Lieutenant Colonel Matthew E. Youmans

Lt Col Matthew E. Youmans is the Professor of Aerospace Studies and Commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 255 at the University of Iowa. He is responsible for recruiting, training, and educating students for entry into the Air Force and Space Force as commissioned officers. 

Lt Col Youmans earned his commission in 2005 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps upon graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in political science. After his commissioning, Lt Col Youmans enabled the Nation’s strategic deterrence force as an ICBM combat crew commander, instructor, inspector, and nuclear war plans analyst. Prior to his current assignment, Lt Col Youmans was the Director of Staff in Air Command and Staff College’s Department of International Security, where he educated, mentored, and evaluated Joint and international military officers and civilians on international relations, national security, and military strategy. An AETC Master Instructor, Lt Col Youmans also holds master’s degrees in Public Administration from American Military University and Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. 

Captain Brett C. Lechtenberg

Capt Brett C. Lechtenberg is the Operations Flight Commander and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Air Force ROTC Detachment 255, University of Iowa. He is responsible for recruiting, training, and educating students from three universities and colleges for commissioning into the Air and Space Force as second lieutenants. 

Capt Lechtenberg graduated from Weber Statue University and received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 850 at the University of Utah in 2014.  Throughout his career, Capt Lechtenberg had deployed once in support of operations Freedom’s Sentinel and Resolute Support and has held various positions at the wing level. Prior to his current assignment, Capt Lechtenberg served as the Financial Analysis Flight Commander leading a 13-person organization and an additional 45 resource advisors across the installation to provide decision support to 4 groups, 25 squadrons, and 16 staff agencies.  As the installation’s Budget Officer, Capt Lechtenberg developed and executed the wing’s $178 million portfolio of Air Force ad Special Operations Funds.  He also led a cell of 12 high-performing company grade and noncommissioned officer innovators, guiding the 5,000-member wing to curate ideas that will increase the wing’s readiness and lethality for years to come.
 

Captain Amanda L. Anderson-Gonzalez 

Capt Amanda L. Anderson-Gonzalez is the Recruiting and Admissions Officer as well as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies   at Air Force ROTC Detachment 255, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. She is responsible for recruiting, educating, and training students from three universities and colleges for commissioning into the Air Force as second  lieutenants.

Capt Anderson-Gonzalez is a 2012 graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she commissioned into the United States Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. She served in various positions within the Missile Operations and Aircraft Maintenance career fields, spending three years as a Missile Operator, working with Airmen from 5 AFSCs and directly responsible for 150 nuclear Minuteman III missiles. She then cross-trained into the Aircraft Maintenance field where she served in various positions to include flight commander and executive officer. She also served in the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer-in-Charge, working with over 200 Airmen in T-38 and F-22 TFI units. Additionally, she worked in a Command-level position leading a team of 110 Airmen and civilians across eight work centers and 10 AFSCs, overseeing 25 unit programs and a 18,000-hour Flying Hour Program for the 1st Fighter Wing’s 60 aircraft.

Technical Sergeant Matthew B. McKinney

TSgt Matthew B. McKinney is the NCOIC of Personnel at Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 255, University of Iowa. As the NCOIC of Personnel, he is responsible for various cadet actions that occur during the cadet life cycle. The administrative task of creating and maintaining cadet information files results in the annual commissioning of high quality second lieutenants who are fully prepared and motivated to excel across a spectrum of active duty leadership assignments.

TSgt McKinney entered Air Force basic training in December 2010 and graduated from the Personnel Apprentice course in April 2011. His first duty station as a Personnel Apprentice was Eielson AFB, Alaska, which he served in multiple roles ranging from a Force Management Apprentice, to an Installation Personnel Readiness Journeyman. He later served at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, as the NCOIC of the Commanders Support Staff. Prior to his current position, he was the NCOIC of Career Development at the 821st Support Squadron, Thule AB, Greenland.

Staff Sergeant Martina Nielsen 

Staff Sergeant Martina N. Nielsen is the NCOIC of Administration at Air Force  Reserve Corps Training (AFROTC) Detachment 255 at The University of Iowa. As such, she is the focal point for various accessions programs, managing all administrative and personnel ROTC cadet actions and updates. Efficiently creating and maintaining individual cadets’ files enables a smooth transition to commissioning into exemplary second lieutenants who are equipped to lead and excel.

SSgt Nielsen entered Air Force basic training in November 2010 and graduated from the Knowledge Operations Apprentice course in April 2011.  Her first duty station as a Knowledge Operations Apprentice was Eielson AFB, Alaska, serving as an Information Manager at the base’s Health and Wellness Center, base Publications & Forms Manager and base Postal Specialist. Once she transitioned to Administration, she finished her tenure at the Commander Support Staff. SSgt Nielsen then moved to Whiteman AFB, MO where she continued her Commander Support Staff duties as the NCOIC at two separate squadrons, as well as deployed to Al Udeid, Air Base, Kuwait as the Civil Engineering Squadron’s NCOIC, Administration.