Staff

Captain Patrick O’Reilly

Commanding Officer, Iowa State University NROTC

Captain Patrick O’Reilly was born and grew up in Smithtown, New York. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He received pilot training in Corpus Christi, TX, and earned his Wings of Gold in January 2003.

Captain O’Reilly reported to VP-16 based in Jacksonville, Florida in November 2003. He qualified as Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI), Instructor Pilot (IP), Mission Commander, and served as Air Warfare Division Officer, Pilot Training Officer, and Pilot NATOPS Officer. He completed two deployments to CENTCOM & EUCOM and was recognized as the 2006 CPRW-11 Pilot of the Year.

Captain O’Reilly reported for instructor duty at VP-30, the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance (MPR) Fleet Replacement Squadron in March 2007. At the “Pro’s Nest” he served as WTI Course Coordinator, Fleet Instructor Under Training (IUT) IP, Fleet NATOPS Evaluator, and Stan Officer for the MPRF community.

O’Reilly reported to VPU-1 in January 2010 and served as Aviation Safety Officer and Pilot NATOPS Officer. He qualified on board Special Mission Aircraft as Mission Commander, Instructor Pilot, and served as Officer-In-Charge (OIC) for detachments to AFRICOM and CENTCOM.

In September 2012, Captain O’Reilly was assigned to VP-10 as a Department Head. C. He served as a Liaison Officer to Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) and Detachment OIC for operations in both Soto Cano, Honduras, and Barranquilla, Colombia. He served as the Training Officer and Maintenance Officer while completing two deployments in support of CENTCOM, EUCOM, and AFRICOM.

In March 2015, Captain O’Reilly reported to SEVENTH Fleet Staff embarked on USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19) homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. He served as the SEVENTH Fleet Current Operations Officer.

Captain O’Reilly reported to the “Fighting Marlins” Patrol Squadron FORTY in May 2017, where he served as the Navy’s final P-3C Orion Commanding Officer. During this tour, he completed two multi-site deployments to CENTCOM, AFRICOM, EUCOM, and INDOPACOM, where the SECNAV awarded the squadron a Meritorious Unit Commendation following the 2019 deployment.

In September 2020, Captain O’Reilly reported to the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan, as Director, Foreign Military Sales within the Mutual Defense Assistance Office (MDAO) managing a procurement budget of $38B.

In June 2023, Captain O’Reilly reported to Canadian Joint Operations Command in Ottawa, serving as the NORTHCOM Liaison to the Canadian Joint Operations Command.

In August 2025, Captain O’Reilly will assume command of the Naval ROTC Unit at Iowa State University.

Captain O’Reilly has amassed over 3,500 pilot hours in the P-3 Orion and over 1200 hours in support of combat operations. He has numerous personal awards and various unit and campaign decorations to include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (5), and Air/Strike Flight Award (4th Award). His education includes an M.S. in National Strategy from the National War College and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Lieutenant Commander Tammi L. Lawler

Executive Officer, Iowa State University NROTC

A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Lieutenant Commander Lawler received her Associate of Applied Science as a Physical Therapy Assistant in 1998. She graduated magna cum laude from Minnesota State University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Construction Management and holds a Master of Healthcare Management from Marymount University. In 2011, she was commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade through the In-Service Procurement Program as a Healthcare Administrator in the Medical Service Corps.

Lieutenant Commander Lawler enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1992. After completing Basic Training in Orlando, Florida, she graduated from Hospital Corpsman School in Great Lakes, Illinois. Her duty stations include Naval Hospital Cherry Point, North Carolina; Medical Education and Training Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Naval Hospital Charleston, South Carolina; Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Navy Reserve Personnel Command, New Orleans, Louisiana; I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Camp Pendleton, CA, Navy Operational Support Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington, D.C.

Her service schools include the Physical Therapy Technician School, Field Medical Service School, and the Navy Instructor Training Course. Lieutenant Commander Lawler deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from March – December 2003 with I MEF at Camp Coyote, Kuwait. She was selected and initiated as a Chief Petty Officer in 2007.

Once commissioned, she was assigned to Naval Health Clinic Quantico, Virginia, as the Human Resources and Administration Department Head and the Plans, Operations, and Medical Intelligence (POMI) Officer.

In July 2013, she reported on board the USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH serving as Division Officer and Medical Administrative Officer forward deployed in support of operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and ACTIVE ENDEAVOR.

In July 2015, Lieutenant Commander Lawler was selected as a Joint Staff POMI fellow and transferred to the Joint Staff Surgeon’s office. In September 2016, her follow-on tour was in Naples, Italy, as a medical planner for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa / U.S. 6th Fleet.

In January 2019, she reported as a Healthcare Administrator at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Virginia, serving as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Interim Executive Officer, and the Navy Medical Readiness and Training Unit Deputy Director for Administration / POMI.

In December 2020, Lieutenant Commander Lawler was by-name-requested to support the Chief of Naval Operations Staff as Deputy Branch Head for Medical Plans and Policy (N0931D), Pentagon, DC. During this tour, her team ensured continuity of medical operations worldwide for the Coronavirus Pandemic response, the departure of U.S. Forces from Afghanistan, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, and many other missions.

POMI Specialty Leader nominated in August 2023, Lieutenant Commander Lawler led her community as the POMI Course Director, Navy Medical Professional Leadership Development Command, Bethesda, Maryland, prior to assignment to Iowa State University NROTC.

Lieutenant Commander Lawler is qualified as a Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer. Her awards include the Joint Meritorious Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (six awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), Good Conduct (five awards), a Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, and various other personal, service, unit, and campaign decorations.