U.S. Army Junior ROTC Hall of Fame

JROTC Hall of Fame

Honoring leaders whose service and achievements reflect the enduring values of Army JROTC.

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Record ID	Profile Slug	Status	Featured	Induction Year	Category	Full Name	Sort Name	Title	School	City	State	Portrait URL	Biography	JROTC Connection	JROTC Affiliation	Service Affiliation	Service Status	Highest Military Rank	Posthumous	Graduation Year	Service Years	Career Field	Induction Citation	Notable Achievements	Awards and Decorations
HOF-0001	alfred-valenzuela	Published	No	2026	Distinguished Alumni	Alfred Valenzuela	Valenzuela, Alfred	Major General, U.S. Army (Retired)	Jefferson High School	San Antonio	Texas	/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Valenzuela.png	Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Alfred Valenzuela was an Army JROTC cadet from 1962-1966 at Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas. Valenzuela attributes JROTC for saving his life. Following his time in JROTC, he enrolled in senior Army ROTC at Saint Mary’s University and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in field artillery in 1970. Valenzuela served in the United States Army for 33 years and was assigned to three combat corps, six combat divisions, and numerous joint and inter-agency assignments. He was assigned to Turkey, Syria, Colombia, Korea, El Salvador, Haiti, Germany, Grenada, Panama, Puerto Rico, Kuwait, Peru, and Somalia. Valenzuela has been highly decorated for heroism and valor, including the Distinguished Defense and Army Service Medals. In San Antonio, Valenzuela created a Charter Leadership Academy and was appointed interim president and CEO of the San Antonio Housing Authority. He also served as Executive Director of the Bexar County Housing Authority and served on community boards including Communities in School, Haven for Hope, Boy Scouts, St. Mary's University Board of Trustees, and USAA Federal Savings Bank. Valenzuela is an Eagle Scout and a distinguished graduate of Jefferson High School and St. Mary's University. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Boys and Girls Club and was appointed to the World War I Centennial and America 250 Semi-sequential Commissions. He is a published author of No Greater Love: The Lives and Times of Hispanic Soldiers and The Essence and Variation of Soldiers in Politics: A Dimensional Typology of Latin American Leadership and Regimes, and was a major contributor to Right Before Our Eyes: Latinos Past, Present and Future. Valenzuela has been married to Esther Trevino for 56 years. They have two children, Lori and Alfred II, and four grandchildren.	Army JROTC cadet at Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas, from 1962-1966. He credits JROTC with saving his life and continued into Senior Army ROTC at St. Mary's University before commissioning in 1970.	Former Army JROTC Cadet	U.S. Army	Retired	Major General	No	1966	33 years	Field Artillery; Senior Army Leadership; Public Service	For distinguished leadership and service spanning Army JROTC, a 33-year United States Army career, and continued civic leadership in education, housing, veterans support, and community service.	Served 33 years in the U.S. Army; assignments with three combat corps and six combat divisions; created a Charter Leadership Academy; served as interim president and CEO of the San Antonio Housing Authority and Executive Director of the Bexar County Housing Authority; Eagle Scout; distinguished graduate of Jefferson High School and St. Mary's University; Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame inductee; appointed to the World War I Centennial and America 250 Semi-sequential Commissions; published author.	Distinguished Defense Service Medal; Army Distinguished Service Medal
HOF-0002	leon-mcmullen	Published	No	2026	Army JROTC Leadership	Leon McMullen	McMullen, Leon	Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Retired); Former Deputy Director, Army JROTC		Tuskegee	Alabama	/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Mcmullan.png	Sgt. Maj. Leon McMullen held nearly every leadership position in Army JROTC, ranging from Instructor Training Coordinator, Chief of the Instructor Management Division, Chief of the Training and Operations Division, and Deputy Director of USACC JROTC. McMullen was selected as the first civilian Deputy Director of Army JROTC in September 2005. As Deputy Director, McMullen advised on matters affecting the JROTC program nationally, devoting most of his time to traveling throughout the country observing, training, and interacting with instructors, school administrators, Senior Army Leaders, and JROTC cadets. McMullen was responsible for prioritizing and coordinating actions across three divisions that provide training, education and curriculum, and instructor management services to seven Brigades, hundreds of JROTC Programs, more than 4,000 instructors, and 300,000 JROTC cadets. He sits on a variety of national councils and boards that make decisions affecting the wellness of Army JROTC. McMullen is a native of Tuskegee, Alabama. He enlisted in the Army in May 1975 and attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson and Advanced Individual Training as an artilleryman at Fort Sill. His military assignment locations include Fort Benning, Georgia; Friedburg, Germany; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Korea; Fort Ord, California; Idar Oberstein, Germany; and Tarleton State University. McMullen retired from U.S. Cadet Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia. McMullen holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tarleton State University. He is a graduate of the Army’s Sustaining Base Leadership and Management program and has earned numerous civilian awards. McMullen is married to former Ruby D. Robinson with three adult children and one grandson.	