USM Army ROTC Program Hosts Change of Leadership Ceremony

Tue, 09/05/2023 - 03:44pm | By: Ivonne Kawas

The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) – Golden Eagle Battalion held a Change of Leadership ceremony on August 31on the Hattiesburg campus to mark the transfer in leadership between two commanders.

The ceremonial passing of the colors served the dual function of honoring the contributions of the out-going Lieutenant Colonel E. Walker Nordan, Jr. and recognizing the in-coming Lieutenant Colonel Juan J. Ortiz.

The passing of the colors ceremony is a time-honored tradition in the Army meant to signify the everlasting lineage of successful units. LTC E. Walker Nordan, Jr. marked an end to his four-year tenure as commander of Southern Miss’s Army ROTC program by passing the Southern Miss Army ROTC Golden Eagle Battalion Flag to incoming leader LTC Juan J. Ortiz.

LTC Nordan retired after a career of 27 years of service as a Psychological Operations Officer and four years dedicated to the Southern Miss Army ROTC program. The ceremony celebrated LTC Nordan’s accomplishments and contributions as the leader of the Southern Miss Army ROTC program. The Army ROTC program has seen expansive growth under the leadership of LTC Nordan with enrollment numbers more than tripling in the last four years. LTC Nordan has further expanded the program through a recent partnership with the Army ROTC program at William Carey University to support their students with the Army ROTC curriculum and expand recruitment of new young leaders.

LTC Nordan said he has “fallen in love with Southern Miss and the Hattiesburg community” and plans to retire with his wife, Kelly Anne, in Hattiesburg, Miss. The pair have two sons, Lieutenant Wince Nordan and Lieutenant Owen Nordan, who both participated in the USM ROTC Army program before being commissioned in the Mississippi National Guard where they currently serve today. LTC Nordan plans to stay involved with the Southern Miss community as he begins his retirement.

The passing of the colors ceremony signifies the renewed growth in the USM Army ROTC program through a transfer of leadership to LTC Ortiz. LTC Ortiz will begin his four-year tenure as the leader of USM’s Army ROTC program. LTC Ortiz is a career Field Artillery Officer who brings extensive operational experience to the Army ROTC program. He and his wife, Yoselin, daughter Zoe, and son Isaiah, are Florida natives and new to the Hattiesburg area. LTC Ortiz and Yoselin have already embraced Southern Miss and the Golden Eagle Battalion and are bringing in new energy and exceptional goals for recruiting and growth to the program.

 USM’s Army ROTC program was established in 1916 and has commissioned roughly 2,000 officers into military service. USM’s Army ROTC program prepares students to be innovators and leaders within the active Army, the National Guard, and the US Army Reserves. Each component has 16 branches that cater to multiple interests, including infantry, military intelligence, aviation, engineering, armor and medical services corps.