Meet The Cadre
“Cadre” refers to the active-duty Air Force personnel and civilian advisors who come from a variety of backgrounds and careers in the Air Force to help shape the service's future leaders.
Lieutenant Colonel Rene Terriquez
Air Force ROTC Detachment 060 Commander Department of Aerospace Studies Chair
Lt. Col. Rene Terriquez is the Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at Detachment 060, University of Southern California. He is the Department Head and Professor of Aerospace Studies, leading a cadre of instructors and support staff responsible for the recruiting, education, training, and commissioning of Air and Space Force candidates through a comprehensive college program.
Major John Gofus
Operations Director Assistant Professor in Aerospace Studies
Major Gofus is the Operations Director and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Detachment 060. Furthermore, as the Education Officer, he is focused on curriculum development, development of academic and educational opportunities, ensuring the required objectives for courses, and certifying training for faculty. He mentors cadets through an aggressive training program during Leadership Laboratory and provides military discipline and career guidance. Additionally, Major Gofus is a member of the Space Force and instructs cadets about Space Force Operations and leadership values.
Captain Katelin Robinson
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies Detachment 060, Recruiting Flight Commander
Capt. Katelin Robinson is the Recruiting Flight Commander and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Detachment 060, University of Southern California. Her responsibilities include cadet development, program management, community outreach, and ensuring we recruit and retain the highest quality officer candidates to eventually serve in our Air and Space Forces. In the classroom and leadership lab, her role is to develop cadets, through education focused on our core values, leadership principles, conflict management, and communication skills while enforcing military readiness, standards, and discipline to accomplish our shared goal - to continue to be the strongest military in the world.
Technical Sergeant Elena N. Hernandez
Air Force ROTC Accessions Instructor
Technical Sergeant Hernandez was born and raised in Southern California before enlisting in the Air Force in May of 2016. She graduated from the Apprentice Signals Collection Course Technical Training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, in November 2016. She spent the first five years of her Air Force career at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia, serving in various leadership and teaching positions. After instructing for a year at her technical school, she deployed to Kuwait, where she gained a broader view of the intelligence and targeting cycle and brought that knowledge back to the schoolhouse. TSgt Hernandez is grateful for all the opportunities the Air Force has afforded her and is eager to share that with the cadets of Det 060 and help set them up for success in their own careers.
Staff Sergeant Jaelin Smith
Air Force ROTC NCOIC Cadet Actions
Staff Sergeant Jaelin C. Smith is the non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of Cadet Actions at Detachment 060, University of Southern California. Sergeant Smith serves as the detachment’s primary administrative technician for cadet administrative records, programs, and personnel support functions. She manages data for over 90 cadets and 53 cross-town universities.
Master Sergeant Sadae L. Spicer
Air Force ROTC Training Instructor
Master Sergeant Sadae L. Spicer is the Air Force Training Reserve Office Training Corps Instructor at Detachment 060, University of Southern California. Sergeant Spicer serves as the detachment’s key enlisted leader and primary enlisted advisor to the detachment commander on cadet academics, morals, and welfare for over 90 cadets from 53 cross-town universities.
