Colonel Ferguson was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander of the Line in the USNCC Officers’ Corps in October 2003 by direct appointment, and transferred to the Inspector General branch of the U.S. Army Cadet Corps in August 2007. 

Colonel Ferguson began his uniform service at the age of eight with the Boy Scouts of America. In keeping with his dedication and service to others and after working in corporate management for ten years, he started his public service career as a law enforcement officer in 1980.  As a police officer he has served in Road Patrol, Canine and Investigations with additional duty tasking in Training and Information Technology. He has been awarded three Officer of the Month Citations, County Officer of the Year Award, three Honorable Mentions for Officer of the Month, Lifesaving Award, three Chief’s Achievement Awards, Department Commendation Award with two Silver Stars, Community Service Award, Honorable Service Award with two bronze oak leaves, Good Conduct Award with two bronze oak leaves and he currently has over 50 letters of commendation in his service file. He is currently assigned to the Administrative Services Division of a major South Florida Police Department.

In 1996 he was appointed as the commander of the Broward Knights Cadet Squadron (SER-FL-011) with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary/Civil Air Patrol where he quintupled the size and membership of that unit within one year, resulting in recognition as Squadron Commander of the Year. His service continued as commander of Group 6 (SER-FL-249) with command over 21 squadrons, with his Group being awarded FLWG Group of the Year on two separate occasions. His assignments continued with billets as the FLWG Group 6 Inspector General, Assistant Florida Wing Inspector General and then Southeast Region Inspector General.  He achieved the grade of Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.

In August 2003, Colonel Ferguson saw the opportunity to continue and to better serve Cadetting as a non-paid professional with the U.S. Naval Cadet Corps, American Cadet Alliance.  He was assigned to National Headquarters as the Deputy Inspector General.  As such, he is credited with authoring and implementing a new Inspector General System, Cadet Protection Policy, and Complaint Process. He is also credited with programming and implementing a state of the art web-based Personnel and Training Administration database application called CADTRAK, which has saved untold hours of administrative paperwork as well as a web-based Prospect Information database and a web-based training evolution Travel database.

On 1 April 2006, Colonel Ferguson was appointed as the ACA National Inspector General. In August 2007, in keeping with the continued Army-focus of the American Cadet Alliance, Colonel Ferguson (a Commander in the Naval Brigade) transferred to the Inspector General branch in the U.S. Army Cadet Corps.

Colonel Ferguson’s USAC awards and decorations include the Commendation Medal (second award), the Achievement Medal, Staff Service Ribbon (second award), Unit Commendation Ribbon (second award), the USAC National Headquarters Staff Identification Badge, and numerous service, and training awards. He was recognized as the Admiral Gilbert G. Murdoch Award recipient in 2005 as the ACA Officer of the Year. Colonel Ferguson is a rated Mission Transport Pilot, Mission Observer, Mission Scanner and Diver.  He has earned numerous CAP awards including the Gill Robb Wilson Award, the highest senior-member training award given by the Civil Air Patrol.  Additionally, he has earned a CAP Exceptional Service Award, two CAP Meritorious Service Awards, and a CAP Commander’s Commendation.

Colonel Ferguson’s senior assignments include being named the Deputy Inspector General of the American Cadet Alliance in August 2003 and the Inspector General of the American Cadet Alliance in April 2006. He has served as the G1 (Administration and Personnel) during Annual Training 2004 (Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania) and Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of Special Projects during Annual Training 2006 (Fort Bragg, North Carolina).

Colonel Ferguson attended Pace College Westchester, Pleasantville, New York, and the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, where he studied Sociology and Psychology. He graduated from the State of Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy as an honor graduate as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Comparative Compliance Academy. Colonel Ferguson resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with his wife, Christine.

EDUCATION

1969    Pace College Westchester, Pleasantville NY - Psychology Major
1971    College of St. Thomas, St. Paul MN - Sociology Major / Psychology Minor
1985    Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, Douglas WY - (85-4)
1990    Florida Department of Law Enforcement Comparative Compliance Academy
1996    USAF Auxiliary, Commanders Course
1997    USAF Extension Course Institute, (ECI-13) Senior Officer Course
1997    USAF Auxiliary, Squadron Leadership School
1997    USAF Auxiliary, Corporate Learning Course
1998    USAF Extension Course Institute, (ECI-2130A) Mission Scanner Course
1998    USAF Extension Course Institute, (ECI-2130B) Mission Observer Course
1998    USAF Auxiliary, Region Staff College (McGee/Tyson Air National Guard Base)
2000    USAF Auxiliary, National Staff College (Maxwell Air Force Base)
2004    Leadership Development Institute, Officer Basic Course (NAS Jacksonville)
 

ASSIGNMENTS

1.    March 1996 - August 03, Service with Recognized Cadet Corps
2.    August 03 - April 06, Deputy Inspector General, National Headquarters, American Cadet Alliance
3.    July 04 - G1 (AdPers), Annual Training Unit 04-01
4.    July 06 - Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Special Projects, Annual Training Unit 06-01
5.    April 06 - Present, Inspector General, Headquarters, U.S. Army Cadet Corps
 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

USAC Commendation Medal (second award)
USAC Achievement Medal (second award)
USAC Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
USAC Unit Commendation Ribbon
USAC Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
USAC Training Staff Service Ribbon (third award)
USAC National Headquarters Staff Identification Badge
USAC Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge
USAC Expert Pistol Marksmanship Badge
 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

Civil Air Patrol Gill Robb Wilson Award (#2022)
FAA Certificated Private Pilot
Certified PADI Open Water Diver
Certified Reserve Officer, State of Minnesota
Certified Law Enforcement Officer, State of Wyoming
Certified Law Enforcement Instructor, State of Wyoming
Certified Working Dog Handler, State of Wyoming
Certified Working Dog Trainer, State of Wyoming
Certified Law Enforcement Officer, State of Florida
Certified Working Dog Handler, State of Florida
Certified Law Enforcement Instructor, State of Florida
Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF)
 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

1st Lieutenant (USAFA)                1 April 1996
Captain (USAFA)                          1 April 1997
Major (USAFA)                              23 May 1997
Lieutenant Colonel (USAFA)         30 May 2001
Lieutenant Commander (ACA)      1 August 2003
Commander                                  1 January 2006
Lieutenant Colonel                        1 August 2007 (brigade transfer)
Colonel                                          26 July 2008

MILITARY/CIVILIAN AFFILIATIONS

Association of Inspectors General
Association of the United States Army
Air Force Association
Fraternal Order of Police
Police Benevolent Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
Life Underwriters Training Council (LUTC)
 

(Current as of 30 July 2008)