We are thrilled to welcome Benjamin Stafford to the R3 team. Ben recently retired from the United States Navy, culminating 30 years of service as a Command Master Chief and Master EOD Technician. He has extensive experience leading complex and diverse teams in high-stress environments, managing organizational-level programs, and advising and developing senior executives. Ben has a diverse background in numerous functional areas in EOD, Operational and Strategic Planning, project and program management, doctrine and policy development, and training delivery.

Beginning his Navy career as a Hull Maintenance Technician, serving on board the USS SIMON LAKE forward deployed to Italy, Ben screened for and later graduated from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD). From there, he would go on to serve in multiple leadership capacities at EODMUs ELEVEN, TWELVE, TWO, SIX, AND EIGHT, as well as performing foreign material acquisition duties at the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV) and Arabic language and culture studies at Defense Language Institute. He finished his career as the Command Master Chief of NAVSCOLEOD.

In addition to multiple qualifications and awards, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts in Management. He graduated from the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy and Command Master Chief courses. He also earned certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and as a Registered Scrum Master and Scrum Product Owner.

Ben will join our Northwest Florida team, utilizing his extensive and recent EOD community and Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) experience to directly shape future EOD training as part of the Navy’s Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) process.  While still in uniform, Ben was directly involved in laying the foundation for EOD RRL.  The opportunity to keep Ben’s vast knowledge and experience in play is a huge win for both the Navy and R3.

Tim Mendenhall brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the R3 team, having served in the United States Navy for over 33 years as a Master EOD Technician and Master Blaster of the Navy. His extensive background spans various functional areas within the special operations EOD community.

Tim’s journey in the Navy began after completing Boot Camp and Storekeeper “A” School, where he was initially stationed at Naval Communications Station in Exmouth, Australia. Subsequently, he served aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA-1) in San Diego, California, before transitioning to EOD training in Panama City, Florida, in 1994. After graduating from EOD school, he joined his first EOD Operational unit, EOD Mobile Unit Five in Agana, Guam.

Tim’s Navy career encompassed multiple assignments, including tours at EODMU Six in Charleston, South Carolina, and EOD Group Two in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He participated in critical deployments supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF), including a significant deployment with the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) Paladin in Bagram, Afghanistan.

In the realm of training and education, Tim served as an instructor at EOD school, a program manager at the Center for EOD and Diving (CEODD) in Panama City, Florida, and as the Officer in Charge of the Preconditioning and Assessment Course in Great Lakes, Illinois.

During his final tour of duty, Tim was stationed at the Bureau of Personnel in Millington, Tennessee, where he held the position of EOD Enlisted Community Manager. In this role, he provided comprehensive community management for the entire Navy enlisted EOD community, overseeing accessions, advancements, promotions, incentives, and separations. He played a pivotal role in shaping and optimizing Navy EOD through policy and doctrine development.

We are excited to welcome Tim to R3! He will be joining our Northwest Florida team, leveraging his extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects surrounding the EOD rating to directly shape future EOD training as part of the Navy’s Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) process. Tim’s character, demeanor, knowledge, and experience make him an ideal fit for RRL development and the R3 team.

R3 enthusiastically welcomes Mike Smoot to our Team.  Mike recently retired from the United States Navy following 22 years of service as a Special Operations Officer and Master EOD Technician. He has extensive experience leading complex and diverse teams in high-stress environments within the special operations EOD community.

Beginning his Navy career after completing Boot Camp and Parachute Rigger “A” school, he was initially stationed at EOD Mobile Unit TWO in Virginia Beach, VA, before transitioning to EOD training in Panama City, FL in 2003. Following successful completion, he joined EOD Mobile Unit Eleven in Whidbey Island, WA.  From there, Mike undertook various leadership assignments, including tours at EODMU TWELVE in Virginia Beach, VA, EODMU FIVE in Guam, and EOD Group ONE in San Diego, CA.

As an EOD Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Mike has vast experience in training and education in both operational commands and in formal Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) school-house settings. Operationally he served in training roles as the Training and Assessments Officer on the EODGRU ONE staff and as the Readiness and Training Officer for a forward deployed Mobile Unit.  He has multiple tours at NETC learning sites, serving as a training team leader and master training specialist at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, as a Division Officer at EOD School, and most recently as the Director of Training at EOD School.

In addition to multiple qualifications and awards, he earned a Bachelor of Science in National Security and graduated from the Joint Special Operations University, specializing in operational planning and the senior enlisted academy.

Mike will be an integral part of R3’s Northwest Florida team, focusing on the Southeastern United States.  He will immediately utilize his extensive and recent EOD community and NETC experience to directly shape future EOD training as part of the Navy’s Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) process. Mike brings a complete understanding of current EOD training and planned future requirements to our team.  Mike remains passionate about EOD training, and specifically making sure that EOD operators heading down range are as prepared as possible; it’s a huge win for the Joint EOD community and for R3 to have him on our team.