Instructors

Lieutenant Colonel Pugh
Senior Army Instructor
Phone: 941-723-4848 Ext: 2125
Email: pughp@manateeschools.net

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Philip Pugh is a retired Army officer with over 23 years of leadership experience in the military, including assignments with the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Pentagon where he served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Military Observer Group-Washington. Before retirement from the military, Pugh also served as the Chair and Professor of Military Science for the Department of Military Science at Louisiana State University. He was selected as the Student Advisor of the Year for the University and the Governor of Louisiana selected Pugh to serve on his transition team after his election in 2008.

Currently, LTC Pugh is the Senior Army Instructor at Palmetto High School and district coordinator for the several JROTC programs in the School District of Manatee County. He is also a partner in Legions Group, a company consisting of former Army officers and noncommissioned officers, which provides leadership development training for organizations. In 2019, he was one of 161 teachers across the nation selected as a US Department of Education’s Distinguished Teacher. LTC Pugh also served as an adjunct professor of educational leadership at Argosy University in the Tampa-Sarasota (Florida area) and is collaborating with professors at the College of William and Mary on research related to student achievement.

His research interest primarily focuses on the motivational construct of self-efficacy and its influence on leadership development and student achievement. His most recent research publication (December 2016) is entitled Influence of a School District’s Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) Program on Self-Efficacy and Other Indicators of Student Achievement, published in the NASSP (The National Association of Secondary School Principals) Bulletin.

LTC Pugh holds a Doctorate in Education in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, a Master of Science in Logistics Management from Florida Institute of Technology, a Master of Arts in History from Norwich University, and a Masters of Military Art and Science from the US Army Command and General Staff College. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a lifetime member of Cadets of the “Ole War Skule” at Louisiana State University and a member of the Military Officers Association of America. He has two children, Philip III, a college sophomore, and Victoria, a high school senior.

Chief Warrant Officer John Edmond
Army Instructor
Phone: 947-723-4848 Ext: 2211
Email: edmondj@manateeschools.net

Chief Warrant Officer (WO4) John Edmond spent over twenty years teaching, coaching, and mentoring. Since October 2011, he has worked as a teacher and Army Instructor for the High School JROTC Program of over 265 cadets. In doing this, he has received the high rating of being highly effective on his teacher's evaluation and was selected by the DAI to represent the 6th Brigade workshop in 2016. Before teaching, his professional experience growed as a Sensors Manager and Analyst, an Operations Officer, an Intelligence Analyst, and a Program Manager.

As the URS Division Program manager from 2009-2010:

Responsible for the Giraffe Radar Program in Iraq
Developed and applied comprehensive knowledge to provide advice in the planning and execution of the acquisition program
Assisted a government contract as the military transitions to a lesser role in theater and to align the Giraffe Program with the United States Forces-Iraq force reduction requirement
Coordinated engineering, financial, and logistics personnel in preparation of draft procurement requests
Monitored Congressional Agencies and company activities and evaluated their impacts on the program
Coordinated and maintained life support for 30 personnel residing on the company's compound
Briefed the USF-I leadership and provided guidance that increased the radar systems' acquisition rate on Victory Base

As the 3rd Infantry Division Intelligence Analyst from 2008-2009:

Assisted the Intelligence Section (G2) with the intelligence collection plan of the enemy Order of Battle and identified High Value Individuals or key leaders for engagement and/or exploitation
Developed intelligence products that were instrumental in preparing the Intelligence Section for deployment and developed orders for the subordinate unit
Managed and Mentored 23 Warrant Officers (WO) in the division with professional training and assigning their positions to support the units

As the 3rd Infantry Division Operations Officer from 2006-2008:

Developed, synchronized, and led shaping efforts for the 20,000 personnel assigned to a Multi-National Division in various areas
Developed plans for political efforts, economic growth, and budget execution in key Iraqi ministries
Supervised the daily performance of six Iraqi Advisor Task Force civilian contractors (GS12-15)
Planned for strategic communications which established the rule-of-law with local Iraqi officials
Assisted the Governance and Economics cell that achieved immediate results in providing employment opportunities for many Iraqis
Integrated and synchronized Local National Iraqi Advisors in developing intelligence to enhance Iraqi-coalition cooperation

As the 3rd Infantry Division Sensors Manager & Analyst from 2004-2006:

Assisted the Division Effects Coordinator with planning and maintaining 11 Firefinder Radar systems, 4 Unattended Transient Acoustic Masint Systems, and 4 Light Counter-Mortar Radars systems
Planned for and integrated multiple sensors

Chief Warrant Officer (WO4) Edmond also has military education in Operations Electronics Warfare Course (2007), Information Operations Course (2006), and Warrant Officer Advanced Course (2006).

Sergeant First Class Baez
Army Instructor
Phone: 941-723-4848 Ext: 2209
Email: baeza@manateeschools.net

SFC Baez joined the Army in 1982 and retired in 2005. Upon retiring he became a JROTC instructor at Riverview High School from 2005-2009, he then transferred to Southeast High School and instructed from 2009-2014. From 2014-2015 he moved to Miami and worked with a fundraising company. From 2015-2016, he returned and resumed working as a JROTC instructor at Steinbrenner High School in Tampa. In 2016 he transferred to Palmetto High School and is the current LET-1 instructor.
SFC Baez’s passions are teaching, coaching and developing cadets to be the best at whatever they decide to do after high school. He is a role model who “Treats Everyone with Respect and Dignity”

SFC Baez professional experiences are:

Military Science Instructor, U.S. Army ROTC, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
Equal Opportunity Advisor, 280th BSB Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany
Team Member for the Secretary of the Army, 3rd US Infantry, Fort Myer, VA
Infantry Platoon Sergeant, 3rd US Infantry, Fort Myer, VA
Senior Drill Sergeant Instructor, U.S. Army, Fort Dix, NJ

Civilian Education:

Bachelors, Criminal Justice Administration, University of Phoenix
Associate of Arts, Liberal Studies, The University of Tampa