Captain Tony Rodriguez, USN
Commanding Officer
Captain Tony Rodriguez, a native of El Paso, Texas, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. He earned his aviator wings in 1997 and completed fleet replacement training at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE (HC-3) in San Diego, before being assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FIVE (HC-5) in Yigo, Guam. His first sea tour flying the CH-46 included deployments on the USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS 3) as Division Officer and USNS Flint (T-AE 32) where he served as detachment Assistant Officer-in-Charge.
In 2001, he reported as Flag Aide to Commander U.S. Naval Forces Marianas/ U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Regional Coordinator and PACOM representative for Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. After completing MH-60S Knighthawk training in 2004, Captain Rodriguez reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO EIGHT (HSC-28) and helped transition the squadron from CH-46 Flight Operations to MH-60S Flight Operations.
In 2006, Captain Rodriguez reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO TWO (HSC-22) and deployed aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) as Officer-in-Charge of HSC-22’s first detachment. He continued to serve as Operations and Maintenance Officer before transferring to the United States Naval War College in 2009. In 2013, he took command of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO SIX (HSC-26) and in 2014 he reported to FIFTH FLEET as the Expeditionary Helo Boss. From 2014 to 2016, he served as Directorate Coordinator for Combined Joint Operations from the Sea, a NATO Center of Excellence. He served as the executive officer for PCU Portland and took command of USS Portland in September 2018. He was the Chief Of Staff for Expeditionary Strike Group THREE before taking command of Amphibious Squadron FIVE in June of 2020.
In Aug 2022 he assumed the duties as Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science for the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp (NROTC) Atlanta Consortium comprising the NROTC units at both Morehouse College and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Captain Rodriguez received a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and his awards include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2), and Navy Achievement Medal.
Major Joshua Perras, USMC
Executive Officer/Marine Officer Instructor
Email: jperras6@gatech.edu
Major Joshua Perras is a native of Exeter, RI. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 2007. Major Perras served eight years as an Air Command and Control Electronics Operator earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as an Air Space Control Officer in Regional Command Southwest, Camp Leatherneck and Kandahar Afghanistan. He would later go on to earn his commissioning through the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 2016.
In January 2016, Major Perras attended Officer Candidate School and The Basic School (TBS) in June 2016. Upon graduation from TBS, Major Perras was assigned the MOS of Military Police Officer and reported to the Military Police Basic Officer Course in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Upon graduation, Major Perras was transferred to 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC.
In May 2017, Major Perras served as a Platoon Commander and deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon returning, he assumed the billet of Company Executive Officer and later as a Company Commander until he was selected to attend Military Police Career Captains Course where he reported in July 2020 and graduated in December 2020. In January 2021, Major Perras reported to Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico. During his time there he served as the Battalion Operations Officer, Service Company Commander and later as the Provost Marshal Office Operations Officer.
In June 2023, Major Perras executed orders as the Company B Inspector-Instructor, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In May 2025 Major Perras assumed the duties of the Executive Officer Naval ROTC Unit Atlanta Consortium.
Major Perras holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from American Military University and a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with gold star in lieu of 3rd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Commander Thomas E. McNeil
Deputy Commander/ Instructor
Commander McNeil (T-Mac) is a native of St Louis, Mo. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morehouse College and commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in 2005.
CDR McNeil’s operational assignments include a division officer tour with VAW-124 where he completed one deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He served as a training officer with VAW-112 from 2014 to 2016 where he completed one Western Pacific deployment. He was later assigned as a department head on board VAW-125 – part of Carrier Air Wing Five and Forward Deployed Naval Forces – from 2017 to 2019, where he served as quality assurance officer, administration officer, and operations officer, in three Western Pacific deployments. He has accumulated over 2,500 hours in the E-2 Hawkeye.
Ashore, CDR McNeil has served as the training officer at the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) – a department of the Navy Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) in Fallon, Nevada. At U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), he served as part of the corporate governance team, robotics process automation (RPA) coordinator, Financial Management (FM) data strategy program manager, and FM training program manager as part of the J8 Directorate. He was also selected to lead the TRANSCOM Headquarters COVID-19 Response Cell Entry Control Point. At U.S. Seventh Fleet He served as the Chief of Fires as well as Deliberate Plans lead for Korea Plans.
T-Mac’s current assignment is the Deputy Commander at the Atlanta Region NROTC Consortium, serving both Georgia Tech and Morehouse NROTC Units. CDR McNeil’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Joint Service Commendation Medal.
STUDENT ADVISORS
Freshman/Sophomore Advisor: LT Mark Kim | Submarine Officer
Contact:
Email: mkim3025@gatech.edu
Navy Option Admissions and Upperclassman Advisor: LT Marissa deHaas | Surface Warfare Officer
Assistant Marine Officer Instructor: GySgt Matthew Jones
Contact:
Phone: (404) 894-8138
Email: mjones661@gatech.edu