Cadre (Staff)
Lt. Col. Ernesto Curiel
Detachment 003 Commander
Professor of Aerospace Studies
3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Lt Col Ernesto F. Curiel, is is the Commander of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, Texas. He is responsible for recruiting, educating, training, and inspiring men and women to become the highest quality leaders in the United States Air Force.
Lt Col Curiel received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and commissioned from The Citadel in 2005. He attained a Master Buisness Administrative from Trident University in 2013.
Lt Col Curiel served as the Chief of Staff Executive Officer for both Headquarters United States Air Forces Central Command and 24th Numbered Air Force. He was selected to represent the National Air and Space Intelligence Center as a Liaison Officer while deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Lt Col Curiel also served as the Deputy Director for the Technical Coordination Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) with duty under the Defense Intelligence Agency at Patrick AFB, manned by 81 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. Concurrently, he worked as the Director of Operations for the Defense Intelligence Agency's Quick Reaction Capabilities Branch and led a team of 36 joint members, managing more than 50 funded national projects, over 6000 ISR assets, two dozen airborne and maritime capital assets, and five facilities on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, totaling over $40M. Prior to his current position he was the Detachment Commander for AFTAC, the organization established to provide state-of-health support for the Global Positioning System/Nuclear Detonation Detection System.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, The Citadel, Charleston, SC
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Master Business Administrative, Trident University
2017 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2005 – July 2006, Navigator Student, 562d Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
- August 2006 – July 2009, Radar Project Management Officer in Charge, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
(August 2008 – February 2009, Deployed NASIC LNO, Al Udeid AB, Qatar) - August 2009 – June 2010, Operations Support Section Officer in Charge, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
- July 2010 – July 2012, Orders Production Branch Chief, 624th Operations Center, Lackland AFB, TX
- August 2012 – April 2014, Chief of Staff Executive Officer, 24th NAF, Lackland AFB, TX
(July 2013 – January 2014, Deployed Chief of Staff Executive Officer, HQ AFCENT, Al Udeid AB, Qatar) - May 2014 – July 2015, Cyber Radar Sensors Branch Chief, Technical Collection Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center with duty under the Defense Intelligence Agency, Science and Technology Directorate, Patrick AFB, FL
- August 2015 – May 2017, Deputy Director, Technical Collection Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center with duty under the Defense Intelligence Agency, Science and Technology Directorate, Patrick AFB, FL
- June 2017 – June 2019, Commander, Detachment 46, 22nd Surveillance Squadron, 709th Surveillance & Analysis Group, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Schriever AFB, CO
- July 2019 – May 2022, Director of Staff, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL (March 2021 – October 2021, Deployed SOJTF-OIR/Levant Planner, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait)
- June 2022 – Present, Commander, AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, TX
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC) Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (2 OLC) National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
2017 U.S. AF Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Research Management of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant | June 1, 2005 | |
First Lieutenant | June 1, 2007 | |
Captain | June 1, 2009 | |
Major | October 1, 2015 | |
Lieutenant Colonel | April 1, 2020 |
ACQUISITION CERTIFICATIONS
Level III, Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering Systems Engineer
Level I, Program Management
Level I, Science and Technology Manager
(Current as of June 2022)
Lt. Col. Andrew Giebler
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies
AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston
3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Giebler currently serves as Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Air Force Science at Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 003, University of Houston. In this role, he is responsible for recruiting, training, and inspiring the next generation of Air and Space Force officers.
Lieutenant Colonel Giebler commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2005 from Air Force ROTC Detachment 280 at the University of Kansas. In over seventeen years of active duty, he has held a variety of assignments at the tactical, operational, and national intelligence community levels. Prior to his current assignment, Lieutenant Colonel Giebler was Commander, 56th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico, where he commanded 148 Airmen conducting intelligence operations for the 27th Special Operations Wing and United States Special Operations Command components.
Lieutenant Colonel Giebler is a graduate of and former instructor at the USAF Weapons School as well as a certified Political-Military Affairs Strategist. He has deployed multiple times with conventional and special operations forces in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and overseas contingency operations.
