West Point Fellows

Major Kyle Hatzinger is a native of Rockford, Illinois, and a 2006 graduate of the United States Military Academy. From May 2007 to June 2009, Major Hatzinger was assigned as an infantry platoon leader with 1st battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (air assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Baghdad, Iraq. In March 2010, Major Hatzinger arrived at Fort Hood, Texas where he served as a brigade operations planner with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division until August 2011. In September 2011, Major Hatzinger assumed command of Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th US Cavalry in Tikrit, Iraq. Following command, he arrived at UNT to complete his MA under Dr. Wawro. In 2015, Major Hatzinger left UNT to begin his three-year assignment as an instructor and later assistant professor in the West Point department of history but continued pursuit of his PhD, supported by the MHC.

Major Hatzinger is currently assigned to the army futures command at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Working on the army’s future force structure. He completed his dissertation, "The Democracy of Death," written under Dr. Wawro's supervision, focuses on the burial of American war dead after World War I and graduated in August 2020. Major Hatzinger is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Captains' Career Course, and the Ranger Course. His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Army Commendation Medal (two awards), the Army Achievement Medal (five awards), the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Parachutist's Badge, and the Ranger Tab. Major Hatzinger is married to the former Ms. Brittany Curtis of Dover, Tennessee. They have a son and daughter.

Lieutenant Colonel Casey Baker currently teaches at the U.S. Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a 2005 graduate of the United States Military Academy. While studying at UNT, he earned his master's degree in 2014 and his doctorate in 2020. Between 2014 and 2016, he taught military history at USMA. In 2019, he served as a staff historian and curriculum developer for Army ROTC Military History Program. His research interests include the War of the First Coalition (1792-1797), 18th century European warfare and diplomacy, and British Civil-Military relations.

Casey’s dissertation, “Between Coalition and Unilateralism: The British War Machine in the Mediterranean, 1793-1796” proved that the Mediterranean Theater remains important for understanding two critical concepts of British and Allied strategy and policy during the French Wars (1792-1815). First, commitment to the Mediterranean War represented the reintroduction of British power in European affairs after a self-imposed hiatus. Secondly, it provides a lens to understand the conflicted and self-defeating impact of the royal navy on British foreign policy. The war, particularly in the Mediterranean, laid bare the tensions between continental and colonial interests. It also highlighted the institutions that represented these two areas of British foreign policy. Without decisive leadership in the Mediterranean to reconcile these institutions, national military strategy exposed the severe internal tensions and great contradictions of British policy.

Casey is a native of Princeton, Texas, and a 2005 graduate of the United States Military Academy. From December 2005 to June 2008, he was assigned as a Scout Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 7th US Cavalry at Fort Hood and Taji, Iraq. In June 2009, he assumed command of Company C, 4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment in Baumholder, Germany. In August 2010, he assumed command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment and deployed the company in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. From October 2011 to June 2012, he served as a brigade operations planner for the 170th Infantry Brigade in northern Afghanistan and Germany. Casey holds a Bachelor of Science in history from the United States Military Academy. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Armor Captains' Career Course, and the Cavalry Leaders' Course. His awards and decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal (two awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (two awards), NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is married to the former Mrs. Rebekah Ankrom of Decatur, Illinois. They have three wonderful sons who keep them very busy!

Captain Christian Garner is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a 2007 graduate of the United States Military Academy. From January 2008, to December 2011, Christian was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Hood, Texas. Cpt Garner deployed with 2-12 CAV as a motorized gun-truck platoon leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 and operated in Dhi Qar province, Iraq, from June 2008 to June 2009. Cpt Garner subsequently deployed once again with 2-12 CAV as the battalion S-2 to Kirkuk, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn from September 2010 to September 2011. Cpt Garner served as the Brigade Training Officer of the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade located at Fort Gordon, Georgia, from July 2012 to July 2013. In August 2013, Christian assumed command of headquarters and headquarters company, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, providing administrative, operational, and sustainment support to the brigade’s headquarters and supporting staff elements. Christian is currently assigned to United States Army student detachment preparing for a follow-on assignment as an assistant professor of military history at the United States Military Academy.

His master's thesis focused on glider pilot training in West Texas during World War II. He has a Bachelor of Science in history from the United States Military Academy. He is a graduate of the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, the Military Intelligence Captains' Career Course, and the G2X Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Operations Management Course. His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal (second award), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Parachutist's Badge, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (gold).

Captain Garner is married to the former Ms. Tiane Leonard of Lamesa, Texas. They have two one sons, Maxwell and Thayer.

