Gannon University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps announces the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel J. LaFountain as the new professor of military science beginning this fall semester.
LTC LaFountain joins Gannon faculty as the head of the Department of Military Science after serving in the U.S. Army. In his role, LTC LaFountain will help develop the future officer leadership of the United States Army and motivate young people to become socially responsible citizens through ROTC at Gannon.
“We are very pleased to welcome LTC LaFountain to Gannon, and I look forward to working with him to continue to build the ROTC program,” said Lori Lindley, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. “Military science is an important part of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences and provides valuable opportunities for leadership development to students from all majors.”
LTC LaFountain was born in Killeen, Texas and grew up in a military family. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He has served in a variety of positions over the past 22 years to include assignments in Germany and Korea as well as deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
LTC LaFountain comes to Gannon from Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where he worked with senior Army officers and their staffs to help them improve their systems, processes and staff synergies. His experience and expertise are uniquely suited to working with our students and developing them into future Army lieutenants.
“I am extremely excited to be part of the Gannon University team and Erie community,” LTC LaFountain said. “I look forward to working with everyone here to develop, mentor and graduate the next generation of Army officers.”
About ROTC at Gannon
The United States Army established the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Gannon University in the fall of 1948 with the mission of developing and commissioning the future leaders in the United States Army. The first graduating class of cadets, consisting entirely of veterans, commissioned in 1950.
The Pride of Pennsylvania originated at Gannon University where the basic ROTC course was mandatory for all physically and mentally fit students. The ROTC program existed exclusively for the Military Police Corps until 1954 when it became a general military science curriculum. In 1969, the ROTC Basic Course became an elective available for all freshmen and sophomore students. Beginning in 1970, the military science department initiated cross-enrollment with other Erie area colleges, establishing offices at Allegheny College, Edinboro University, Mercyhurst College, and Penn State Erie – The Behrend College.
In the 1990s, Mercyhurst College (Mercyhurst University as of Jan. 23, 2012) and Penn State Erie – The Behrend College officially joined the Gannon ROTC program that now enjoys the equaled support of all three local institutions of higher learning in the Erie area.
Since its establishment, the “Pride of PA” Military Science program has graduated and commissioned more than 1,200 officers with nine ascending to the general officer ranks. In recognition of the program consistently training high quality lieutenants, the Battalion proudly carries the title, “Pride of PA,” and the Battalion motto is, “I will do my duty – train to lead.”
Learn more about ROTC at Gannon University at https://www.gannon.edu/academic-offerings/special-programs/rotc/