Alumni

University of Utah NROTC is honored to welcome you back and thanks you for your service!

To celebrate our heritage, our NROTC Unit would like to keep in contact with all of our active/reserve/retired commissioned officers! As an alumnus we would love to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out a contact information form and let us know if you would like to be notified of upcoming NROTC events. Also, spread the word to your fellow classmates! If you have any questions with how this information will be used, please see the privacy statement at the bottom of this page.

Soundings Yearbook Listing

CAPT Roger Cooper

USNR-Ret

CAPT Eugene Shelar

USNR-Ret

Personal photo of CDR Thomas Fairbanks

CDR Thomas Fairbanks

USNR

CAPT Roger Stone USNR-R

Class of 1964

Retired Captain Roger Cooper, USNR, started the University of Utah NROTC program in 1960 at the young age of 17. After earning a degree in Electrical Engineering, he was selected to become a Student Naval Aviator. Although he greatly enjoyed Pensacola, the delay in training caused by the Vietnam War was not for him. Mr. Cooper decided to trade flight school for mine warfare and supply officer schools. After finishing both schools, he was assigned to the USS Endurance MSO-435 out of Long Beach, CA. Thirty days after arriving to that ship, he was deployed to Vietnam.

Referring to this deployment, Mr. Cooper wrote, “For the first time in my life I had to work! I had always slid by on ability, not effort, but the demands were much greater, and I was amazed to discover at age 22 that working hard was not so bad.”

After this deployment he chose to go to a Navy Security Station in Washington D.C. where he was selected as the Head of Systems and Programming. His staff consisted of 20 genius-level workers that really humbled him.

Mr. Cooper then started his extensive civilian career within the Federal Government. There he was able to work in many positions that built upon his time in the Navy. Some of his greatest accomplishments during this time was that he ran the Federal Retirement System, ran the computer renovation of VA hospitals which has cost over $5B, was the Dep Asst Secretary of Info Systems for the Treasury Dept, the Deputy Administrator of FEMA, and the Dep Asst Attorney for Info System US Dept of Justice. During this time Mr. Cooper also entered the Naval Reserves where he eventually retired as a Captain.

In Captain Cooper’s own words, “This has been fun to tell my story of an underachiever finally waking up to what life was about and how the Navy played such a key part. Wish it had happened earlier, but I am not complaining. For those who might read this, talent is nice but hard work is where it's at! Don’t wait too long to have this realization!!”

CAPT Eugene Shelar USNR-Ret

Class of 1966

My name is Eugene Shelar, Jr. I was commissioned in June 1966 and ordered to report to USS Northampton CC-1. After qualifying as Officer of the Deck, I volunteered to attend submarine school in New London, CT. After completion of school, I was assigned to to the USS Trumpetfish SS-425 where I qualified in Submarines.

After several deployments, I was ordered back to New London to serve as an instructor in registered publications. I left active duty after that, went to graduate school, and staying in reserves. I retired from reserves as a Captain USNR in 1991.

CDR Thomas Fairbanks USNR

Class of 2008

LCDR Fairbanks graduated from West High school in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2000. Immediately following graduation, he fought wild fires in the west desert for two years, serving on an engine crew, water tender with a detachment to a Type One Hot Shot crew. After that, he served an LDS Mission in the country of Hungary and learned to speak fluent Hungarian.

Upon returning from Hungary, in 2004 Fairbanks received a Navy ROTC scholarship. While attending Mechanical Engineering school at the University of Utah, Fairbanks competed in Navy Pistol, Rifle, and Collegiate Pistol. In 2006 he was on the four-person team that won the national championship in International Standard Pistol. He obtained his commission in 2008 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and was Selected for Submarine Nuclear Power training in Naval Weapons Station Charleston.

Upon completion of Nuclear Power School, Nuclear Prototype, and Submarine Officer’s Basic Course, Fairbanks received orders to the Ballistic Missile Submarine USS MARYLAND home ported in Kings Bay Submarine Base. On the USS MARYLAND, Fairbanks served as the Main Propulsion Assistant for a year and a half, then as the Tactical Systems Officer for another year and a half. He was a crucial member of the crew during the ships beginning phases of an Engineered Refueling Overhaul.

