Battalion Chain of Command

LTC Michael Rybacki
Department Chair Professor of Military Science
Phone: 706-565-1335
Email: rybacki_michael@columbusstate.edu

LTC Mike Rybacki is originally from Huntsville, Alabama and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering.

As a career Infantry officer, LTC Rybacki has served in a variety of positions including: Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer. His experience blends the spectrum of Airborne/Light Infantry all the way to Mechanized Infantry. Outside of the traditional Infantry roles, LTC Rybacki has served as both an Assistant Professor at the United States Military Academy as well as a J5 Planner in NATO.

MSG Curtis Spivey
Senior Military Science Instructor
Phone: 706-507-8060
Email: spivey_curtis@columbusstate.edu

Master Sergeant Curtis Spivey is originally from Valdosta, GA. MSG Spivey served in the United States Marine Corps Infantry from 2001-2005. He has served as an Infantry Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Army since 2008. MSG Spivey has served in every leadership position from Team Leader to First Sergeant in the Light Infantry. His postings include Camp Lejeune, NC, Fort Drum, NY, Fort Campbell, KY, Fort Benning, GA and currently Columbus State University as the Senior Military Science Instructor.

MAJ Danny Duarte
XO / Assistant Professor of Military Science
Phone: 706-569-4103
Email: duarte_danny@columbusstate.edu
Office: Stanley Hall 111

MAJ Duarte is from Liberty City (Miami), Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. In 2009 he was commissioned as a finance officer at the United States Army Officer Candidate School.

MAJ Duarte's experience has concentrated on Army budget execution, disbursing operations, and military pay. As a Finance Officer, MAJ Duarte has served as a Detachment Commander, Deputy Disbursing Officer, Brigade Comptroller, and Budget Officer. Outside of traditional finance roles, MAJ Duarte has served as an advisor to the Afghan National Police in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and as a Recruiting Company Commander in Northeast Ohio.

CPT Barry Westefeld
MS2 Instructor / Assistant Professor of Military Science
Phone: 706-507-8032
Email: westefeld_barry@columbusstate.edu
Office: Stanley Hall 106

CPT Barry Westefeld is originally from Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey and graduated from Cedarville University in Ohio in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

CPT Westefeld commissioned as a Signal Officer and served as a Signal Platoon Leader and a Battalion Communications Officer (S6) while still a Second Lieutenant. As a Captain, he deployed with an Expeditionary Signal Battalion as the Assistant Operations Officer (AS3). After attending the Captain's Career Course, he served as an S6 for the Opposition Force at the Army's National Training Center prior to being assigned as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Columbus State University. CPT Westefeld spent the past two summers supporting Cadet Summer training at Fort Knox and fall of 2022 marks the start of his third year instructing ROTC at Columbus State.

SFC Nicholas Schmidt
MS1 Instructor
Phone: 706-507-8034
Email: schmidt_nicholas1@columbusstate.edu
Office: Stanley Hall 108

SFC Nicholas Schmidt hailing from Littleton, Colorado, enlisted in September of 2003 as an Indirect Fire Infantryman and has 19 years of active duty service. He has completed five combat deployments including Iraq, Afghanistan and Colombia. While serving with the 3rd US Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard”, had the honor of participating in the state funerals of President Reagan and President Ford. He was selected for the Chief of Staff of the Army’s 2017 initiative the Security Forces Assistance Brigade and took part in its stand up and inaugural deployment. During his tenure he has served as Squad leader, Fire Direction Chief, Platoon Sergeant, Senior Drill Sergeant and Combat Advisor to foreign allied forces. SFC Schmidt has an associate’s degree and is currently finishing his bachelors. He and his wife of 18 years have two teenage sons.