faculty
Lieutenant Colonel Maxey Carpenter
Professor of Military Science at Carroll College and University of Montana He has served in a variety of operational and command assignments. The majority of his career has been spent in the Pacific Rim region. LTC Carpenter's most recent assignment was the Special operations Branch Chief for the NATO Joint Forces Command, Brunssum, Netherlands where he coordinated and deployed NATO allied Special Operations Forces into the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. LTC Carpenter has numerous Joint and Army and foreign awards and decorations to include the Special Forces and Ranger Tabs, Master Parachute Badge, Free Fall Parachute Badge, Combat Dive Supervisor Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Korean, Thai and Phillippine parachute badges.
maxey.carpenter -is-at- mso -dot- umt.edu
(406) 243-4541 
Lieutenant Colonel Maxey B. Carpenter was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1987. he graduated from the University of Washington, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political
Science and he later received a master's degree in Public Administration from National University San Diego.
Major Bill Ballinger
MAJ Bill Ballinger, MTARNG, is a Montana native who graduated from Missoula Hellgate High School and the University of Montana in 1992.
bballinger -is-at- carroll -dot- edu
(406) 447-5484 
While at the University of Montana, he competed as a member of the UM Cross Country and Track teams, while simultaneously completing ROTC. MAJ Ballinger was commissioned into the Montana National Guard. He earned a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the U of M in 2004.
Prior to joining the cadre at U of M ROTC, MAJ Ballinger was emplyed as a science teacher at Missoula Hellgate High School. His experience as an educator also includes teaching both Mathematics and Science at the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade levels.
MAJ Ballinger also has 9 seasons of experience as a United States Forest Service Wildland Firefighter. During his career he worked on Engine Crew, Type I Interagency Hotshot Crews (Lolo IHC), and as a squad boss on the Great Northern Type II Developmental Crew.
MAJ Ballinger's military experience consists of 15 years in both the U.S. Army Reserves and the Montana National Guard. His positions have included platoon leader, detachment commander, assistant S2/3 staff, company commander, and BN S4. He has completed both his Field Artillery Officer Basic Course and his Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course. From 2003 - 2006 MAJ Ballinger served as the Enrrollment Officer and Freshman Advisor at the UM ROTC program. Currently he is assigned as the Officer In-Charge at the Carroll College ROTC program.
MAJ Ballinger is also head coach of the brand new Men's and Women's Cross-Country program at Carroll College. He spent the past 10 years coaching Cross Country and the distance Track runners at the High School level. In his free time, he loves to hang out with his family, wife Britt, and sons Jake 10) and Henry (4), as well as Bob the Beagle! You'll find them at the lake in the summer enjoying their new ski-boat!
Sergeant First Class Ernest Conner
Senior Instructor of Military Science
econner -is-at- carroll -dot- edu
(406) 447-5485
Sergeant First Class Ernest Conner joined Carroll College late Spring Semester of 2005. Previous assignments largely involve time with the 5th Special Forces Group as the SF Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeants, SF Operations Sergeant, a National Guard Recruiter and others.
SFC Conner has participated in operations in Haiti, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan as well as others.
SFC Conner is a graduate of Special Forces Jumpmaster Course, Arabic-Egyptian Language Course and the Special Forces Sniper Course. His awards include the Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
SFC Conner was able to experience LDAC this past summer in Fort Lewis, WA and serve as a tactical evaluator for almost five weeks. This experience helped him immensely as he trains the MS IIIs getting ready for LDAC this summer.
SFC Conner's wife, Barb, is a former Adjutant General Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard. They have three children.