Lieutenant Colonel R. Justin “Ragin” Reynolds, a North Louisiana native and Louisiana Tech alumnus, returns to the University this fall as Commander of AFTOTC Detachment 305 and Professor of Aerospace Studies.
Before his various operational assignments, deployments, and staff positions, Lt. Col. Reynolds grew up in Downsville, the son of a mom who graduated from West Monroe High and a dad who graduated from Neville in Monroe. Reynolds graduated from West Ouachita.
“Absolutely epic to be back,” he said. “It’s great to work at this University. We’re looking forward to serving the folks at Detachment 305; we’re looking forward to executing.”
Reynolds, who has over 1,500 hours in the F-15E and Air Force “call sign” or unique identifier “Ragin’,” entered the Air Force in 2005 after earning his BS in biology from UL-Monroe and his MS in biology from Tech. His education and training continued at Squadron Officer School (2013) and Air Command and Staff College (2018), both at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
He has held positions at the Detachment, Squadron, Wing, and Major Command levels; he most recently served as Commander, 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, Hill AFB, in Utah.
Now he’s back home, tasked with the same mission of the past 20 years.
“The Air Force ROTC mission is to ‘develop leaders of character for the United States Air and Space Forces whom we expect to fight and win our nation’s wars,’” he said. “I intend to do that.”
The Detachment’s immediate objective is to recruit, select, educate, and commission quality officer candidates. Upon completion of the AFROTC Professional Officer Course and receipt of a baccalaureate degree, cadets are eligible for commission as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force or the United States Space Force.
Active on Tech’s campus since 1949, Detachment 305 celebrated its 75-year anniversary last year as a Tech and Ruston staple. Besides Tech, the Detachment is the host Air Force ROTC unit of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Grambling State University, Northwestern State University, and Bossier Parish Community College.
A three- or four- year program, Air Force ROTC is open to all students in any major pursuing a bachelor’s degree.