Cadre

Lt Col Kedem “Splinter” Alon is the Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 017 at Troy University.  He serves as the Aerospace Studies department head, instructs courses on national security affairs, supervises four faculty and staff members and has overall responsibility for training and mentoring more than 30 students preparing to become Air Force or Space Force officers.

Lt Col Alon earned his commission in May 2009 through the United States Air Force Academy.  He completed pilot training in 2011 and since then has held a variety of flying and academic positions.  He completed his first flying assignment as a KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot and followed with an assignment as an instructor pilot in the MQ-9 Reaper.  Lt Col Alon has also built and directed analytical and educational wargames for the Air Force as a LeMay Center Wargaming Division Chief. 

Splinter's combat experiences include commanding crews during refueling missions in the KC-135 and during close air support missions in the MQ-9.  He has supported multiple combat operations including Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM'S SENTINEL, and INHERENT RESOLVE.  Lt Col Alon has logged over 1,100 hours of combat flight time.

Major Brian J. Cockroft is the Operations/Recruiting Officer and Professor of Aerospace Studies of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 017 at Troy University. Major Cockroft enlisted in the Air Force in 2003 as an Aircrew Life Support technician assigned to Whiteman AFB, MO before commissioning in 2013. He has deployed to Southwest Asia twice in support of Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL and as the Centcom J1-Forward. Prior to his current assignment, Major Cockroft was the Operations Officer, 50th Force Support Squadron, Schiever Space Force Base, Colorado.

TSgt Derek M. Teller is the AFROTC Instructor at Detachment 017, Troy University, AL. In this position, he serves as a key enlisted advisor to the detachment commander on cadet academics, professional development programs and military training. Furthermore, he facilitates cadet counseling and mentorship on personal and professional matters and assists in educating cadets on AFROTC curriculum.

TSgt Teller enlisted in the Air Force in March 2013. During his career, he has held various force protection and leadership positions within nuclear security, law enforcement and fly away security operations. His experiences include multiple deployments, airlift missions and exercises throughout the world supporting all branches of the Department of Defense. His assignments include Incrilik Air Base, Turkey; Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Prior to this assignment, TSgt Teller was the Raven Program Manager at the 627th Security Forces Squadron where he led and trained his award winning elite team of 18 Phoenix Ravens who protected $10.3B Mobility Aircraft assets at forward deployed locations, assuring mission security, safety and compliance within each international operation.