USMRA Leadership

Keith Antonia

• Lives in Dahlonega, Georgia with his wife of 43 years, Angela. Graduated and commissioned infantry from the University of Connecticut in 1981; retired from the Army after commanding the 5th Ranger Training Battalion in 2001.
• Served two tours in the 82nd Airborne Division, two tours in the 75th Ranger Regiment, a tour in the XVIII Airborne Corps, a tour as Pathfinder School Chief, and two tours in the Ranger Training Brigade. Made 232 jumps, including a combat jump into Panama in 1989.
• Became a Distinguished Member of the Ranger Training Brigade in 2005, was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 2009, and served as Honorary Colonel of the RTB/ARTB from 2011 to 2023.
• Spent a second career at the University of North Georgia, retiring as interim Senior Vice President and Superintendent of the Cadet Leadership Academy. Holds a bachelor's in business administration, a master's from the Naval War College, and a Doctor of Education from UNG.

Jason Wistoski

Full biography listed below under USMRA Officers.

Chuck Windham

• Served in Vietnam July 1968–June 1969 with Echo Company (LRP), 52nd Infantry (Airborne), and Hotel Company (Ranger), 75th Infantry (Airborne), serving as a Team Leader for 35 missions.
• Graduate of the Infantry School NCOC, Airborne School, and MACV 5th Special Forces RECONDO School. Inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame in November 2016.
• Active in the 75th Ranger Regiment Association, LRRP Reconnaissance Association, U.S. Mountain Ranger Association, 1st Cavalry Division Association, and the LRRP/Ranger Association of the First Cavalry Division.
• Served as a USMRA officer from 2008 to 2021, and has served on the USMRA Board since 2022.

Russ Ballew

• SFC (Ret.) Russell Ballew was born in Clayton, Georgia and enlisted in the Army in 1989, training as a Combat Infantryman before being assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 1/505 PIR, serving during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
• Held roles as Rifleman, Machine Gunner, Squad Leader, and Scout Team Leader. Selected as the 82nd Airborne Division's Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year in 1999.
• Served as a Ranger Instructor and FTX NCOIC at the 5th Ranger Training Battalion, Camp Frank D. Merrill, teaching Combat Patrolling Techniques and Mountaineering.

Derek Runyon

• Served in the U.S. Army from August 1990 to 2010, including with the 193rd Infantry Brigade in Panama and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.
• Graduated Ranger School class 09-95. Served as a Combat Techniques and Mountaineering Instructor with 5th RTB, and deployed to Afghanistan (2002–2003, 2008–2009) and Iraq (2003–2004).
• Named a Distinguished Member of the Brigade in 2023. Continues to provide advisory assistance to deploying units and soldiers after retiring.

Bob Williams

• Entered service May 12, 1981, from Iowa. Served with Charlie Weapons Platoon, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry from 1981 to 1983, graduating with Ranger Class 9-82.
• Served with 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, then with 2nd Ranger Company at Camp Merrill from 1984 to 1987. Medically discharged in December 1987 as a Staff Sergeant (E-6).
• Earned a BA in English Education and an MA in Middle School Social Studies; taught at the middle school, high school, and technical college levels from 1993 to 2019.
• Selected as a Distinguished Member of the Ranger Training Brigade in 2016.

Jason Wistoski

• Entered service in August 1993, assigned to 1/505 PIR at Fort Bragg. Graduated Ranger School class 11-94 in October 1994.
• Reentered service in 2002 after two years in law enforcement; deployed to Paktika Province, Afghanistan (2004–05) with 2/27 INF, then served with 5th RTB.
• Deployed to Amarah, Iraq (2010–11) and Shiwhali Kot, Afghanistan (2012–13). Served with 5th ARTB from 2013 until retiring in December 2017.
• Named a Distinguished Member of the Brigade in 2019. Currently serves as the Action Shooting Coach at the University of North Georgia.

Tony Fritchle

• Entered service in July 1985, enlisting with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Graduated Ranger Class 2-87.
• Held roles including Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Battalion S3/XO across the 1st Battalion 501st PIR, 75th Ranger Regiment, and 5th RTB, including command of Alpha Company, 5th RTB.
• Served as Military Transition Team Chief for the 9th Iraqi Brigade in Baghdad (2008–09), later as Professor of Military Science at Georgia Tech and Director of Cadet Admissions & Global Military Programs at UNG.
• Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Wings.

Steven Hall

• Entered service in July 2004. Served with 4th BCT, 82nd Airborne, deploying to Afghanistan 2007–08. Graduated RIP in August 2008.
• Served with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (2008–10), graduating Ranger Class 05-09 and deploying to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.
• Later served with 2nd Battalion, 503rd PIR, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, deploying to Afghanistan and Turkey, and with 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division.
• Medically retired in July 2018 as a Sergeant First Class (E-7). Earned a BS in Criminal Justice. Lives in North Georgia with his wife and three children.