LTC David C. Norwood
Department Chair
Professor of Military Science
MSIV Instructor
Lieutenant Colonel David Norwood assumed the duties as the Department Chair and the Professor of Military Science for Duke University and North Carolina Central University Army ROTC Battalion on June 16, 2025. As the Professor of Military Science, LTC Norwood leads the Battalion’s mission to recruit, educate, develop, inspire, and commission college students to be officers and leaders of character in the Total Army.
LTC Norwood is a native of Hendersonville, North Carolina. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2007 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery Corps. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Information Technology Systems from West Point and a Master of Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College. His military education includes the Captain’s Career Course, the Command and General Staff College, and Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault Schools.
During his 18 years of service to our Nation, LTC Norwood has held a variety of command and staff positions. His previous assignments include: Action Officer (Joint Staff, J8, Pentagon), Brigade Operations Officer (Fort Bragg), Battalion Executive Officer and Operations Officer (Fort Campbell), Assistant Professor of Military Science (Morehead State University), Exchange Instructor (Australia), Battery Commander (Fort Bragg), and Platoon Leader (Fort Hood).
LTC Norwood’s operational experience includes multiple deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3x), the Meritorious Service Medal (6x), the Army Commendation Medal (3x), the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold).
CPT Avero Howard, Jr.
Executive Officer and Assistant Department Chair
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Assistant Professor of Military Science
Captain Avero “A.J.” Howard Jr is a native of Toccoa, GA. After high school, he received a nomination to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, where he continued to play Division I football for Army. Upon graduating in May 2022, he commissioned as a Military Intelligence branch detail Armor officer. CPT Howard began his Army career in the Armor community, discovering the Abrams tank’s endless capabilities, and will transition to the Intelligence community at the Captain Career Course in late 2026.
CPT Howard’s military education includes the Dismounted Counter IED Tactics Master Trainer Course, Armor Basic Officer Leaders Course, Master Educator Course, and the Common Faculty Development-Instructor Course. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with an Environmental Engineering concentration from West Point, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville.
CPT Howard’s previous assignments include Assistant Battalion Operations Officer (Plans) at Fort Cavazos, Texas; Platoon Leader for Bravo Company, 1-8 CAV at Fort Cavazos, Texas; and Assistant Battalion S-1 at Fort Cavazos, Texas. He now serves as the Executive Officer and an Assistant Professor of Military Science (Patton Lieutenant) with additional duties as the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Assistant Department Chair for the Bull City Battalion (Duke University and North Carolina Central University Army ROTC).
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, and the German Armed Forces Badge (GAFB).
SFC Chris Chastain
Senior Military Science Instructor
MSII Instructor
SFC Chris Chastain is a native of Mount Airy, MD. In May of 2013, he enlisted in the Army as an infantryman. During his service, SFC Chastain has been stationed at Fort Bragg (twice) with the 82nd Airborne Division and in Italy (twice) with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
SFC Chastain’s military education includes the Senior Leader Course, Heavy Weapons Leader Course, Cold Weather Leader Course, and Ranger, Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, Airborne, and Air Assault Schools. SFC Chastain also attended the University of Alabama from 2008 to 2012.
SFC Chastain’s previous assignments include Platoon Sergeant (Fort Bragg), Battalion Air NCO (Fort Bragg), Weapons Squad Leader / Squad Leader (Italy), Dismounted Scout (Fort Bragg), and Machine Gunner and Automatic Rifleman (Italy). His operational experience includes a deployment to Iraq in 2017 and rotations to Turkey, Ukraine, and 11 other countries. He now serves as a Military Science Instructor and interim Senior Military Science Instructor for the Bull City Battalion (Duke University and North Carolina Central University Army ROTC).
Awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (three), the Army Achievement Medal (six), Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
John Bray
Contractor
Associate Professor of Military Science
MSI Instructor
John Bray is a retired Colonel of the United States Army, having been commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 1989 after completing his studies at Appalachian State University in Biology. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and served from 1989 until 2017. He transitioned to the role of an Army Force Manager in 2004 and undertook various assignments both stateside and overseas, including deployments to both Kuwait and Afghanistan (with the 101st Airborne Division). Following his retirement from military service, John transitioned to a government civilian role within the Army, serving as a Capability Developer for both the U.S. Army Forces Command and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College.