Held senior leadership positions throughout Army JROTC, including Instructor Training Coordinator, Chief of the Instructor Management Division, Chief of the Training and Operations Division, and Deputy Director of USACC JROTC. Selected as the first civilian Deputy Director of Army JROTC in September 2005.	Army JROTC Leadership	U.S. Army	Retired	Sergeant Major	No			Artillery; Army JROTC Program Leadership and Administration	For sustained leadership and national-level service to Army JROTC, including service as the program’s first civilian Deputy Director and leadership of training, curriculum, operations, and instructor-management efforts.	First civilian Deputy Director of Army JROTC; coordinated actions across three divisions supporting seven Brigades, hundreds of JROTC programs, more than 4,000 instructors, and approximately 300,000 cadets; served on national councils and boards affecting Army JROTC; earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tarleton State University.	Numerous civilian awards
HOF-0003	john-gessner	Published	No	2026	Distinguished Alumni	John Gessner	Gessner, John	Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired); Army Reserve Ambassador	West High School	Rockford	Illinois	/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Gessner.png	Col. John Gessner first entered the Army JROTC program as a cadet at West High School in Rockford, Illinois in 1970. Reaching the rank of Cadet Lt. Col., Gessner represented West High School on the JROTC Brigade staff. He lettered in rifle team all four years and was awarded two Department of the Army Junior Superior Cadet medals while earning a four-year Army scholarship. Gessner attended Marquette University, graduating in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. While in the Senior ROTC program he attained the rank of Cadet Capt. and captain of the Pershing Rifles company. Entering active duty in May 1978, Gessner served in a variety of command and staff positions worldwide, including the 7th, 18th, and 20th Engineer Brigades. From 1983-1986, he returned to Marquette University as an Assistant Professor of Military Science. While there, he earned a master’s degree in civil engineering. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in March 2004. Gessner’s wartime service includes serving as Base Engineer in Bagram, Afghanistan, and primary engineer officer with the 416th Theater Engineer Command in Kuwait and Iraq from 2002-2003. His awards include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Engineer Regiment Silver deFleury Medal, the Great American Family Award, and the Department of Homeland Security Achievement Medal. After 32 years serving in the U.S. Army, Gessner retired. In retirement, Gessner remains active in military activities as the Alumni Chairman for Marquette University AROTC and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves. He was awarded the Outstanding State Chaplain award by the American Legion in 2025 and received the Weissgerber award, the highest state award for volunteer service, in 2026. He is currently serving a second term as an Army Reserve Ambassador, representing the Chief of Army Reserves in Wisconsin.	Army JROTC cadet at West High School in Rockford, Illinois beginning in 1970. Reached Cadet Lieutenant Colonel, represented the school on the JROTC Brigade staff, lettered in rifle team all four years, and received two Department of the Army Junior Superior Cadet medals while earning a four-year Army scholarship.	Former Army JROTC Cadet	U.S. Army	Retired	Colonel	No		32 years	Army Engineer; Civil Engineering; Military Leadership	For distinguished achievement as an Army JROTC cadet, a 32-year United States Army career in engineering and leadership, wartime service, and continued service to Soldiers, veterans, ROTC, and the Army Reserve.	Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and JROTC Brigade staff representative; four-year rifle team letterman; four-year Army scholarship; bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Marquette University; 32-year U.S. Army career; wartime service in Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq; Alumni Chairman for Marquette University AROTC; active with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves; serving a second term as an Army Reserve Ambassador.	Two Department of the Army Junior Superior Cadet Medals; Legion of Merit; two Bronze Stars; Engineer Regiment Silver deFleury Medal; Great American Family Award; Department of Homeland Security Achievement Medal; American Legion Outstanding State Chaplain Award (2025); Weissgerber Award (2026)

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