EDUCATION
- 2005 Bachelor of Science, Physics, University of Kansas, Lawrence
- 2005 Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
- 2006 Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
- 2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
- 2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- 2012 Intelligence Sensor Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- 2014 Master of Science, Finance, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.
- 2016 Master of Engineering, Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
- 2018 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- 2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- October 2005 – August 2006, Student, Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
- August 2006 – October 2007, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Operations and Training, 51st Operations Support Squadron and Intelligence Officer, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea.
- October 2007 – October 2010, Chief, Collection Operations Management, 613th Air and Space Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
- October 2010 – June 2012, Flight Commander, Future Scenarios, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- July – December 2012, Student, Intelligence Sensor Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- January 2013 – June 2015, Flight Commander and Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 22nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
- July 2015 – June 2016, Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 659th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
- June 2016 – June 2017, Flight Commander and Weapons School Instructor, 19th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- July 2017 – June 2018, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- July 2018 – June 2020, Troop Commander and Squadron Director of Operations, Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C.
- June 2020 – May 2021, Chief, J2 Current Operations, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
- June 2021 – May 2023, Commander, 56th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- June 2023 – Present, Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Air Force Science, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 003, University of Houston, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2018 – June 2020, Troop Commander and Squadron Director of Operations, Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a major
- June 2020 – May 2021, Chief, J2 Current Operations, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Joint Service Commendation Medal with “C” device and oak leaf cluster
- Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
- Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) Commendation
- Army Combat Action Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant | September 1, 2005 | |
First Lieutenant | September 1, 2007 | |
Captain | September 1, 2009 | |
Major | February 1, 2016 | |
Lieutenant Colonel | August 1, 2020 |
(Current as of August 2023)
Maj. Feyisade A. Bolarinwa
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies
AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston
3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Major Feyisade Bolarinwa is the Education Officer of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 003 at the University of Houston, Texas. She is tasked with recruiting, educating, training, and commissioning officer candidates according to the Department of Air Force requirements.
Major Bolarinwa was commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy on May 28, 2014, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She previously served as an enlisted Physical Therapy Technician between August 2007 and July 2010.
She has held various positions including Officer in Charge of Air Force Contracting Flights and Section Commander on G-Series Order for the 52nd Maintenance Squadron. Her roles have taken her from deployment as the Executive Officer to the A3 Operations Directorate at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to serving as a Contracting Officer with an Unlimited Warrant and Director of Business Operations at Tinker Air Force Base, managing a significant contract portfolio.
EDUCATION
2014 Bachelor of Science, Biology, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2017 Master of Business Administration and Management, Webster University, MO
2020 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
- Physical Medicine Apprentice, Travis AFB, CA (Feb 2008 – Jul 2009)
- Student, USAF Academy, CO (Jul 2009 – Jul 2014)
- Contract Manager, Services, Luke AFB, AZ (Jul 2014 – Aug 2015)
- Contract Manager, Construction, Luke AFB, AZ (Aug 2015 – Aug 2016)
- Officer in Charge, Infrastructure Support Flight, Luke AFB, AZ (Aug 2016 – Oct 2016)
- Officer in Charge, Services Flight, Luke AFB, AZ (Oct 2016 – Oct 2016)
- Section Commander, Luke AFB, AZ (Oct 2016 – Aug 2017)
- Military Lead for C-20/C-37 Aircraft, Tinker AFB, OK (Aug 2017 – Feb 2020)
- Military Lead for Presidential Airlift, Tinker AFB, OK (Feb 2020 – Mar 2021)
- Director of Business Operations, Tinker AFB, OK (Mar 2021 – Dec 2022)
- Instructor and Education Officer, Detachment 003, University of Houston, TX (Dec 2022 – Present)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Medal, Air and Space Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Air and Space Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant: May 28, 2014
First Lieutenant: May 28, 2016
Captain: May 28, 2018
Major:
(Current as of August 2024)
Capt. Savanah Koontz
Assistant Professor of Air Force Sciences3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Capt Savanah Koontz is the Recruiting Officer and Assistant Professor of Air Force Sciences at Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 003, University of Houston. In this role, she is responsible for recruiting and inspiring the next generation of Air and Space Force officers.
