Governor's Guard Hall of Fame

Brigadier General Paul Bontrager graduated and was commissioned in the Aviation branch from Austin Peay State University as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate in December 1987. He also holds Master of Science degrees from Kansas State University and the National Defense University. He has served in a variety of aviation positions during his career.

 

In 1989, BG Bontrager completed his initial flight training and was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He has served in various locations in the United States and overseas. In 2006, Colonel Bontrager assumed command of the 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he commanded until 2008, when he returned to Fort Eustis, Virginia, to command the Flight Concepts Division. He then commanded the 10lst Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell from 2011-2013. He currently is the deputy commanding general for support at 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.

 

BG Bontrager's numerous awards and badges include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal w/4 OLC, Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/1 OLC, Meritorious Service Medal w/l OLC, Air Medal w/numeral 2, Army Commendation Medal w/3 OLC, Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Master Army Aviator, Air Assault, Master Parachutist, Combat Action and Military Free Fall Badges, German Free Fall Wings and Ranger Tab.

Brigadier General (Ret) Butler was born November 16, 1951 in Egypt, Mississippi. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1974 by the U.S. Army upon graduation from Austin Peay State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Science degree from Troy State University in Personnel Management.

 

Brigadier General Butler's initial tour of duty was with the 2/17th Field Artillery, Camp Pelham, South Korea. Returning to the United States, he was assigned from 1976 to 1977 as a platoon leader and then as company executive officer with the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

 

After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1977, he was assigned as a detachment commander in Company C and later as executive officer of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Panama. In 1980, he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced course and later commanded Company C, Infantry Training Group, Fort Benning, Georgia. He returned to Fort Bragg and Special Forces in February 1984, and served as company executive officer and Battalion S-3, respectively, until assuming command of Company C, 2/7thSpecial Forces Group (Airborne).

 

After completing the Armed Forces Staff College, he was assigned 1988 to Special Operations Command South, Panama as Director J3 and a special operations plans officer. He was also a participant in OPERATION JUST CAUSE. He departed Panama in July 1991 to become an instructor at the Armed Forces Staff College until December1992.

 

He returned to Fort Bragg to command 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from January 1993-1995. BG Butler was then assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff to United States Army Special Forces Command until his departure to the United States Army War College.

 

After the War College he was assigned as Chief, Special Operations Coordination Element, XVIII Airborne Corps. BG Butler commanded the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), United States Army Special Warfare Center and School, from 1997 through 1999.

 

He was reassigned as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 1999 to 2000. His most recent assignment was as the Commanding General, Special Operations Command South from June 2000 to July 2003.

 

His military education included the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, Special Forces Qualification Course, Ranger School, HALO School and the Infantry Officer Advanced Course. He is a Graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, U.S. Marine Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

 

After retirement he was the KBR LOGCAP III Deputy General Program Manager ME/CA and Project Manager Iraq/Kuwait, a position in which he managed 18,000+ KBR employees performing service and construction missions throughout the area of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

He currently is living in Tampa, FL and is CEO of Black Russian Music Group, which sponsors and publishes music for hip hop artists.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Peter Lind graduated and was commissioned as an Infantry officer from Austin Peay State University in 1995. He has served in multiple infantry officer assignments throughout his career.

 

His military education includes Infantry Basic and Advanced Individual Training, the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and Army Command and General Staff College.

 

He assumed command of Company C, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment in November 2001. He deployed the company in support of 15th Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group during Early Victor and Operation Enduring Freedom and then led his company during the first ground combat operations of Operation Iraqi Freedom for the 101st Airborne Division in An Najaf, Iraq. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in the Battle of An Najaf, Iraq, in 2003.

 

LTC Lind relinquished command in Qayyarah, Iraq to attend the Ranger Orientation Program (ROP) in July 2003. He was then assigned as the Regimental Assistant S4 and LOGOPS for the 75" Ranger Regiment, during which he deployed four times in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom before taking command of HHC, 3d Ranger Battalion in July 2004. LTC Lind deployed twice to Afghanistan, where he commanded a cross-functional team during his tenure in HHC's 3rd Ranger Battalion.

 

He also participated in combat operations in Northern Iraq (1991) as an enlisted soldier and has deployed to Turkey, Botswana, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, and Jordan. His last assignment was as battalion commander of 1-28th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO. He was medically retired in July 2013 due to several service and combat-related injuries.

 

His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Meritorious Service Medal with multiple Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with multiple Oak Leaf Clusters, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Ranger Tab.

MAJ Gregory C. Mabry is an inaugural inductee to the National Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame and currently serves as the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Behavioral Health (BH) Capability Manager for Army Health Systems.

 

He is a native of Clarksville, Tennessee, and a graduate of Austin Peay State University's ROTC Class of 2004. He holds an Associate of Science in Nursing from Baptist School of Health Professions in San Antonio, Texas, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from American Sentinel University in Aurora, Colorado, a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, a Master of Arts in Information Technology Management from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri, a Master of Social Work from Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University in Costa Mesa, California.

 

MAJ Mabry was a faculty candidate to the Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York in 2015 and earned two congressional nominations to the U.S. Army Astronaut Candidate Program in 2016 and 2020.

