Meet Our JROTC Instructors

Our JROTC program has four full-time faculty members.

Colonel (Retired) Joseph E. Scrocca, Senior Army Instructor

  • 27+ years on Active Duty
  • BA in Political Science from St. Bonaventure University, Olean, NY
  • MPA from the LBJ School for Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin
  • U.S. Army War College Fellow to the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
  • Graduate of the Defense Information School, Ft. Meade, MD
  • Aviation platoon leader, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC
  • Aviation company commander and instructor, Ft. Rucker, AL
  • Assistant Professor, Social Science Department at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY
  • Multiple assignments as Director of Public Affairs for: U.S Army Europe and Africa, Wiesbaden, Germany; XVIII Airborne Corps and Ft.  Bragg; Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait; 2nd Infantry Division, Korea; U.S. Forces-Iraq; U.S Army Office of the Chief Public Affairs-Midwest, Chicago, IL; 20th CBRNE Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
  • Rotary wing aviator (UH-1H, OH-58 A/C, OH-58D); Airborne; Air Assault; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) qualified 

Sergeant Major (Retired) Dave Berrisford

  • A graduate of Cretin High School, Class of 1981
  • A 23 year veteran of the U.S. Army and retired from active service in 2004
  • Military education includes Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC), Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course (ANCOC), Battle Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Course, and the Sergeants Majors Academy
  • Holds occupational specialties in chemical, aviation, both in maintenance and management and logistics fields
  • Training and experience in the nuclear, biological, and chemical field
  • Was the MN Homeland Security Branch Director before coming to CDH

Master Sergeant (Retired) Ken Peloski

  • BS in Business Administration
  • Emphasis in Human Resources Management
  • Served 20 years Active Duty, U.S. Army (1982-2002)
  • Military education includes Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course (BNCOC), Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course (ANCOC), Air Defense, Recruiting and Retention, and Station Commander's Course
  • Formerly Senior Army Instructor at Minnesota Transitions High School Army JROTC program, prior to coming to CDH.

Sergeant First Class (Retired) Brittany Thingvold

  • 23 year Army veteran, with overseas tour in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF); retired from active service in 2020
  • BS in Management with emphasis in Human Resources Management
  • Military Education includes Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Total Army Instructor Trainers Course, Small Group Instructor Course, Battle Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BSNCOC), Master Fitness Trainer, Master Resilience Trainer
  • Holds occupational specialties in Human Resources, and military instructor
  • Training and experience in the air defense artillery, human resources, recruiting and retention fields, and instructor for pre-basic training trainees, officer candidate school (OCS)/ reserve officer training cadet
  • Assignments include squad leader, platoon sergeant, acting first sergeant in company, battalion, brigade and divisional units in the 34th Infantry Division