AFJROTC

• • BS Civil Engineering, United States Air Force Academy 1985
  • Masters in Engineering Mgt, Western New England College 1986

  • MBA Finance Concentration, Wright State University 1994

Master Sergeant (Retired) Mark K. Margara is our first Aerospace Science Instructor (ASI). MSgt Margara served 22 years in the Air Force and brings a wealth of experience to the program, including Security Forces, Recruiting, Operations Resource Management and deployments to Panama and other locations. He is currently serving as Homestead Senior High School ASI.

• • BA in History, McKendree University 2000.

  • Bachelor of Arts in History (Education), Liberty University 2020

• • BA in Biblical and Educational Studies, Liberty University 2016

Cadet/Lt Colonel Vivian Hernandez
2026-2027 Group Commander

Cadet/Major Imani White
2026-2027 Deputy Group Commander

Cadet/SMSgt Owen Meritt
2026-2027 Group Superintendent 

There are a broad number of activities associated with our AFJROTC Program. Most of our activities fall under one of the below domains: 

1. Community Service – the second of our USAF Core Values “Service Before Self” is manifested in the many opportunities we provide our Cadets to give back to our community.  Some specific community Service Opportunities include; 
   1. AFJROTC Blood Drive – In partnership with the ONEBLOOD Drive organization, our AFJROTC Cadets manage/facilitate donations by eligible Homestead SHS Students (17 or older) to donate blood.
      
      
   2. City of Homestead 9/11 Freedom Walk - Our AFJROTC Cadets assist the local Veteran’s group in charge of event with all preparations immediately preceding the start of parade.  Additionally, our Cadets also march during this parade.
      
      
   3. City of Homestead Veteran’s Day Parade – Our AFJROTC Cadets consistently march during this event. 
   4. Local Food Drives  - each year our cadets manage 3-4 local food drives benefiting either the local community or any additional cause related to natural disasters 
   5. Purple Star School Program – Our AFJROTC Cadets participate in our HSHS Purple Star initiative, an opportunity to serve as our school ambassadors to newly arrived Military Connected Children – helping them acclimate to all aspects of life as a student at Homestead Senior High School. 
      
      
   6. AFJROTC Color Guard - Our most frequent community service initiative involves presenting the colors via our Color Guard.  Our Cadets provide this service both internally for Homestead Senior High School events as well as externally when requested by members of the Homestead Community.
      
2. Curriculum in Action – Each year our cadets participate in additional activities that are reasonably correlated with either the Leadership or Aerospace bodies of knowledge that form the foundation of our curriculum for AFJROTC.  Some examples include: 
   1. Miami Military Museum visits 
      
      
   2. MDCPS Pass In Review – annual event with all MDCPS JROTC units to be reviewed/inspected by our MDCPS Superintendent
   3. Field trips to Homestead Air Reserve Base – at least once a year, our AFJROTC unit is invited to Homestead ARB to learn about many of the roles/missions of its military units – with intent on awareness of what the “real” Air Force is like – possibly motivating for career opportunities.
   4. Military Ball – each year our Cadets conduct a formal dining event know as a “Military Ball” with all the customs and courtesies associated with a Military Dining In event.  We will invite sister AFJROTC units from MDCPS (Hialeah and South Ridge High Schools). 
      
      

Honor Guard – Our most popular after school program is our Honor Guard.  We prepare for competition events (Drill Meets) against other MDCPS JROTC Schools on a broad range of marching competitions.  Some events we commonly participate in are the Color Guard, Squad Competition as well as Platoon Competition.  In addition to preparing for our local events, we also train for two Air Force Specific activities – Our Air Force Color Guard Team (presenting Colors at many school and Miami-Dade County public events as well as our Organizational 30 Commands Drill, required as part of our AFJROTC Leadership Curriculum. 

Robotics – This is our Science and Technology offering.  The exact nature of the instruction will vary annually based on Cadet interest.  Specific areas include but are not limited to orbital mechanics, robotics, physical launching of rockets and others.  

Running Club – this club is entirely a local initiative in our unit.  It was originally created at the requests of some Cadets to learn how to participate in long distance running events from a 5K to as long a s Half marathon (13.1 miles). 

Flight Academy 

The AFJROTC Flight Academy offers cadets to an opportunity to attend private pilot training at public/private universities during the summer. Selected Cadets will be identified through a competitive boarding process.  The scholarship will pay for round-trip airfare, room and board, collegiate academics and the flight hours required to potentially earn a Private Pilot’s Certificate (PPC) through an in-residence collegiate program that is approximately eight (8) weeks in length.   

Applicants must be current sophomore, junior, or senior AFJROTC Cadets who understand they are volunteering for a scholarship to a public/private university.  There is no military service commitment or obligation, nor does program completion justify acceptance to military service, ROTC scholarship, or military academy appointment.  Applicants must 

• Be 17 years old by 15 July of the summer attending program 

• Obtain a minimum fitness assessment score 

• have a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale)  

• have a strong interest in aviation, a strong academic record, and a “never-quit” attitude  

Additional content on AFJROTC Program is available on the USAF AFJROTC site at 

https://www.afaccessionscenter.af.mil/Holm-Center/AFJROTC/Article-Display/Article/4014359/flight-academy/

Group Commander
C/COL Michael Irizarry (2025-2026)

Group Commander
C/COL Crystal Cordoba (2024-2025)

Group Commander
C/COL Edward Barahona (2023-2024)

Group Commander
C/COL Carlos Alvarez
(2022-2023)

Group Commander
C/COL Azucena Salas
(2021-2022)

Group Commander
C/COL Kayla Young
(2020-2021)

Group Commander
C/COL Illiane Tavarez
(2019-2020) Semester 2

Group Commander
C/COL Jaila Cruz
(2019-2020) Semester 1

Group Commander
C/COL Renaldo Jean
(2018-2019) Semester 2

Group Commander
C/COL Siobhan Torres
(2018-2019) Semester 1

Group Commander
C/COL Melissa Miranda
(2017-2018) Semester 2

Group Commander
C/COL Raul Rivas
(2017-2018) Semester 1

Group Commander
C/COL Yasohara Miranda (2016-2017)

Group Commander
C/COL Andrew Harrison (2015-2016)

MDCPS 5K 2026
(Ana Gonzalez 2029, Melany Fernandez 2027, Michelle Charles 2028
Liyou Smith 2028, Hazel Sandoval 2027, Roberto Luis 2026)

MDCPS 5K - 2020
(Shardul Ferrer, 2020; Dominic Sanabria, 2020;
Glasco Whittaker, 2021; Tyrell Oliver, 2020)

Maj Lamar Settlemyers
(SASI 2013-2015)

Lt Col Michael Sweeny
(SASI 2006-2007)

Lt Col Richard O'Neal
(SASI 1995-2006)

Lt Col Bill Wilson
(SASI 1985-1990)

Colonel James Harding
(SASI 1980-1981)

MSgt Hope Sanders
(ASI 2008-2009)

MSgt Cornelius Perez
(ASI 2007-2008)

MSgt Evangelista Gonzalez
(ASI 2000-2018)

SMSgt Loyal Henderson
(ASI 1990-2006)

MSgt Alex Gonzalez
(ASI 1984-2000)