking and GPS technologies. He was selected to lead simulation and integration efforts for the $29.5M Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) in 2011.

Major Jeremy Kruger

Major Jeremy Kruger

• Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies

Major Jeremy T. Kruger currently holds the position of Commandant of Cadets at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In this capacity, he is responsible for supervising, evaluating, and facilitating the performance of the Det 340 Cadets. This organization includes approximately 60 cadets. Major Jeremy T. Kruger was commissioned in 2002 after graduating from the University of California Davis. His first assignment was at Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC). He worked with launch and satellite acquisition programs and eventually was selected to be the Executive Officer for the $6.7B Advanced EHF Satellite Program Office. Concurrently, he attended University California Los Angeles and received his Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. For his second assignment he went to the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts where he worked on aircraft avionics systems. He then became the Systems Engineering, Integration & Test Flight Commander for the Family of Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals.

MSgt Seymour Brookes

MSgt Seymour Brookes

• NCOIC Personnel

Master Sergeant Brookes entered the USAF after graduating from Basic Military training in 1996 at Lackland AFB TX. From Nov 1996 – Nov 2002, MSgt Brookes was assigned to the 52 MSS Personnel Readiness Unit, Formal Training, Personnel Employments and Separations at Spangdahlem AB GE, where he was responsible for various personnel duties for over 4000 unit members to include GSUs. In Nov 02, MSgt Brookes was assigned to 59 MDTG CSS at Lackland AFB. As the Asst NCOIC, he supported 500 unit members to include over 50 personnel in the residency program. In Feb 07, MSgt Brookes was selected as the 737 TRS/CSS superintendent of personnel and NCOIC of 737 TRSS/CSS. He supported 119 unit members assigned to 737 TRSS. As the 737 TRG/CSS superintendent, he oversaw 6 in the training squadron CSS, as well as 350 unit members. In Jan 08, MSgt Brookes was assigned to the 319 TRS Personnel Processing section at Lackland AFB, TX. As the NCOIC of Personnel processing, MSgt Brookes oversaw processing of 34,000 + basic trainees annually. Currently, MSgt Brookes is the NCOIC, Personnel Cadre, for the 340 Detachment Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps. In this capacity, Master Sergeant Brookes manages personnel records, leave web, duty status, and MILPDS actions for five active duty cadre. He updates cadet pay, initiates security clearances, manages the unit leave program, duty status program, and schedules the Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS) and Air Force Officer Qualifying Tests (AFOQT). This organization includes 5 cadre members and over 60 cadets.

TSgt Corey Taulton

TSgt Corey Taulton

• NCOIC of Knowledge Operations Management

TSgt Corey Taulton is the NCOIC of Knowledge Operations Management, AFROTC Det 340 assigned at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Worcester, Massachusetts. TSgt Taulton enlisted into the U.S. Air Force after receiving his high school diploma. He then graduated from Military Basic Training & Technical Security Police Training as a security police apprentice at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Airman Taulton was then assigned to the 341st SPS in Malmstrom, AFB Montana where he worked in the weapons storage area, guarded munitions, and in Law Enforcement. In 1998, he was assigned as a security forces journeyman at Aviano Air Base, Italy where he participated in Operation Allied Force. He supported Air Base Defense during numerous missions that took place at one of the premier bases in USAFE. Most notably, he assisted in the protection of Air Force One, the Secretary of Defense, and First Lady Laura Bush while they visited Aviano. In June 2003, TSgt Taulton was assigned to the Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command as an Information Management Journeyman. He participated in Staff Assisted Visits & serviced over 200 computers with the HQAFSOC standard and evaluation team. In 2007, TSgt Taulton was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron where he was appointed as NCOIC of Information Management over a 400 personnel squadron. During this assignment, he deployed to Iraq and served as a communications subject matter expert at the Joint Operations Center. In honor of his tireless efforts and unwavering dedication to the mission, TSgt Taulton was recognized by the Commander when he created a quarterly award which was named after TSgt Taulton to recognize dedicated Airmen of the future. In July 2009, TSgt Taulton was relocated to AFROTC Detachment 340 where he is now responsible for mentoring, educating, and preparing over 60 cadets for active duty service.