Lt. Col. Christopher C. Corbett, a veteran of Operations Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Iraqi Freedom and former faculty member at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, has been named the new leader of The University of Akron Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). The University held a Change of Command Ceremony on Aug. 28 to formally welcome Corbett as the new professor of military science. He succeeds Lt. Col. Stanley “Rick” Young, who retired in July.
At UA, Corbett oversees the training and development of future U.S. Army officers through ROTC leadership courses woven into students' college curriculum. During classes, leadership labs, physical training and field training exercises, cadets learn first hand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and conduct missions as an officers in the U.S. Army, according to Corbett. Upon graduation from Army ROTC, these students earn the bar of a Second Lieutenant and are commissioned into the Active Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.
"I'm excited about being part of the University of Akron Army ROTC team,” says Corbett. “There's a great deal of energy, excellence and opportunity here for all students, and the campus is beautiful."
Corbett, a Massachusetts native, enlisted in the military in 1989. He served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He commissioned from the Officer Candidate School in 1992.
He has served in a variety of command and staff positions, including Deputy Chief of the Multi-National Corps - Iraq Joint Fires Cell for Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortars, Operation Iraqi Freedom; Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 2-6 ADA Battalion; Commander, Echo Battery, 2-43 ADA Battalion (Patriot), Fort Bliss, Texas and Kuwait, during Operation Desert Fox combat operations; Plans Officer and Tactical Director, 108th ADA Brigade; Fire Control Platoon Leader, Bravo Battery, 6-43 ADA (Patriot) Battalion, Ansbach, Germany. He also served as an assistant professor of English at West Point from 2001-04.
Corbett’s military and civilian education includes the German Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Hamburg, Germany; the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Services and Staff School; and the ADA Advanced and Officer Basic Courses. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Bridgewater State College, and holds a master of arts degree in English from the University of Rhode Island.
His decorations and awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Parachutist and Air Assault Badges, and the German Armed Forces Missile Proficiency and Military Proficiency Badges.
Corbett and his wife, Susan, have two sons, Christopher, 15, and Jonathan, 13.
Media contact: Sarah Lane, 330-972-7429 or slane@uakron.edu.