Captain Thomas Herman was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Armor branch from the University of Dayton Army ROTC program in May 2006. He has attended the Mounted Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, Georgia; graduating both on the commandant’s list. He is also a graduate of the Scout Leader’s Course at Fort Knox. Tom’s first assignment was as a Tank Platoon Leader in Crazyhorse Troop, 1st Squadron (Tiger), 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fort Hood, Texas. In November of 2007, he deployed with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ’07-’09. During the deployment, he led a scout platoon in Apache troop, 1st Squadron (tiger), 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, where he served through redeployment to Fort Hood, Texas. After returning to Fort Hood as a captain in February 2010, Tom was assigned to the 1st Squadron (Headhunters), 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division. He served at the squadron planner and the command of Apache troop during Operation New Dawn in Iraq.

After redeployment, he took command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Thunderhorse), 12th Cavalry Regiment in March 2012, and deployed them in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2012. Tom relinquished command in October 2013 and served as an Observer Controller/Trainer and Assistant S-3 in 3rd BN (Nighthawks), 395th Armor Regiment, Division West, First Army until June 2014. Tom is currently a graduate student at UNT pursuing a Ph.D. in military history with a follow-on assignment as an instructor in the history department at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Dayton where he graduated cum laude. His significant awards include three Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Order of Saint George (black medallion and bronze medallion).

Tom married the former Ms. Luciana Zolli on July 4th 2009. They have a son Timothy, and daughter Olivia.

Captain Brendan Law is originally from Alamogordo, NM and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from New Mexico State University Army ROTC and a B.A. in History in 2011. After attending the Signal Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2LT Law was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. While stationed at Fort Bragg, 2LT Law served as a platoon leader and executive officer in the 508th BSTB. In November 2014, 1LT Law was selected to serve as the BDE S6 during the deactivation of 4BCT IAW the Army’s BCT 2020 transformation order.

In May 2015, 1LT Law was transferred to Fort Jackson and served as the Executive Officer for Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 13th INF REG until he was promoted to Captain. After he was promoted, Cpt Law served as the Company Commander for C Co, 3-13th INF REG. In August 2017, Cpt Law attended the Signal Captain’s Career Course and was transferred to the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Cpt Law assumed command of B/44th ESB in Jun 2017 and remained in command until May 2019. Cpt Law is currently assigned to the U.S. Army Student Detachment with duty at the University of North Texas pursuing his M.A. in Military History. Upon completion, Cpt Law will serve a utilization tour at the United States Military Academy as an Assistant Professor. Cpt Law’s awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.

He is married to Ellisen Law and has one son, Charles Law.

Captain David Musick’s army career began on 3 January 1992 when he enlisted as a Chemical Operations Specialist and attended basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Upon graduation, Specialist Musick was assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group at Camp Williams, Utah. Over the next seven years he was promoted to Sergeant and Staff Sergeant and served faithfully in a variety of leadership assignments in Utah, Alaska, and Washington until selected in 1999 to attend language training in Tagalog at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Upon graduation in 2000, Staff Sergeant Musick was retrained as a Cryptologic Linguist and assigned to the 115th Military Intelligence Group at Kunia, Hawaii. After two years of exceptionally distinguished service, he accepted an offer to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in January 2003. Staff Sergeant Musick was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Military Intelligence on 10 April 2003. In August 2003 he was assigned to 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and served as the inaugural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Platoon Leader for the 172nd Stryker Infantry Brigade. After establishing UAV Operations for the Brigade, Lieutenant Musick was transferred to 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment in April 2005 and was deployed that August to Mosul and later Baghdad, Iraq as the Battalion Tactical Intelligence Officer.

Upon redeployment in December 2006, Captain Musick was reassigned as the Battalion Intelligence Officer for 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment as part of Army force restructuring efforts. In October 2007, Cpt Musick was selected for short notice deployment as the Brigade Intelligence Officer for Task Force 49 Combat Aviation Brigade and returned to Iraq that November. From November 2007 until July 2008 Cpt Musick's 18 soldier intelligence section handled all strategic and operational aviation intelligence for the Iraqi Theater of Operations. In late July 2008, Cpt Musick's unit was transferred to multi-national division – center and assumed responsibility for tactical and operational intelligence support to aviation in the southern half of Iraq until their return in November 2008. Upon his return, Cpt Musick attended the Military Intelligence Captain's Career Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona and graduated in June of 2009.

