Steinmetz JROTC Career Academy

Meet the team!

  • Larry Fivecoat (Major, Retired) graduated with a B.S. in Marketing from Indiana State University and an M.S. in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University. His military career including serving as Family Services Officer for an Air Station and Operations Officer for a Marine Division Tactical Warfare Simulation Center. As a Naval aviator, his teaching experience included instruction on rotary and fixed wing aircraft. He holds civilian FAA ratings of single and multi-engine Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Engineer-Turbojet.

  • Tanna Mattingly
  • Robert Mitchell (Lieutenant Colonel, Retired) holds a B.S. in Geography from Murray State University, and Masters Degrees in Systems Management and Public Administration from the University of Southern California and the University of Louisville. His military career included Army and Defense Nuclear Agency, command and staff assignments in data processing and personnel management from unit to national level. Bob is an experienced outdoorsman who enjoys hiking and backpacking.

  • Chika Saeki is a native Illinoisian and graduate of Northwestern University. She received her B.A. in History and is the Academy's core history teacher. Her work experiences at a law firm has helped her hone invaluable life and work skills which will contribute immensely to the Academy operations and teaching program. An avid musician, Chika also is an accomplished violinist.

  • H.T. Sheppard (Major, Retired)holds a B.A. degree in Instrumental Music from South Carolina State University. His military career spans a period of twenty years, including a variety of command and staff positions in the United State, Europe, Asia, and Central America. He has served as Assistant Professor of Military Science at Howard University, Washington, D.C. He was selected for and attended the United States Army Command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He later served as an instructor at the College.

  • Steven Sylvester (Master Gunnery Sergeant, Retired) has earned a B.S. degree in Earth Science and Aviation from the State University of New York, a MBA/M.A. in Management from Webster University, and a M.Ed. from Loyola University. His military career included assignments in weather forecasting, infantry, supply and logistics, recruiting, and special operations. While on active duty with the Marine Corps he taught general military subjects and weather forecasting. His civilian teaching experience includes teaching quality management, food technology, and business management courses.

  • Dave Vogt (Command Sergeant Major, Retired) graduated from Saint Martin's College with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.Ed. from Loyola University. In addition, he holds an Associate's Degree in Law Enforcement from Central Texas College and was an Adjunct Faculty member. His military career included duty with the military police and field artillery. He has served as the Command Sergeant Major of two battalions and a field artillery group. Dave has enjoyed coaching youth soccer and serving as an assistant scout master.

  • Tracie L. Washington received her B.A. in English from DePaul University in 1991. During her college years, she was actively involved in music production and promotion. After graduation, she moved to Dublin, Ireland where she studied contemporary literature for two years at Trinity College, while simultaneously managing a successful music production venture. Upon returning to the U.S., she applied and was accepted to the Teachers for Chicago Scholarship Program. She has taught Literature at Steinmetz JROTC Career Academy for the past two years.