Commander Lauper
Education: Commander Lauper graduated from United Township High School in East Moline, IL. In 1993, Commander Lauper graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and earned a commission through the Navy ROTC program. While teaching at The Ohio State University Navy ROTC, Commander Lauper earned a Master of Arts from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. He has continued his education with additional courses through the University of Minnesota and Fort Hays State University.
Military Biography: Commander Lauper is a Surface Warfare Officer, which means that he drove ships in the Navy. His first assignment was in USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45), where he was a division officer in charge of the flight deck and well deck, and then serving as Navigator, responsible for the safe navigation and operation of the ship. On his second ship, USS ZEPHYR (PC 8), then LT Lauper was the Operations/Executive Officer and Navigator as ZEPHYR circumnavigated South America in 1997. Commander Lauper's first Department Head tour was in USS CARTER HALL (LSD 50), where he was responsible for the flight deck, well deck, boats, and cranes while deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in 2001. His second Department Head assignment was as First Lieutenant in USS BOXER (LHD 4). Commander Lauper was responsible for the movement of vehicles and troops via the well deck while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Following the 2003 deployment, Commander Lauper became the Navigator in USS BOXER as they deployed back to the Middle East in 2004. Following a staff assignment with Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific, Commander Lauper became the Officer in Charge of Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Norco from 2006-2010. Commander Lauper's final sea duty was again in USS BOXER (LHD 4) from 2010-2012, where he served as Operations Officer while deployed to the Gulf of Aden in 2011. Commander Lauper's final assignment in the Navy was as the Executive Officer/ Associate Professor of Naval Science at Navy ROTC Unit, University of Minnesota. Retiring in 2013 after 20 years of active duty, Commander Lauper began his next career teaching Navy JROTC at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, CA. In 2016, Commander Lauper seized upon the opportunity to join Area 11's finest NJROTC program at Troy High School.
Lieutenant Fronek
Education: Lieutenant Roger Fronek was born and raised in Anaheim, California and graduated from Katella High School. After his time in the Army, he attended Fullerton College and Humboldt State University majoring in business.
Military Biography: Lieutenant Fronek entered the US Army in 1973 and stationed in Germany for three years specializing in weapons maintenance and chemical warfare. In 1992, after graduating from college, he entered the Navy Reserve and trained as an Aviation Electrician on F14 Tomcats. He transitioned to the intelligence community in 1999. He deployed with the Navy in 2006 and spent the next year in Djibouti, Africa as the maritime analyst and liaison to the United Kingdom, giving briefs on piracy at the British Embassy in Dubai, UAE as well as several intelligence agencies in the UK. He received his commission as a Naval Intelligence officer in 2009 and served as the Executive Officer at Assault Craft Unit 1 in San Diego, California. Other units that he served in include Navy Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, US Africa Command, Third Fleet Headquarters, Task Force 151 Counter-Piracy and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Group One. He retired from the Navy in March 2016 after 29 years of service. In his civilian career, he continued to work in the intelligence community, spending a total of 4 and a half years in Afghanistan. Lieutenant Fronek currently lives in Yorba Linda with his wife and his daughter who recently graduated from the University of California San Diego.
First Sergeant Barnes
Education: First Sergeant Barnes attended Doniphan High School. He later attended Palomar College.
Military Biography: First Sergeant Barnes enlisted in the Marine Corps on December 4, 1978 because he wanted to serve his country. During his time in the Corps, he was a radio technician/repairman. He was advanced to First Sergeant three years before his retirement in December of 1999.