Musick is currently assigned to United States Army Student Detachment preparing for a follow-on assignment as an assistant professor of military history at the United States Military Academy. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in military history at the University of North Texas. Captain Musick is working under Dr. Robert Citino in studies on the U.S. Army in the 20th century. His planned dissertation is on the effects of soldier motivation on battlefield tactics in the 20th century. He believes this will help explain the impact of political decisions on armies at war. Captain Musick has a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Chaminade University. He is a graduate of the Army Chemical Operations School, the Army Airborne School, Army Military Intelligence Basic Non-commissioned Officers Course, the Defense Language Institute, the Department of Defense Signal Intelligence School, the Intelligence Officer Basic Course, and the Military Intelligence Captains' Career Course. His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star (two awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (three awards), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (four awards), the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

He is married to the former Ms. Vivien Connor. They have four children, Emma, Kevin, Jacob, and Megan.

Lieutenant Colonel William (Bill) Nance was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor on 1 June 2002 from the United States Military Academy. In November 2002, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado, serving as a Platoon Leader and Staff Officer in Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Upon redeployment in March 2004, Lt. Nance was reassigned with his company to 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment as part of the ongoing modularization of the army. In March 2005, Captain Nance attended the Armor Captains’ Career Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In October 2005, Bill was assigned as a Tasking Officer, Current Operations, G3, III Corps. In May 2006, he assumed command of Heavy Company, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, as part of its BRAC move to Fort Hood, Texas. Bill rebuilt the company from 13 soldiers to its assigned strength of 80 troopers and officers. In November 2007, he deployed his company to Mosul, Iraq, and conducted area security operations in the southwest portion of the city.

In May 2008, Cpt Nance assumed command of Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In January 2009, he redeployed his troop to Fort Hood, Texas, and relinquished command in May of that same year. Bill is currently assigned to the United States Military Academy as an assistant professor of military history. He has taught or is teaching History of the Military Art to 1900, History of the Military Art since 1900, History of Warfare since 1945, History of World War II, and the Historiography of World War II. He is expecting to advise four cadets in their senior theses in the Spring of 2014. He received his master's degree in military history from the University of North Texas. His thesis assessed the value of corps cavalry assigned to the U.S. Third Army during World War II. Maj Nance defended his doctoral dissertation on 11 November 2013. This work, expanded upon his earlier work and evaluated the importance of corps cavalry to the four American field armies committed to the ETO in the World War II. Nance asserts that corps cavalry proved vital to the success of American and Allied Arms in this theater.

Major Nance has a Bachelor of Science in Military History from the United States Military Academy, a master’s degree from the University of North Texas, and a Ph.D in history from the University of North Texas. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Armor Captains' Career Course, and the Cavalry Leaders’ Course. His awards and decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal (three awards), the Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He has published an article "The Armored Reconnaissance Squadron and the Mechanized Cavalry Group", appearing in the January-February 2006 edition of Armor Magazine. He has also presented his research on cavalry operations at the 2011 International Security / International Stability Conference as well as to the 117th Cavalry Association. His article, “Lost Sabers: Why We Need Operational Cavalry and How to Get It Back,” was published in the Vol. 5, No. 4 October-December 2014 volume of the Cavalry & Armor Journal.

Major Eric Smith is as an Army Strategist/Planner currently serving as the Campaign Plans Branch Chief at the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He recently wrote and published the Functional Campaign Plan for Global Deployment and Distribution 9033, which explains how the Command supports deploying the Joint Force from competition through the escalation to armed conflict. He is currently a PhD candidate exploring how Napoleon Bonaparte commanded his armies, especially those armies outside his immediate control. He enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, board gaming, and video gaming.

Captain Michael Hamel hails from Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with honors in May 2013 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps. After graduation from the Military Police Basic Officers’ Course, Cpt Hamel was assigned as a Platoon Leader in the 118th Military Police Company (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In March 2015, he deployed in support of the special operations command central crisis response element where he served as both the Support Detachment Commander and the Crisis Response Element’s Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Officer. Upon his return in February 2016, he served as the Executive Officer for HHC, 16th Military Police Brigade. Upon graduation from the Military Police Captains’ Career Course, he was assigned to HHC, 8th Military Police Brigade where he served as Law Enforcement OIC from January 2018 to April 2019. Cpt Hamel assumed command of HHD, 19th MP BN (CID) in May 2019 and remained in command until May 2021. Cpt Hamel is currently assigned to the U.S. Army Student Detachment with duty at the University of North Texas pursuing his MA in military history. Upon completion, Cpt Hamel will serve a utilization tour at the United States Military Academy as an assistant professor.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2), and the Air Assault Badge.