Associate Professor/Recruiting and Operations Officer at UC Davis
Army Reserve officer shapes future Army leaders as an ROTC professor for COMTek.
by Warren Duffie
Nowadays, the term “job satisfaction” is tossed around often and might seem like a tired cliché. However, for Barbara Beegles, these are no empty words, but a daily state of mind.
After all, she’s helping to mold the next generation of military leaders, corporate executives, and political dynamos.
“There are a lot of classes out there on leadership,” says Beegles, who works with the Army ROTC unit at the University of California-Davis. “But with ROTC, our cadets learn about taking charge and being accountable to their superiors and subordinates, and apply them to real-life scenarios. That will transfer to any walk of life — military or civilian.”
A Military Presence on Campus
Beegles — a captain in the Army Reserve — is an associate professor/recruiting and operations officer with her 130-cadet battalion. Her main duties are overseeing the unit’s recruiting program. This involves visiting local high schools, attending on- and off-campus career fairs, and even ensuring an ROTC presence at the university’s athletic events.
How has the response been? After all, since the Vietnam era, colleges and universities — particularly in California — have earned reputations as hostile environments for ROTC. But Beegles says that hasn’t been much of a problem.
“There are some people who are against us being here,” says Beegles, 42. “But the support has been very powerful. In terms of recruiting, we saw a surge in 2003 around the beginning of the Iraq war. Since 2004 it’s been tougher to get new cadets as parents are concerned about their kids going off to war. However, I’ve noticed an upswing in patriotism from the high school kids — 17 and 18 years of age — graduating now.”
On the Job
Beegles arrives on campus at 6 a.m. to participate in morning PT with her battalion. She’s in her office by 8 a.m., spending the day attending recruiting events, interviewing potential cadets, evaluating her budget, and allocating ROTC scholarships. She goes home around 4:30 p.m.
Though Beegles wears a uniform and must pass the Army’s physical fitness exam, she actually works for a civilian company. She’s part of the ROTC Support Services Program overseen by Communication Technologies Inc. (COMTek), a Chantilly, Va.-based firm that provides telecommunications, IT, and training and development services to the public and private sectors. Founded in 1990 by a Navy veteran, COMTek boasts offices in all 50 states, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; a payroll of nearly 1,200 employees; earnings of more than $70 million; and a designation by Inc. magazine as one of the 500 fastest-growing privately-held companies in America.
One of COMTek’s primary clients is the Army ROTC program. In 2001, the company won a contract to place retired, recently (honorably) separated active component, or serving/retired Reserve and National Guard officers and NCOs in ROTC units at 294 (so far) colleges and universities nationwide.
The Transition
In 1987, at the age of 23, Beegles wasn’t much different from many of the freshman cadets she now encounters. She needed some direction in her life and enlisted in the Air Force. After boot camp and security police training at Lackland Air Force Base, TX., she served in Wyoming, Portugal, and New Mexico.
In 1991 Beegles left active duty for the Air Force Reserve; however, in 1994 she moved to South Dakota — seeking a new challenge — and joined the Army Reserve and then the National Guard. In the following years, she earned a degree in wellness management from Black Hills State University, earned an officer’s commission, and managed the wellness department of a YMCA.
In 2002 Beegles’ National Guard commander told her about a job opening with the ROTC unit at Black Hills State University. COMTek had just received the contract to run the unit and needed a recruiter. Beegles worked there until 2005 when she accepted the position at the University of California-Davis.
“COMTek’s ROTC program is a great place for military veterans,” she says. “You can still experience the camaraderie and teamwork of the military, enjoy the pay and benefits of a civilian company, and serve as a mentor to young people.”
Beegles’ Advice
Keep all of your options open when you leave the military. “You never know what career path you might follow. Maintain your ability and willingness to adapt.”
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Quick Stats
Company: Communication Technologies Inc. (COMTek)
Headquarters: Chantilly, Virginia. Program Management Office is located in Hampton, Virginia
Founded: 1990
# of employees: 1,200
# of locations: 294 locations
Web site: www.goarmyrotc.com
2006 Revenue: $73 million
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Did You Know?
The University of California-Davis ROTC unit is the only stateside unit to twice win the coveted Warrior of the Pacific trophy for marksmanship.
Things Beegles loves about her job:
“The ability to make a difference in the lives of young people.”
“Helping to instill values in cadets.”
“Enjoying the benefits of a civilian company while in a military environment.”
COMTek’s mission is to provide highly-qualified contract employees who are focused on recruiting, training, retaining, and commissioning the Army ROTC cadets at over 277 colleges and universities across the country. The company is currently placing retired or recently honorably separated Army Active Component, or serving/retired Reserve and National Guard Army officers and NCOs.
Go to www.goarmyrotc.com for job descriptions and requirements.
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The Beegles File
Highest Rank Held: Captain (O-3)
Experience: Spent four years on active duty in the Air Force, three years in the Air Force Reserve, and another 13 years in the Army Reserve and National Guard. Training & Education: Security Specialist Course, Lackland AFB, Texas, 1987. Bachelor’s degree in Wellness Management/Coaching, Black Hills State University, 1996.
Chronological Résumé
2002 – Present: Recruiter/Professor, COMTek, Davis, Calif.
1994 – 2002: U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard.
1987 - 1994: Air Force and Air Force Reserve Served in Wyoming, Portugal, and New Mexico.
The Daily Grind
0600 - 0700 Arrive for physical training with the battalion.
0700 - 0800 Breakfast at the cafeteria.
0800 - 1630 Attend recruiting events, interview potential cadets, go over recruiting budget, plan out scholarship allocations.
1630 Go home.