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Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Hawkins currently serves as the Professor of Military
Science for the University of Tennessee at Martin and ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ State University. He is a
native of Natchitoches, LA, and commissioned in the Quartermaster Corps following
graduation from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2010. He also holds a
Master in Operational Studies from the Command and Staff Officers Course. His
military education includes Command and General Staff Officer Course, Logistics
Captains Career Course, Quartermaster Basic Officer Leader Course, Mortuary Affairs
Officer Course, How the Army Runs Course, and Theater Sustainment Planners
Program.

Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins initially entered the U.S. Army through One Station Unit
Training-19K, at Fort Knox, KY. He served as an M1 Armor Crewman for five years
with 3d Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA, where he deployed twice in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon commissioning, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins was
assigned to 225th Brigade Support Battalion, Schofield Barracks, HI, where he served as
Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Plans Officer, Deputy SPO, and 1-27 IN Logistics
Support Team OIC; 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Drum, NY, where
he served as the Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion, S3 and 543rd Composite
Supply Company, Commander; Combined Arms Center-Force Design Directorate Fort
Leavenworth, KS, where he served on the Total Army Analysis Team; 18th Combat
Sustainment Support Battalion, Grafenwoehr, DEU, where he served as the Support
Operations Officer and Executive Officer; and US Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force,
Yokota Air Base, JPN, where he served as Director, Commander’s Action Group.

Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal,
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement
Medal, Defense Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Award, Valorous Unit
Award, Meritorious Unit Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Iraqi Campaign Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and Combat Action Badge.

Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins has been married to his wife Josalyn for 19 years. They
have three children Macy (13), Lillie (11) and William (8).

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CPT Zachary Smith is a native of Germantown, Ohio, and commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army in May of 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from The Citadel. He attended the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course (IBOLC) at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he earned his Infantry Blue Cord in February of 2019. His military education includes Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course (IBOLC), Maneuver Captains Career Course (MCCC), Stryker Leader Course, Bradley Leader Course, Airborne School, and The Sabaulaski Air Assault School.

CPT Smith’s first assignment was in Rose Barracks, Germany, just outside of Vilseck, Germany, from 2019 to 2022. He served as a Rifle Platoon Leader in Lightning Troop for 10 months and as the Executive Officer of Kronos Troop for 12 months while in 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. During his time, CPT Smith deployed to BPTA Poland for 6 months as part of the Enhanced Forward Presence NATO mission. He was also activated in support of Operation Afghan Refuge. From Germany, CPT Smith and his family moved back to Fort Benning to attend MCCC. Upon completing MCCC and the Bradley Leaders Course, he moved to Fort Stewart, Georgia, home of the 3rd Infantry Division from 2023 to 2026. There, he served as the maneuver plans officer on the brigade staff for 7 months before moving into Company Command. During that time, CPT Smith was responsible for planning for multiple battalions to train at a national training center. CPT Smith then took Command of a mechanized infantry company, Centurion Company, 1st Battalion 64th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which was comprised of approximately 180 Soldiers. He commanded Centurion Company for 22 months, during which he oversaw many training exercises, a National Training Center (NTC) rotation, multiple company-size live fires, and deployment to BPTA Poland on the Forward Land Forces NATO mission.

CPT Smith’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (1OLC), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Airborne Badge.

CPT Smith is married to Walden Smith, and they have one son, Tulson.

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David Howe has been a resident of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ since 1996. He is a graduate of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ State University, receiving a Bachelor of Independent Studies in 2003 and a Master’s in English Studies in 2013.

Mr. Howe has served in the Army National Guard since 1988. He served as an enlisted member for 22 years, rising to the rank of First Sergeant before commissioning in 2010. He has deployed to Afghanistan, Bosnia, Ecuador, Germany, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, and Panama. He is a graduate of Military Police Officer Basic Course (MPBOLC) and the Military Police Captains Career Course (MPCCC). 

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Allan Patterson entered military service in September 1996 and retired in October 2016 after 20 years of active military duty. During his time in the military Mr. Patterson served as an Aircraft Mechanic, Collateral Duty Inspector, Recruiter, Instructor, Quality Insurance Representative, Maintenance Control Representative, and Instructional Systems Development (ISD) Chief. He also earned the distinction of Master Training Specialist (Train the Trainer), Lean Sigma Six Green Belt, and Project Management Professional (PMP).

Mr. Patterson has deployed to Afghanistan and Djibouti, Africa in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), supported humanitarian efforts from his home station in Okinawa, Japan. Through his service and deployments Mr. Patterson earned numerous accolades and awards, most notably six Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Mr. Patterson, has a Degree in History with a minor in Business Administration, graduating with honors, Cum Laude. He has also held roles as an Operations Manager and Project Manager within the petro/chemical field and as the Veteran Affairs (VA) Coordinator for ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ State University.

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