Capt Koontz entered the Air Force in 2019 after graduating from California State University, Sacramento. Prior to her current position, she served as the Chief of Public Affairs, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. While there, she strategically managed Public Affairs programs to meet command messaging of the 49th Wing’s training mission to 4,500 airmen and supported 24 tenant units and 2 geographically separated units. She led 11 military and civilian personnel and served as the principal PA advisor to the commander on all matters relating to communication, media operations, and public perception to policy, activities and operations.
EDUCATION
2018 Bachelor of Arts in Communication, California State University, Sacramento
2019 Public Affairs Qualification Course, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
2020 Advanced Social Media Strategy Course, Syracuse University, NY, by correspondence
2020 Visual Information Managers Course, Fort George G. Meade, Md., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
- October 2019 – July 2020, Public Affairs Officer, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wa.
- July 2020 – December 2020, Chief, Media Operations, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wa.
- January 2021 – June 2023, Chief, Command Information, 49th Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M
- July 2023 – June 2024, Chief, Public Affairs, 49th Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
- June 2024 – Present, Instructor and Recruiting Officer, Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant - June 8, 2018
First Lieutenant - Aug. 4, 2020
Captain - Aug. 4, 2022
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2024)
TSgt. Valerie K Mata
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Administration3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Technical Sergeant Valerie K Mata is the Non-commissioned officer in charge of administration for cadets and cadre within Detachment 003. She is responsible for managing personnel records and processing administration tasks for 6 cadre, 24 AFIT/AECP students and over 77 cadets. She is responsible for the life cycle of over 100 cadets from 17 colleges and universities in the Houston Texas area.
EDUCATION
- 2011 Information Management Technical School, Keesler AFB, MS
- 2016 Airman Leadership School, Mildenhall AFB, UK
- 2017 Community College of the Air Force, Information Resources Management Degree, Mildenhall AFB, UK
- 2022 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Andersen AFB, Guam
ASSIGNMENTS
- October 2011-December 2011, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
- December 2011 – March 2012, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler AFB, MS
- March 2012 – August 2015, Admin, Wing Executive Staff, 36 Wing, McGuire AFB, NJ
- August 2015 – August 2018, Admin Services Journeyman, AFOSI Det 512, Mildenhall AFB, UK
- August 2018 – June 2021, Admin Intel NCO, 526th Intel Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
- June 2021 – June 2024, Section Chief, CSS, 9th Operations Group Detachment 4, Andersen AFB, GU
- June 2024-Present, NCOIC, Administration Management, AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston, Houston, TX
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal w/ C Device
- Air Force Commendation Medal
TSgt Kyle Alexander
ROTC Instructor3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Technical Sergeant Kyle Alexander serves as ROTC-Instructor for Detachment 003. He is responsible for military instruction and managing personnel records and processing administration tasks for 6 cadre, 24 AFIT/AECP students, and over 77 cadets.
He is from Stanley, NC and his primary AFSC is 1W071 (Weather Forecaster).
EDUCATION
- 2011 Weather Apprentice School, Keesler AFB, MS
- 2013 Associate of Applied Science – Meteorology, CCAF
- 2013 Air Weather Exploitation and Integration Course, Keesler AFB, MS
- 2015 Airman Leadership School, Joint Base Andrews, MD
- 2015 Bachelor of Science – Geography, Park University, MO
- 2017 Associate of Applied Science – Instructor of Technology and Military
Science, CCAF - 2017 Graduate Certificate - Geographic Information Systems, North Carolina State University, NC
- 2020 Army Weather Support Course (Distinguished Graduate), Fort Huachuca, AZ
- 2020 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education 1, Non-Residence
ASSIGNMENTS
- March – May 2011, Basic Military Training, 321st Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
- May 2011 – February 2012, Weather Apprentice Course, 335th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS
- February 2012 – September 2013, 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, IL
- September 2013 – June 2016, 89th Operational Support Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, MD
- June 2016 – June 2020, Weather Instructor, 335th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS
- January 2019 – June 2019, METOC Forecaster, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
- June 2020 – December 2023, Detachment 1, 3rd Combat Weather Squadron, Fort Carson, CO
- August 2021 – January 2022, Staff Weather Officer, 7-17 Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Stefanovikeio Air Base, Greece
- December 2023 – Present, ROTC-Instructor, AFROTC Detachment 003, University of Houston, TX
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- 2013 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone Recipient
- 2021 3rd Combat Weather Squadron NCO of the Year
- Joint Service Achievement Medal
- Army Achievement Medal (2x)
- Army Commendation Medal
- Air and Space Commendation Medal (3x)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class | May 2011 |
Senior Airman | March 2013 |
Staff Sergeant | January 2016 |
Technical Sergeant | November 2020 |
Mrs. Lisa Meza-Duran
Office Supervisor
3875 Holman Street Room 109
Houston, TX 77204-5048
Lisa Duran is Office Supervisor, Air Force ROTC Detachment 003, at the University of Houston. A University of Houston employee, Mrs. Duran is responsible for preparing officer candidates for Air Force commissioning through a comprehensive college program. Detachment 003 is composed of over 100 cadets from 17 colleges and universities in the Houston, Texas area.
