ADULT STAFF

DA served 38 years in the U.S. Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve, beginning her career in 1974 with the Pennsylvania National Guard and later commissioning as a Military Intelligence Officer in 1986. She earned degrees from the University of Delaware (American Studies) and Villanova University (Computer Science) and deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, and Kuwait as a Civil Affairs Officer before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. A volunteer Training Officer with the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets since 2014, she has commanded Recruit Training twice at WCTC Red Horse Squadron. In her civilian career, DA worked 17 years as a Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin, homeschooled her three children for 14 years, and currently serves as an IT Instructor at FDM Group, training veterans and college graduates for careers in Financial IT.

EMAIL: freibergda@gmail.com

EMAIL: dclipston@msn.com

Emily attended Lehman College in New York, where she earned a degree in Liberal Arts. She worked for the NYPD for two years, gaining invaluable experience in public service and community engagement. For five years, she dedicated her time to working with special needs children, which was both challenging and rewarding, and later spent two years at a public charter school in Philadelphia, further enhancing her skills in education and support. Currently, Emily is self-employed as a realtor, a role that allows her to combine her passion for helping others with her knowledge of the housing market.

EMAIL: ao.041mas@seacadets.org

EMAIL: courtneymanley@verizon.net

Michael Batts joined the Sea Cadets in 2018. He began his naval career in 1982 at the age of 18, seeking to leave the challenges of North Philadelphia behind. Michael served on several Navy ships, including the USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092) and the USS America (CV-66) aircraft carrier, and was stationed in Norfolk, VA, as well as overseas in Germany, Italy, Spain, Bahrain, and Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After four years of active duty, he continued his service in the U.S. Navy Reserves for 20 years, retiring in 2005 as a Petty Officer First Class.

Outside of his military career, Michael is an avid coach, leading men’s and women’s softball teams and flag football teams. He is a proud father of three children—two daughters and one son—and enjoys staying active in his retirement through coaching and community involvement.

EMAIL: battmann158@gmail.com

Jennine McKenna has been a volunteer with the US Naval Sea Cadets since December 2022. She graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and earned her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, she is a Senior Research Investigator at the Center for Epilepsy and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, established by Penn Medicine and CHOP, where she works to develop therapies to treat neurodevelopmental disorders.

EMAIL: jdmckennausnscc@gmail.com

Kamini Hogan joined the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets as a volunteer instructor in March 2024, assisting with recruitment. A former Navy Hospital Corpsman, she earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Utah and completed her Navy Reserve service at Willow Grove AFB while attending the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for Physician Assistant studies. For the past 15 years, she has worked at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, including four years as manager and lead Advanced Practice Provider for the hospitalist service. She currently oversees scheduling for over 20 PAs and NPs, supports new provider onboarding, and continues clinical practice. INST Hogan lives by Abigail Adams’s belief that “learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardour and diligence.”

EMAIL: ro.041mas@seacadets.org