Staff
DETACHMENT 875 STAFF
Detachment 875's staff are called the cadre. The cadre are the group of personnel that foster the Air Force ROTC cadet experience at Virginia Tech. The cadre are dedicated to sustaining an environment where cadets develop into, and ultimately commission as, the highest caliber Second Lieutenants possible.
Lt Col Rach Smith
Director of Staff
Lt Col Rach Smith grew up in Omaha, NE. She received a commission from AFROTC Det 207 at Saint Louis University, attended the Defense Language Institute (twice!), and has earned Master's Degrees from Norwich University and Naval Postgraduate School. She has worked in ICBM and Space Ops, International Affairs, Policy, on the Air Staff, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She transferred to the Space Force in 2020 and recently joined Det 875 as the Director of Staff and advisor to the Extended Cadets.
Maj Adam "Manson" Cade
AS300 Instructor
Maj Adam Cade is from Knoxville, TN and is a Virginia Tech alum. He studied Mechanical Engineering, was a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, and commissioned through Detachment 875 in 2010. He is a Combat Search & Rescue HH-60W helicopter pilot and has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and with the Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. After serving in the Rescue operations community for 10 years as a flight lead, instructor and evaluator pilot, he returned to Detachment 875 as the AS300 instructor.
SSgt Melvin Henderson
Mrs. Kate "Jiga" Lowe
AS400 Instrutor
Kate Lowe is from Lancaster, PA. She is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame where she majored in Mechanical Engineering and commissioned out of Air Force ROTC. On Active Duty, she was an F-16 pilot, culminating as an instructor and evaluator pilot at the F-16 schoolhouse. Currently a Lt Col in the AF Reserves, she works as contract faculty instructing the AS400 class.
Capt Amy Silverbush
AS200 Instrutor
Capt Amy Silverbush is from Shingle Springs, CA and graduated with a BS in Environmental Engineering from the US Air Force Academy in 2016. She earned her MS in General Engineering and Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2020 before earning her Professional Engineer license in Civil Engineering, Water Resources and Environmental. Capt Silverbush is a Civil Engineer and most recently served a year long tour as the Deputy Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Commander at Al Dhafra Air base, United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Capt Da'rrell Cousin
Operations Flight Commander
Capt Da'rrell Cousin is from Richmond, VA, and is a prior enlisted Airman. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2014 and is a Nuclear and Missile Operations Officer. In his current role, Capt Cousin is Det 875 Operations Flight Commander.
Capt Pruitt
Capt Easton Penland
AS100 Instructor
Captain Easton Penland is from Los Angeles, CA, and is a graduate from the UCLA with a Baccalaureate degree in Chinese. He commissioned through Detachment 055 at UCLA in 2018 after four years of enlisted service. He is an Airfield Operations Office specializing in integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems into manned platform airspace. He has served at the National Security Agency Headquarters as well as Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.
TSgt Christopher Spotswood - NCOIC
TSgt Christopher Spotswood
NCO ROTC Instructor
TSgt Christopher Spotswood is from Mobile, AL. He entered the Air Force in 2010 as an Aircraft Fuel Systems mechanic where he managed fuel system maintenance actions for the A-10C Thunderbolt, the HC-130P/Ns, and the HH-60G. In 2016, he retrained into the Personnel career field where he sustains a wide variety of programs related to career progression, retentions, assignments, evaluations, and promotions. He has deployed to Africa, Turkey, and Afghanistan and is currently serving a special duty assignment as Virginia Tech's first NCO ROTC Training Instructor.
TSgt Christopher Spotswood - NCOIC
SSgt Eileen Perez
Administration NCOIC
SSgt Eileen Perez is from El Paso, TX but California raised! In 2017 she entered the Air Force as an Administration Specialist. She was first assigned to Hurlburt Field FL where she supported various unique units managing commander directed programs. SSgt Perez is currently on her second assignment at Detachment 875 as the Administration NCOIC.
Ms. Connie