 

Mabry's key assignments include deputy chief of behavioral health for the 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault); aviation behavioral science officer for Combined Joint Task Force Thunder, Operation Enduring Freedom; behavioral science officer for 159th Combat Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); chief medical information officer for 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized); medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) officer for Sadr City/ Baghdad, Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom; medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) officer for 506th Infantry Regiment (Currahee), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

 

Mabry's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, two Meritorious Unit Citations, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the Combat Medical Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Danish Contingent (DANCON) March Medal.

 

After decades of federal service, Mabry's grandfather and mother both retired from Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Brigadier General (Retired) Robin L. Mealer graduated and was commissioned in the Air Defense Artillery branch from York College. She has three Master's degrees, including a Master of Arts and Professional Education from Austin Peay State University. Her other master's degrees are in military science and strategic studies. BG Mealer has served in various Aviation and Force Management assignments. She served as the Professor of Military Science at Austin Peay State University from 1996-2000.

 

Her military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Rotary Wing Aviator Officer Basic Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Anny Command and General Staff College, and Army War College. BG Mealer served as company commander and at various staff levels and positions. Her last active duty assignment was as Director of the United States Army Manpower Analysis Agency. During her tenure as Professor of Military Science at APSU from 1996-2000, the APSU Army ROTC program was recognized as the top program in the nation in 1997. She has had deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. She currently works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Belvoir, VA.

 

Her military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Air medal (2nd award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Air Assault Badge, Senior Anny Aviators Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Herbert Rodriguez graduated and was commissioned as an Army aviator from Austin Peay State University in 1979. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate is the 100th Graduate of the APSU Army ROTC program. He served in multiple aviation assignments during his Army career. His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from APSU in 1979 and a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene-University.

 

LTC Rodriguez had prior enlisted experience before coming to APSU to complete his degree and earn a commission. After commissioning, flight school, and conventional Army unit assignments, he served several years in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. He commanded an MH-60 Blackhawk company in the 160th. He piloted Super 68 during the Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993. His helicopter's main rotor blades were hit by an RPG while he attempted to insert a Combat Search and Rescue to secure the crash site of a downed Black Hawk, Super 61. CW3 Dan Jollota and LTC Rodriguez successfully inserted the personnel under heavy fire and flew the crippled MH-60 Black Hawk back to the airfield, where maintenance crews discovered that the main transmission and engine oil cooler had been destroyed. Rodriguez and Jollota immediately jumped into another Black Hawk to return to the battle.

 

LTC Rodriguez was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in the battle. He retired in 1996 with 24 years of service. He has worked as a program manager for Internal Data Resources (IDR) since 2003 at Fort Campbell, KY.

Kip Stevens was born in Fort Campbell, KY, on September 1, 1959. He graduated from Northwest High School, Clarksville, TN, in 1977. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. As an enlisted Soldier, Kip trained at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, then at the Defense Language Institute/Foreign Language Course (Russian Aural Comprehension Course), Presidio of Monterey, CA, and at the U.S. Army Signal School, Fort Gordon, GA, in 1977-1978. He was then assigned to the Special Liaison Office, U.S. Delegation, NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium.

 

In August 1979, Kip was accepted to the U.S. Army Military Academy Preparatory School (USAMAPS), Fort Monmouth, NJ. He attended USAMAPS from September 1979 to August 1980. Following USAMAPS, Kip completed his enlistment at Fort Leavenworth, KS, in August 1981.

 

In August 1981, Kip received a Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship to attend Austin Peay State University (APSU), Clarksville, TN. While attending APSU, he was a member of the Tennessee Eta Tau Chapter, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, the Inter-Fraternity Council, and the Student Government Association. He was a charter member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society. In Army ROTC, he served as S-1 and then as Executive Officer. He graduated in June 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in French. He was commissioned on active duty as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps.

 

As an officer, Kip attended the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ, from July 1984 to January 1985. He was then assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. Later, in 1985, Kip was deployed with Task Force 3-502d (Multinational Force and Observers) to the Sinai Peninsula.

 

During their return flight on December 12, 1985, all 248 Soldiers of Task Force 3-502nd on Arrow Air, including Kip, were killed in a plane crash in Gander, Newfoundland. He is buried at Fort Donelson National Cemetery, Dover, TN.

2LT Richard Torres, 25, was killed in action on October 6, 2003, in Iraq when a homemade explosive hit his convoy. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10^th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. Torres is the only Austin Peay ROTC graduate killed in combat since the school began the program in 1971. LT Torres was born on February 7, 1978, in Bloomfield, NJ. He graduated from Passaic High School in Passaic, NJ, in 1996. He then joined the Army as a combat engineer. He was stationed in the 326th Engineer Battalion at Fort Campbell, KY, rising to sergeant. He earned a three-year Green to Gold Army ROTC scholarship and began classes at Austin Peay in August 1999. He graduated in May 2002 with a bachelor's degree in History cum laude and was commissioned in the Active Army as an infantry officer. After graduating, LT Torres went to Fort Benning, Ga., attending the Infantry Officer Basic Course. He was then assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. After a month at Fort Drum, training in many operations for Afghanistan, his unit deployed to Iraq, where he had been for about two months.

 

His awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 4 OLC, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Air Assault Badge. LT Torres is survived by his wife Linda, brother Stewart, and parents, Dora and Gulian Torres. He is buried at East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton, NJ.