California:

Edward Murphy

• Rank:  United States Air Force Captain
• Status and Date:  Retired, April 1995
• Teaching Locations:  Will C. Wood High School, Vacaville, CA
• Teaching Levels:  Spanish I, II, III, IV; English as a Second Language, Business and Accounting
• Biographical Information:  Raised in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Argentina. Spent time in the Greek, Korean and Spanish military. 21 years USAF: Command Posts, Base Administration, Section Commander duties. Special duties in REDCOM and On Site Inspection Agency in weapons reduction treaties. Ph.D-Business Administration; BA-Business Management.

Richard Bermudez, Sr.

• Rank:  Petty Officer 1, United States Navy
• Status and Date:  Retired July 1994
• Teaching Locations:  Palmer Way Elementary in National City, California
• Teaching Levels:  Teaching 6th grade level multiple-subjects in a self-contained classroom
• Biographical Information:  Served as a Telecommunications Center Specialist and Instructor, USN, 1974-1994. Earned my Bachelors degree while in the service and registered with Troops to Teachers. Started working as a teacher's aide, then a substitute teacher with emergency credentials. Finished my teacher's internship and acquired my own classroom. Currently a Beginning Teacher Support Provider(BTSA), Teacher Leader in the California Reading and Literature Project (CRLP), and now have my Professional Teaching Credential. Presently teaching in a "high needs" school.

Richard Thomas

• Rank:  Commander, United States Navy 
• Status and Date:  Retired 1994
• Teaching Locations:  Jean Callison Elementary School, Vacaville CA
• Teaching Levels:  Gr. 4

William Mimiaga 

• Rank:  Major, United States Marine Corps
• Status and Date:  Retired, September 1994
• Teaching Locations:  Stephens Middle School, Long Beach CA
• Teaching Levels:  Special Ed.-ED Students in Gr. 6-7-8.
• Biographical Information:  Served 31 yrs. active duty with USMC. Rose to rank of GySgt, CWO-4 and retired as Major. Two tours in Vietnam with a combat promotion to SSGT. 1990-91: Served in the Gulf War. Bachelor's degree-Chapman University. MEd-Chaminade University, Hawaii. Regular Ed and Special Ed credentials from Hawaii and California. Taught 3 yrs. in Hawaii and the past 8 yrs. in CA. 2006-California Teacher of the Year for Middle Schools.

• USAF

• USCG/USN

• USN

Colorado:

Leonard Zigment

• Rank: United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel
• Teaching Locations: Widefield School District #3 in Colorado Springs, CO
• Teaching Levels: Math, Grades 9-12

Wayne Kirkbride

• Rank: United States Army Lieutenant Colonel
• Teaching Locations: Monument Academy in Monument, CO
• Teaching Levels: 8th grade Physical Science and 10th grade Physics
• Biographical Information: Served 22 years in the Army in a variety of light infantry, special forces and engineer units in Korea, Panama and Hawaii. Traveled extensively throughout Latin America and Asia on military duty. Graduated from the United States Military Academy with a BS in Engineering (no teaching courses). TTT program enabled me to take over 50 hours of teaching courses to gain a teaching certificate.

Brett W. Smith

• Rank: United States Army SFC-E7
• Status and Date: Retired July 2001
• Teaching Locations: Timberview Middle School, Colorado Springs, CO
• Teaching Levels: Currently Middle School Principal. Formerly, Special Ed Teacher & Asst. Principal
• Biographical Information: BA in History and Special Education; Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction; and Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Current doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership with the University of Phoenix. Have a Colorado K-12 Principal license, K-12 Director of Special Education license, and K-12 teaching license for Special Ed. Teach graduate courses in Special Ed and Ed Leadership for the University of Phoenix and Regis University.

Ernie Derrera

• Rank: United States Navy MMCS(SS) E-8
• Status and Date: Discharged Active Duty November 19, 1998; Currently serving in US Naval Reserves
• Teaching Locations: Roosevelt High School in Weld RE5-J School District, Johnstown, CO
• Teaching Levels: Math & Science, Grades 9-12
• Biographical Information: 11.5 years active duty in Nuclear Power program, including instructor duty at NPTU Idaho Falls and NNPS Orlando. Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Master's degree in Education Supervision. Spent two years as an engineer after leaving active duty before becoming a high school teacher. Completed Alternative Teacher Licensure program (ask me about it). Can't think of any job I'd rather be doing; the kids are great!

Sean P. Madden

• Rank: United States Navy MM1 (SW) E-6
• Status and Date: Honorably Discharged February 1997, Currently US Naval Reserves
• Teaching Locations: Greeley West High School, Greeley CO
• Teaching Levels: Math, Grades 9-12
• Biographical Information: Six years of active duty in the Naval Nuclear Power program including instructor duty at NPTU Idaho Falls, ID and service aboard the USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70. B.A.-Molecular Biology and Science Education; B.S.-Nuclear Technology; M.A. Biochemistry Research; Ph.D. Chemical Education. My Navy experience helped me to appreciate the importance of mathematics and science, an idea I try to convey to my students. I think that Troops to Teachers is a great program, and I encourage qualified veterans to pursue a career in teaching. Our kids need you!

• USMC

Hawaii:

To learn more about mentors in this state, 
please contact the Hawaii state Troops to Teachers office at: 1-800-438-6851

Nevada:

John Lemon 

• Rank:  United States Air Force SMSgt
• Status and Date:  Retired 2002
• Teaching Locations:  Owyhee Combined School, in Owyhee, Nevada
• Teaching Levels:  Secondary English on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation
• Biographical Information:  Teaching on the Reservation has been a very fulfilling experience. I have found myself falling back many times on concepts I learned as an NCO in the Air Force. I would be honored to help other members of TTT utilize the concepts to help them adapt to the world of education

• Rank:  United States Army Lieutenant Colonel
• Teaching Locations:  Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada
• Teaching Levels:  Mathematics and American Government, Grades 11-12
• Biographical Information:  Graduated from University of South Florida and commissioned in the Field Artillery in June 1977. Served in 1st ID, 2nd ID, 1st AD, 82nd AB, III Corp Artillery, 509th Airborne Infantry, 559th Artillery Gp and on the staff of the Defense Language Institute. 13 years of overseas service.

Will Fritchman

• Rank:  Captain, United States Navy(Nuclear Subs) 
• Teaching Locations:  Rancho High School, North Las Vegas, NV
• Teaching Levels:  Physics and Chemistry, Grades 10-12

New Mexico:

• Rank:  United States Navy Commander
• Status and Date:  Retired 2005
• Teaching Levels:  5th grade at Colinas del Norte Elementary, Rio Rancho, NM
• Biographical Information:  24 years on Active Duty with several teaching tours. I moved to New Mexico upon retirement in 2004 to teach elementary school. Have been working full time as a 5th grade teacher since March 2005 at Colinas del Norte Elementary in Rio Rancho. I completed the teacher preparation program at Santa Fe Community College in 2005.

• Rank:  Major
• Status and Date:  Retired, Aug 1991
• Teaching Locations:  Principal, Tse' Yi' Gai High School, Cuba NM
• Teaching Levels:  High School Principal for Gallup-McKinley County School District, New Mexico. Certified to teach Secondary Social Studies.
• Biographical Information:  Raised in Pennsylvania, attended Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia. Joined Air Force through ROTC and trained as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Stationed at Chanute, DaNang, McCoy, Offutt, Little Rock, RAF Fairford, Shemya, and Malmstrom.