Supporting Faculty & Staff

Master Sergeant Ben Causey coordinates the FAC and teaches Classroom Management, Lesson Preparation, and the FAEF lesson. MSgt Causey received his B.A. in English (with Professional Education minor) from the University of North Florida. He receives his M.A. in English (Teaching Writing & Lit. Concentration) from George Mason University in 2016.

Dr. Linda Di Desidero teaches the Writing Workshop at the FAC. She is the director of the Leadership Communication Skills Center (LCSC) at Marine Corps University. Dr. Di Desidero holds a PhD in Linguistic Theory from Northwestern University as well as an EdM in English Education and B.A. degrees in English and German from Rutgers University.

MacKenzie Duffield facilitates Educational Research at the FAC. She is a librarian at the Library of the Marine Corps/Gray Research Center, and she works as the research support librarian for Marine Corps War College and Enlisted Professional Military Education.

Dr. Kim Florich facilitates the Adult Learning Theory lessons at the FAC. She is currently the Faculty Development and Outreach Coordinator at Marine Corps University. She is also the Marine Corps University Alternate Designated Federal Officer coordinating all processes and events for the MCU Board of Visitors.

Dr. Lamont Fuchs facilitates the Visual Aids lesson at the FAC. He works as an Instructional Systems Specialist at Enlisted PME, Marine Corps University. Dr. Fuchs hols a B.A.Sc. in Computer/IT Admin & Management from Metro State College of Denver, an M.A. in Educational Technology from Western Carolina University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Walden University.

Colonel Keil Gentry teaches Ethics & Leadership at the FAC. He is currently the director of the Marine Corps War College. Colonel Gentry's education includes a B.S. in English from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Command and Staff.

Dr. Bruce Gudmundsson teaches the Case Method lessons and advises FAC staff & students on using the decision-forcing case as a teaching method. Currently the senior fellow for the case method at Marine Corps University, he is a historian and graduate of Yale College (BA) and Oxford University (D.Phil). Dr. Gudmundsson has taught at the Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting, Oxford University, the Royal Military Acadmey at Sandhurst, the US Army War College, and Dickinson College.

Andrea Hamlen teaches the Writing Workshop at the FAC. She is currently a Communications Instructor at the Leadership Communication Skills Center, Marine Corps University. Ms. Hamlen holds a B.A. in English from the University of Mary Washington and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Adult Education at Pennsylvania State University, where her coursework focuses on adult learning theory, program design and administration, and the teaching of writing.

Sergeant Major Hamm teaches Critical Thinking at the FAC. He is the director of the Senior Enlisted Academy, Marine Corps University. SgtMaj Hamm holds a B.S. in history from Campbell University, an M.A. in international relations from Webster University, and an Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University.

Rick Hawkins is a senior mentor and contributes to the Educational Communication objective at the FAC. He serves Marine Corps University as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Instructor Group. Rick Hawkins is a well-known and universally respected retired Marine Corps Sergeant Major and combat veteran.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Amber Hecht is the Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the FAC. She also teaches the Facilitating a Lesson, EPME Procedures Manual, and Student Performance Evaluation Board lessons. MGySgt Hecht is the Operations Officer for Enlisted PME, and is also an experienced Faculty Advisor herself. She is also adjunct faculty for the College of Distance Education & Training's Career Course Blended Seminar.

Captain Nicole Marinelli facilitates the Adult Learning Theory lessons at the FAC. She currently works as an education officer in the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Marine Corps University. She holds a B.S. in history from the U.S. Naval Academy, an M.A. in Diplomacy from Norwich University, and an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Texas.

Sergeant Major David Maddux teaches Ethics & Leadership at the FAC. He is the Sergeant Major of Marine Corps University. Sergeant Major Maddux holds holds an M.B.A. from Grantham University.

Jennifer Mazzara teaches Case Method at the FAC. She works as a teaching fellow and research assistant for Marine Corps University. Jennifer holds holds a B.A. in English from Christendom College and M.A. in Military History from American Military University.

Dr. Vanessa Nason teaches the Educational Communication lesson at the FAC. She is currently the Education & Curriculum Development Officer for Enlisted Professional Military Education, Marine Corps University. Dr. Nason holds holds an Ed.D. and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from South Carolina State University. She achieved a Master’s degree in Middle Grades Education from Georgia Southern University, and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Armstrong Atlantic State University.

Kelly Scanlon is a senior mentor and contributes to the Educational Communication objective at the FAC. He serves Marine Corps University as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Instructor Group. Kelly Scanlon is a well-known and universally respected retired Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant and combat veteran.

Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tlapa teaches Critical Thinking at the FAC. He is currently the Vice President of Operations & Plans at Marine Corps University. LtCol Tlapa holds a B.S. in Mapping, Charting and Geodesy from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and an M.B.A. from Benedictine College.

Dr. Paolo Tripodi teaches ethics at the FAC. He is a Professor of Ethics and the Ethics Branch Head at the Lejeune Leadership Institute, Marine Corps University. Dr. Tripodi is a graduate in Political Science, University of Messina, Italy. He holds a post graduate diploma in journalism from the Free University of International Social Studies, Rome, Italy. He holds an M.A. in International Relations from University of Kent at Canterbury, UK, and a PhD in International Relations from the Nottingham Trent University, UK.

Stase Wells teaches the writing workshop at the FAC. She is currently a Communications Instructor at the Leadership Communication Skills Center, Marine Corps University. Mrs. Wells has a B.S. degree in English (magna cum laude) with a minor in Communications from Central Michigan University, where she spent three years as a consultant at the CMU Writing Center assisting student writers at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Dr. Bradford A. Wineman facilitates the Socratic Method lesson. He is an associate professor of military history at Marine Corps University, Command & Staff College. Dr. Wineman received his B.A. in History from the Virginia Military Institute in 1999. He earned his M.A. (2001) and PhD (2006) in History from Texas A&M University.