Ms. Duran has been with Detachment 003 since it stood up.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Oct – Dec. 2006
- SW Region Civilian of the Year, 1 Jan. – 31 Dec. 2006
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Oct – Dec. 2007
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Jan. – 31 Mar 2008
- Sw Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 July – Sept. 2008
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Jan – Mar. 2010
- SW Region Civilian of the Quarter, 1 Apr – 30 June 2011
- SW Region Civilian of the Year, 1 Jan – 31 Dec. 2011
Air Force ROTC
University of Houston | 3875 Holman Street Room 109 | Houston TX 77204-5048
Phone: 713-743-4932 | afrotc@uh.edu
This Air Force ROTC Detachment 003 Website is provided as a public service by the University of Houston.
Information presented on the Detachment 003 Website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested.
Information concerning visitors, use of this site is collected for analytical and statistical purposes, such as assessing what information is of most and least interest, determining technical design specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas.
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.
Raw data logs will only be used to identify individual users and their usage habits for authorized law enforcement investigations or national security purposes. These logs are scheduled for regular destruction in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration Guidelines .
Unauthorized attempts to deny service, upload information, change information, or to attempt to access a non-public site from this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.
If you have any questions or comments about the information presented here, please forward them to us.
The Presence of Commercial/External Links
The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Air Force, the Defense Technical Information Center, or the Department of Defense or this Web site, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Air Force does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of the Website.
FOIA Notice
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program is mandated by Congress and applies to all governmental agencies. The program allows the public to request information pertaining to an agency’s functions, practices, and future plans. Anyone may request records under the FOIA. Public disclosure is mandatory unless exempted under Title 5 U.S.C. 552. In accordance with the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996, agencies have 20 work days to respond to a FOIA request. As a general rule, the Air Force will not deliver unofficial mass mailings addressed to individuals at their duty addresses.
Cookie Disclaimer
A "cookie" is a small piece of information (token) sent by a Web server and stored on a user’s system (hard drive) so it can later be read back from that system. Using cookies is a convenient technique for having the browser remember some specific information. Cookies may be categorized as “session” or “persistent” cookies. “Session” cookies are temporary cookies that are used to maintain context or “state” between otherwise stateless Web transactions (e.g., to maintain a "shopping basket" of goods selected during a single logical session at a site) and that must be deleted at the end of the web session in which they are created. “Persistent” cookies remain over time and can be used for a variety of purposes, including to track a user's access over time and across Websites, or to establish user preferences.
This Website does not use persistent cookies, i.e., tokens that pass information back and forth from your machine to the server and remain after you close your browser. This Website does use session cookies, i.e., tokens that remain active only until you close your browser, in order to (make the site easier for you to use). No database of information obtained from these cookies is kept and when you close your browser, the cookie is deleted from your computer. This Website uses cookies to save you time in filling out forms, to maintain a relationship between the image and the correct link.
You can choose not to accept these cookies and still use the site, but (you may need to enter the same information repeatedly and clicking on the banners will not take you to the correct page). The help information in your browser software should provide you with instruction on how to disable cookies.