In observance of Veterans Day, Nebraska Today reached out for a question and answer session with commanders of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s ROTC program. Here, you can learn more about Lt. Col. Sandra Chavez, commanding officer of the Army ROTC program.
Learn more about the Air Force ROTC’s Lt. Col. C. J. Zaworski here, and the Navy ROTC’s Capt. Mark Lakamp here.
Lt. Col. Sandra Chavez is in her first year as commanding officer of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Army ROTC cadre. She has served in the Army for more than 22 years.
Chavez was commissioned through the ROTC program at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She was an active duty logistics officer and deployed to Bosnia (1998-99) and Iraq (2003-04 and 2009-10).
She has received numerous awards including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal and the NATO Medal. Key assignments include Fort Hood, Texas, with the First Cavalry Division and 21st Cavalry Brigade; Fourth Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado; professor of military science at Florida International University; Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Eustis, Virginia; Task Force 51, Army North at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and U.S. Army Pacific Command at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
Chavez earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and an undergraduate degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Why did you opt for military service?
I come from a long history of military service in my family. My maternal grandfather served in the Army in World War II, my paternal grandfather retired from the Air Force after serving for 20 years, and my father retired from the Air Force after serving for 24 years. So, I knew early on that I wanted to carry the tradition of serving our country through the greatest military in the world. Additionally, I’m extremely proud of my brother who is an Army veteran and my sister who just retired from the Navy after serving 27 years.
Why are you passionate about helping educate the next generation of military leaders?
My passion to teach, mentor and coach ROTC cadets began when I was a cadet in college. I had the most amazing MSII (sophomore) instructor who remains an inspiration to this day. The mentoring he provided motivated me to want to pay it forward and do exactly the same thing at one point in my career.
Without a doubt, the next generation of Army military leaders will be prepared to lead soldiers, whether their training be through ROTC, West Point or Officer Candidate School. I just want to be a small part of the team that ensures their success as an officer and their ability to embody “Mission First, Soldiers Always.”
Why are you excited to add the University of Nebraska to your military service record?
Coming from being stationed in Hawaii and knowing little to nothing about Nebraska, I had no idea what to expect. All I really knew was that I was embarking on Huskers territory and that it was going to be an exciting new challenge for me.
The signature strength of the UNL Army ROTC program is its cadets. Only after being here five months, I have quickly realized that this program has some of the finest college students enrolled and that they go on to be some of the best leaders in the Army.
I also love to share the fact about an amazing part of our UNL ROTC that many outside of Nebraska may not know. Gen. John J. Pershing was assigned to the university from 1891-95 and served as the sixth professor of military science and tactics. Knowing that I am following in the footsteps of one of the greatest military leaders of all time is extremely humbling.
My daughter and I have quickly fallen in love with Nebraska, the great people here and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — which, by the way, is no easy feat coming from Hawaii. This university has an amazing academic reputation and has shown such great support for its ROTC programs. So, who wouldn’t want the University of Nebraska on their resume?