In March 2013, Fairbanks executed orders to be the Nuclear Programs Officer as his alma mater, the University of Utah NROTC. He served multiple collateral roles, including Senior/Junior advisor, CMEO, CACO, and Instructor of multiple university classes to include: Naval Engineering, Naval Operations and Seamanship, and Naval Navigation. While stationed at the University of Utah, he took advantage of University discounts for instructors by completing a Masters’ degree in Mechanical Engineering and obtaining a senior reactor operator license at the University’s research reactor. In June 2015, Fairbanks transitioned from active duty to the Navy Reserve and began working as an engineer for the DoD at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. He served in UWO SLC as the XO for three years, qualifying in TASWWO and beginning BWC qual card prior to selection for CO of EM Det F, and Officer In Charge (OIC) of a military detachment on a Joint High Speed vessel USNS YUMA attached to sixth fleet for a nine month mobilization.

Aviation

Submarine

Surface Warfare

Marine Ground

Marine Aviation

LTJG LEXIE GLUNZ

Class of 2022

After commissioning in 2022, LTJG Glunz checked into Pensacola to start NIFE (naval introductory flight evaluation). After that, she moved to Corpus Christi for primary flight training in the T6B. She was selected to fly the P8 and currently in multiengine advance (T-44). LTJG Glunz will be officially getting her wings of gold at the end of May.

ENS MAXWELL GILMORE

Class of 2024

Ensign Gilmore commissioned out of the University of Utah NROTC program in 2024 and was service-selected to be a pilot. After completion of Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation at Naval Air Station Pensacola he checked into NAS Whiting Field where Ensign Gilmore will soon begin primary aviation training.

ENS ETHAN CHRISTUS

Class of 2023

After commissioning from the University of Utah NROTC program, ENS Christus attended Dive School in Panama City to complete the SCUBA course before heading to Nuclear Power School and Prototype. He graduated Nuclear Power School in October 2024 and qualified as Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) on the MTS 701 in March 2025. He will be serving on the USS Minnesota (SSN 783) home ported in Apra Harbor, Guam.

ENS LUKE REUSCHEL

Class of 2023

ENS Reuschel, Commissioned in 2023 and currently serves as the 2nd Division Officer aboard USS ESSEX, where he leads and manages a division of 44 Sailors. He is responsible for overseeing all 7M RIB and Well Deck operations, including the launch and recovery of LCACs, LCUs, ACVs, and CRRCs. Additionally, he serves as the ship’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Officer, charged with organizing, training, and equipping the SAR team to execute man-overboard recoveries and maritime rescue operations.

CAPT NIKHIL SINGH

Class of 2020

Capt. Singh graduated from Officer Candidates School in 2019 and served as the Midshipman Commanding Officer during his senior year at Utah NROTC. After commissioning, he completed The Basic School with Alpha Company 1-21 and was assigned the MOS 7208 as an Air Support Control Officer. From 2021 to 2025, he served at Marine Air Support Squadron 1 holding billets as a Helicopter Director, Fixed Wing Air Controller, and as the Senior Air Director for the Direct Air Support Center (DASC). Capt. Singh participated in field exercises including SLTE and WTI 1-23, and attended MARSOC Assessment and Selection in 3-23. From May 2023 to July 2024, he served as the Battalion Executive Officer for Marine Air Support Squadron 1. After completing the DoD SkillBridge program, he transitioned to a civilian role as a Safety Manager while in the Individual Ready Reserve.

2ND Lt. JAKE WILLIAMS

Class of 2023

2nd Lt. Williams graduated on December 19th, 2024 from The Basic School. He has now begun flight school at NAS Pensacola.

Privacy Act Statement

Purpose: Request information from and identify former NROTC members and staff who wish to be advised and informed of University of Utah NROTC events.

Routine Use: Information is to be used by current NROTC staff and Midshipmen to facilitate communication between the NROTC Unit and alumni. Any data submitted by alumni will be maintained on the secure university server and remain confidential within the unit personnel.

Disclosure: Disclosure of this information is voluntary by submitting information as indicated below. Please contact our Main Office (801) 581-6723 if you have any questions or concerns.

Alumni

CAPT Roger Stone USNR-R

CAPT Eugene Shelar USNR-Ret

CDR Thomas Fairbanks USNR

Recent Alumni Spotlight

LTJG LEXIE GLUNZ

LTJG LEXIE GLUNZ

ENS MAXWELL GILMORE

ENS MAXWELL GILMORE

ENS ETHAN CHRISTUS

ENS ETHAN CHRISTUS

ENS LUKE REUSCHEL

ENS LUKE REUSCHEL

CAPT NIKHIL SINGH

CAPT NIKHIL SINGH

2ND Lt. JAKE WILLIAMS

2ND Lt. JAKE WILLIAMS

Privacy Act Statement