UT Arlington Army ROTC officer named nation’s top military science professor
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The U.S. Army Cadet Command has named Lt. Col. Lora A. Rimmer, Commander of the Army ROTC “Maverick Battalion” at UT Arlington, the nation’s Professor of Military Science of the Year.
Rimmer was selected from among 275 professors at colleges and universities nationwide that offer Army ROTC. She will receive the award during a ceremony at U.S. Army Cadet Command Headquarters at Fort Knox, Ky., in November.
“This award is both humbling and rewarding, and this has been one of the most fulfilling assignments in my career,” Rimmer said. “As Professor of Military Science, I am charged with recruiting, developing, mentoring and commissioning the next generation of Army and civilian leaders. To be recognized for something that you truly love to do is an amazing honor.”
Ronald L. Elsenbaumer, UT Arlington provost and vice president for academic affairs, credited Rimmer with providing a variety of unique that change lives, and applauded efforts by Rimmer and her staff in helping students to succeed in any competitive environment.
“Lt. Col. Rimmer and her command staff have developed UT Arlington’s Army ROTC program into one of the best leadership courses in the country, and they have much to be proud of in the way that they have inspired youth by developing in our Junior Cadets self-discipline, self-confidence and pride,” Elsenbaumer said. “Lt. Col. Rimmer’s untiring and selfless efforts have had a tremendous impact on the Cadet Command’s ability to recruit, train and commission the future officer leadership of the Army.”
Candidates for Professor of Military Science of the Year are nominated by their respective brigade commanders. All nominees must meet certain fitness and career qualifications. In addition, the unit’s military and civilian staff members also must be among the best not only at their jobs on campus, but also if they are called to serve as instructors at Cadet Command training sessions.
In nominating Rimmer for the honor, Col. James Dodson, 5th Brigade Commander, acknowledged her efforts to increase the numbers of UT Arlington students majoring in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.
“Her effort to recruit STEM majors is phenomenal,” Dodson wrote, noting that of 49 new cadets that enrolled in her program during the 2013-14 school year, 46 percent are pursuing STEM majors. “Lt. Col. Rimmer maximizes the use of Army National Guard assets, the Dallas Recruiting Battalion, the Dallas Advisory Board and relationships with university departments to achieve great results.”
During her 27-year military career, Rimmer has commanded up to battalion level and held staff positions through Corps staff. In 2011, she assumed command of UT Arlington’s ROTC unit – one of the oldest and most respected Army ROTC programs in Texas. Prior to taking command at UT Arlington, she served as the Network Operations Officer for the First Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Rimmer’s personal and unit decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; and the Army Achievement Medal.
A native of Paola, Kan., Rimmer graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in history and a Master of Business Administration. She is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College.
Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps units are located at 275 colleges and universities throughout the country. Students at roughly 1,200 other institutions of higher learning also can participate in Army ROTC training and become second lieutenants through partnership agreements with nearby schools. The program has trained and commissioned more than 500,000 men and women since its establishment in 1916.
The Army ROTC program at UT Arlington comprises the military science department in the College of Liberal Arts. It qualifies students for a commission in the United States Army, Army National Guard or United States Army Reserve, and offers both a four-year and a two-year program. UT Arlington College of Nursing undergraduates can participate in the ROTC Nursing Program. To learn more, visit the www.uta.edu/military-science/.
About UT Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution and the second largest institution in The University of Texas System. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked UT Arlington as the seventh fastest-growing public research university in 2013. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Arlington fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more. Follow #UTAdna on Twitter.
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Media contact: Bridget Lewis, Blewis@uta.edu, 817-272-3317
The University of Texas at Arlington, www.uta.edu
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