Lt. Colonel Hector Morales (US Army), Head Coach

Tallahassee , FL

Lt Colonel Morales is currently stationed at Florida State University  where he is a Ph.D. Candidate in Sport and Exercise Psychology. He has been selected as an Academy Professor of Physical Education at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point . Military assignments include Fort Polk ,  Fort Hood , Fort Bliss , Germany ( Hungary , Bosnia and Croatia ), Fort Leavenworth , and Korea . He started judo in Puerto Rico under Sensei Hiromi Tomita and became a collegiate champion and Armed Forces Champion. He was a member of the 1995 and 1999 Armed Forces Judo Teams and has been the Head Coach since 2003. Hector is an USA Judo International Coach and a National Judo Referee.

Major Benjamin Ring  (US Army), Assistant Coach

West Point , NY

Major Ring graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1996 as an armor officer. His previous assignments include Germany , Ft. Knox , Ky. and Ft. Hood , Texas with deployments to Bosnia , Kosovo and Iraq . He holds a Masters degree in Computer Science and is assigned as a Senior Research Scientist at USMA. Originally from Peabody , Mass. , he began judo at age 5 at Massassoit Judo Club under Jim Pedro, Sr. where he was a junior national champion. He continued his judo at USMA where he was a collegiate champion and while in Germany competed with the Schweinfurt Judo Team. Ben is currently the head coach of the U.S. Military Academy Judo Club.

Captain Steve Jensen (US Air Force)

Vance AFB, Enid , OK

Capt. Jensen graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003 and is a certified pilot currently serving as an instructor pilot T-6. His previous assignments include Randolph Air base, San Antonio , Texas . In high school, he began his judo career in Little Rock , Ark. under David Howard and Gary Norton and continued his judo while at USAFA in Colorado Springs , Colo. training at the Olympic Training Center under Eddie Liddie. He was a member of the 2003 World Military Games Judo Team in Italy , 2006 CISM World Team in Croatia and he placed seventh at the 2006 Senior National Championships. Steve is currently training at USA Stars with Pat Burris in Oklahoma City , Okla.

Ensign Mathew Lewis (US Navy)

USS Jarrett, San Diego , CA

Ensign Lewis graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in International Relations in 2006 and is currently assigned on board the USS Jarrett. He began his judo career at the age of four, but took a break during his high school years. Matt returned to the sport in college and currently trains at Naval Air Station North Island .

IT2 Robert J.T. Turnquest (US Navy)

NIOC, Honolulu , Hawaii

Originally from Honolulu , IT2 Turnquest is currently assigned as an Information Systems Technician 2^nd Class with the Navy Information and Operations Command. He was a member of the 2006 CISM World Team in Croatia and recently earned fifth place at the 2006 U.S. Open Championships in the open division. Rob is currently training at Kamehameha Judo Club under Robin Mori and Derrick Kerr.

Seaman Robert Yamashita  (US Navy)

Kings Bay , GA

Seaman Yamashita enlisted in the Navy in 2006 and is currently assigned as a Seaman Master at Arms in Kings Bay with the Marine Corps Security Force Company. He began judo at the age of six at Northglenn Judo Club in Colorado and in April won the 39th Northglenn Invitational.

Captain Patrick Kenneth Vazquez  (US Army)

Syracuse , NY

Former Sapper and Combat Engineer as a Non-Commissioned Officer, Captain Vazquez earned his commission as a Civil Affairs Officer. He is currently assigned in Civil Affairs as an Operations Officer (S3) in Syracuse . He is a former member of the University of Puerto Rico Judo Team in Arecibo , PR, placed third at the Missouri State Games in 2002 and first at the St Louis Judo Championships in 2003. He was a member of the 2006 CISM World Team in Croatia and is currently training at various clubs throughout the state of New York .

Captain Michelle Marie Kruse  (US Army)

Ft. Bliss , TX

Recently commissioned in the US Army as audiologist with Army Medical Command, Captain Kruse holds a Masters Degree in Audiology from Wichita State and is currently enrolled with Pennsylvania College of Audiology working towards her doctorate degree. She placed second at the 2006 Ladder Tournament, second in the Masters Division at 2006 Dallas Invitational and second in the Masters Division at the 2007 Senior National Championships. Originally from Wichita , she trained at Air Capital Judo where she served as an assistant coach. Michelle has also trained at Kansas University in Lawrence , KS and at Mat Judo in Kansas City , MO under Steve Scott.

HM3 Samuel Mazzaro (US Navy)

Miami , FL

HM3 Samuel Mazzaro is currently stationed at Naval Operational Support Center Miami in Miami , Fla. and a Hospital Man, 3^rd Class. He began judo at the age of four in Brazil and improved most of his judo skills at Salt Lake City Judo Club. In 2002, he was the Idaho State Champion receiving the Golden Eagle award as outstanding judoka. Sam is currently training at Bushido Judo Club in Hialeah , Fla.