Arkansas State welcomes U.S. Army War College Eisenhower Colleges Series student group for second straight year
04/01/2013
JONESBORO, Ark. — Members of the U.S. Army War College (USAC) and the Eisenhower Series College Program will visit Arkansas State Tuesday and Wednesday, April 2-3, to speak to variety of classes and audiences. This is the second visit from the USAC after coming to ASU in March of 2012.
The visiting students are LTC Ricardo Player, USMC; LTC Charles C. Poche, USA: Col. Robert W. Turk, USA; and faculty advisor Col. Donald J. Peck, USAF. The Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Wounded Veterans at ASU will host an event April 2 from 8-10 a.m. in the Grand Hall of the Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, for the veterans in the community to come together with the students from the Army War College.
“I am so pleased we are able to host these students for a second year,” said Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. “The opportunity for ASU students and faculty to interact with students from the Army War College does not happen on most college campuses. We are very fortunate to have this experience.”
Following at 10:30 a.m., the Army War College students will go to the Beck PRIDE Center, Donald W. Reynolds Center for Health Services, to speak with Beck PRIDE participants and student veterans. They will also visit many classes across multiple colleges at ASU during their two-day visit. They are prepared to discuss national public policy and current social issues and their impact on the United States Armed Forces.
Here is some biographical information on the visitors from U.S. Army War College:
Colonel Jon Peck, Faculty Advisor; Director Aerospace Studies; U.S. Army War College; U.S. Air Force
Col. Jon Peck is an instructor in the United Stated Army War College’s Department of National Security and Strategy where he instructs senior level, joint military and civilian personnel in war strategy, national policy development and inter-agency processes.
A career special operator, he commanded Air Force Special Operations Command’s operational test and evaluation squadron where he conducted tactics evaluations for AC-130, MC-130, EC-130, CV-22, and MH-53 aircraft as well as Special Tactics and Combat Controller personnel and equipment.
Additionally, he has held staff positions in the United States Special Operations Command’s Washington Office, the Pentagon, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Washington D.C. and Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Col. Peck was raised in Plainville, Mass., and received his commission through the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. He completed undergraduate navigator training at Mather AFB, Calif., in 1988. He has served as a navigator, instructor navigator, flight examiner, flight commander, assistant operations officer, and operations officer. Col. Peck has over 2,500 flying hours and has flown worldwide AC-130 combat operations in support of both U.S. and coalition special operations forces.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles C. Poche, Panel Member; U.S. Army War College/ U.S. Army
LTC Charles C. Poché is a native of Paulina, La. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Va., and a Master of Laws in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Va. He currently is a resident student at the U.S. Army War College. From 2010-2012, he served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, located at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Initially commisioned as an Armor officer, LTC Poché has spent the last 13 years serving in various assignments as an attorney within the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. In this capacity, he served as part of the early peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. He has served twice in Iraq, once as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and most recently as part of Operation New Dawn.
His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Ranger Tab, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, Canadian and German Parachutist Badges, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Colonel Robert W. Turk; Student; U.S. Army War College; U.S. States Army
Col. Robert W. Turk is a native of Gadsden, Ala. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Alabama Agriculture & Mechanical University, Normal, Ala., a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science / Artificial Intelligence from Towson University, Towson, Md., and a Master of Military Arts and Science Degree from the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He currently is a resident student at the U.S. Army War College. From 2007-2012, he was an Information Assurance Inspection Team Leader assigned to the Department of Army Inspector General Agency, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Col. Turk was commisioned as a Chemical Corps officer, but has spent the last 13 years serving in various information technology and cyber security assignments. He has served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He has also participated Operation Intrinsic Action and numerous cyber security inspections in support of Opertation Iraqi Freedom.
His awards and decorations include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Award, Army Achievement Medal and Parachutist Badge.
Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo (Riccoh) Player; Panel Member; U.S. Army War College; U.S. MarineCorps
Lt. Col. Ricardo (Riccoh) Player is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Corporate Communications from Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. and a Master of Science in Public Administration from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. He currently is a resident student at the U.S. Army War College. From 2011-2012, he was Director of Public Affairs, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) – Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. Player enlisted then served as an Infantry officer, but has spent 16 years serving in various public affairs assignments. He has served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He has also served as the PAO for International Travel to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
His awards and decorations include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.
According to the program’s statement of purpose, the series generally consists of 10 to 12 students and a faculty moderator. Panel members are selected for their experience, interest, and knowledge of national security issues. Along with their Army War College coursework, they undertake an intensive individual study program throughout the academic year.
The mission of the Beck PRIDE Center (PRIDE focuses on Personal Rehabilitation, Individual Development and Education), provides combat wounded veterans with a first class educational programs and services at Arkansas State University. These include, but are not limited to resources to access to the higher education experience, resources for counseling, personal rehabilitation, advocacy, and financial assistance, and supporting these individuals to achieve their post military service goals.
For more information, contact Sandra Worlow, director of the Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Wounded Veterans, at (870) 972-2624 or through e-mail at ssworlow@astate.edu.
