News & Events

News & Events

R3 Welcomes Tim Mendenhall

MCPO (Ret.) Tim Mendenhall (in uniform) with (left to right) R3’s Ken Martin, Ken Normand, Rex Rousseau, and Dean Muriano at Tim’s retirement ceremony

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.

Team R3 attends EOD Memorial Ceremony and Ball

R3 teammates and spouses took time to remember our fallen, wounded, and Gold Star families at the 55th EOD Memorial Ceremony and Ball.  This annual event recalibrates our azimuth of service to the community and refreshes our perspective of gratitude for those EOD operators who gave their all.

The EOD Memorial honors the 344 EOD technicians who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in the line of duty.  The wall currently remembers fallen EOD warriors from 1942 to the present.

At the Ball, from left: Mike Smoot, Ken Normand, Ken Martin, Rex Rousseau, Ryan Bedner, Keanna Spencer, Chris Merwin, Mark Sanders, Dean Muriano, and Jerry Shelton.

R3 sponsors 55th Annual EOD Memorial Ball

At R3, giving back to the community is more than a commitment; it’s a proud tradition. That’s why we’re dedicated to supporting the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior Foundation (EODWF) and its vital programs. As a sponsor of the 55th Annual EOD Memorial Ball, we’re honored to contribute to the Foundation’s mission of assisting EOD Families in need through financial support and volunteer efforts. The ball will offer an evening filled with camaraderie and cherished memories. The entire EOD Community will come together to honor our fallen EOD Technicians, celebrate the gift of life, and strengthen the bonds within our unique community.

Join us in supporting the EODWF and honoring our courageous EOD technicians at this year’s EOD Memorial Weekend Events.

The EODWF plays a crucial role in providing financial assistance and support to Active-Duty, Reserve, and National Guard, Retired, and Veteran EOD technicians and their families. From financial aid to morale events, educational programs, and more, the Foundation ensures that the EOD family is supported every step of the way. Their unwavering commitment to caring for our EOD warriors and their families embodies the spirit of community and compassion.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for our nation.