Leadership Profiles – Page 2

This page contains the profiles of the Captains currently serving in ALERT Cadet. To view profiles for the Lt. Colonel and Majors, go back to page 1.

Captains

The Captain’s Responsibilities

ALERT Cadet Area Leaders, who hold the rank of Captain, will focus primarily on strengthening the existing units in their area and on starting new units. They will work with local Lieutenants in sharing the ALERT Cadet ministry with home school book fairs, local churches, and community groups. Areas will typically be a state or small group of states (in the US or larger countries) or a small group of smaller countries.

Kansas & Oklahoma Leader – Captain Tom Butler

Tom and his wife, Dee, have been married for 22 years. They have five children, Michael (20), Alaina (19), Gabriel (16), Josiah (13), and Rebekah (6). Tom accepted Christ in grade school while in Japan with his parents who were missionaries. Dee accepted Christ at age 26. The Butlers have homeschooled their children for their entire formal education. Tom retired from the US Air Force in 1997 after serving 23 years in Aerospace Medicine. He is currently employed as a Health Educator and Flight Paramedic for a fixed-wing air ambulance company. Tom and his three sons have been involved in the ALERT Cadet Program since 1998. The Butler family resides in Broken Arrow, OK.

Washington & Oregon Leader – Captain John Smythe

Cpt. John Smythe John and his wife Lauretta have been married for 29 years and have five children: Erin (28), Yvonne (23), Ian (20), Elanee (15) and Evan (12). John and Lauretta made a public profession of faith more than 18 years ago, but the Lord’s true salvation did not come until 13 years later. John and Lauretta have homeschooled their children since 1990.

The Smythe family purposes to do everything in unity – so with agreement of his family, John took on the responsibility as the Area Coordinator for the IBLP Ministries in Portland, OR in 2001. Seeing the need for his heart to be knit to the hearts of his sons and daughters and with the help of other faithful fathers, John started the ALERT Cadet Oregon 1st Alpha Unit in 2001. In November, 2005, John was promoted to ALERT Cadet – Western Region Captain with responsibility to promote the ALERT Cadet Program and encourage those fathers and sons who are ALERT Cadet members in the region. John owns a telecommunications consulting business and lives in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Minnesota & Wisconsin Leader – Captain Dean Winchell

Dean and his wife Susie have been married for 21 years and have three children, Bryan (21), Stephen (18), and Andrew (15). They live in the small town of Richland Center, Wisconsin.

Dean first became interested in using the ALERT Cadet program in the lives of his sons after attending several Father/Son Camps in the Northwoods of Michigan. In 2003, the Wisconsin First Bravo was formed and Dean accepted leadership as 2nd Lieutenant. He has been on disaster relief service projects in his area with ALERT Cadets following a tornado and several floods.

The Winchells have home-schooled their children. His sons have enjoyed the hands-on practical experience of working with Dean in the family business of selling fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. His two oldest sons have participated in the ALERT program, and Bryan now works as a full-time EMT-Paramedic.

Florida Leader – Captain Jeff Bocchino

Jeff and his wife Jan have been married for 25 years. They have 2 sons, Nick (14) and Anthony (9). Jeff and Nick have been active in the ALERT Cadet program since 2003, and Anthony is working through his Basic Training Manual. Jeff served as 2nd lieutenant for Florida 2nd Alpha from 2006 thru 2009.

Both Jeff and Jan accepted Christ as their personal Savior in 1984, shortly after they married and moved to Florida. Jeff has held a board member position at his church and has served with church youth. Jeff enjoys his work at ADT/TYCO where he has been employed since 1978. The Bocchinos reside in Parrish, Florida.

New England States Leader – Captain Doug Dagarin

Doug and his wife, Barbara, have been married for thirty years and have six children: Ruth Hunsberger (with four grandchildren), Stephen (with two grandchildren), Esther, Elisabeth, Anna, and Andrew, all of whom have been educated with the Advanced Training Institute. They as a family served at an orphanage in Moscow, Russia, in 1998-99, and the four oldest children later served at various ministry centers operated by the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Son Stephen, after participating in the ALERT Cadet program, trained with ALERT, finishing as the senior drill instructor for Unit 26. Son Andrew is presently an ALERT Cadet in the Massachusetts 1st Alpha unit, where Doug is the unit leader. Doug began following Christ in 1976 and has been a lawyer in Massachusetts for 31 years. He is an elder in the church and has taught a character focus in the secular work place for many years. Doug has led small groups through financial and anger seminars, and he currently mentors several men. He has also witnessed profound emotional healing in himself and others. Doug and Barbara together have take parents through child training programs. Doug and Barbara live in Northampton, MA, with their four youngest children.

Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi Leader – Captain Lanny Glover

Lanny and Wendy have been married for 22 years and home educate 6 of their 7 children with the hope that they will be mighty in spirit, soul, and body. Their oldest is attending Verity Institute pursuing a Communication degree. Lanny and Wendy grew up in Christian homes and were both raised by Godly parents. They professed faith in Christ as Savior at an early age, acknowledging their personal sin, and accepting God’s grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ as payment for their sins. They trust Christ daily to meet their deepest needs and provide hope in the midst of financial strains, tensions in relationships, health issues, and a very active schedule.

The Glovers joined ALERT Cadet when their oldest son turned 8 in 2003. God led other families to join ALERT Cadet and reestablished a Cadet Unit in Mississippi. This enabled Lanny to connect with other fathers and spend more time with his sons.

Lanny is an engineering administrator in the Mississippi Department of Transportation. He graduated from the US Naval Academy and served as a surface warfare and propulsion watch officer. He is a retired Navy Reserve Captain and holds a Doctor of Engineering degree from Texas A&M University.

Lanny’s passion is to share the Gospel and to help fathers love the Lord and their families. His vision is to raise up God’s heritage for generations to come. Without faith and God’s blessing these are impossible.

Eastern Texas Leader – Captain Michael Smith

Picture and profile coming soon.

Tennessee & Missouri Leader – Captain Tod Stoner

Tod and his wife Lynne have been married for 23 years and are homeschooling their eight children. Their oldest son Benjamin (19) has completed ALERT Cadet and is currently enrolled in ALERT. Michael (17), Christopher (15), Maxwell (13) continue in the ALERT Cadet program in west Tennessee. Tod and his sons began in the ALERT Cadet program in 2002 and helped found the TN 2nd alpha Unit. Tod has been the Squad/Unit Leader since the inception. ALERT Cadet has given him the opportunity to invest quality time into his sons’ lives particularly through Cadet sponsored camps, service, and squad activities. I have learned as a result of our involvement in ALERT Cadets that service to others can kill a critical spirit and eliminate selfishness; and I am learning that time spent with my sons has everlasting value. These times of service and fun have built many fond memories, knit hearts, and assisted in character development.

Tod grew up in Trion, GA, graduated from Shorter College in Rome, GA and received his Ph.D from Clemson University. He is employed by a west TN chemical manufacturer. The Stoner family resides on 10 acres in the community of Hickory Withe near Memphis, TN and is active in their local Church where Tod also serves on the diaconate.

North and South Carolina Leader – Captain Bill Stuckey

Picture coming soon.

Bill and Catherine have been married for 30 years and are blessed with nine children (Carson (24), Jarrett (23), Christina (20), Julianna (17), Katie (16), Margaret (14), William (13), Alexander (11), and Benjamin (8) and one very beautiful granddaughter, Nadia – 3 years old!). The older three have graduated from their homeschool academy with one more graduating in 2010. Bill accepted Christ as a teen and Catherine cannot remember a time when she did not know Jesus as Savior, making a commitment to Him at four years old. They have participated in training by Christian Financial Concepts (re. now Crown Financial Ministries), Growing Kids God’s Way, and the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Members of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC, Bill and Catherine have been active in teaching, choirs, and service through short term missions. Catherine has led a Far Above Rubies club for girls for the past seven years. Bill is employed by Coats North America and is responsible for Research & Development in the industrial sewing thread division of this company. Catherine has a journalism degree and is a stay-at-home Mom providing daily instruction and administrative oversight for their home school. Captain Stuckey and two of his sons (William and Alexander) have been involved in the Alert Cadet program since 2006 and have youngest son Benjamin preparing through Basic Training at this time. The Stuckeys live in Hendersonville, NC.