JONESBORO – Arkansas State University’s Department of Military Science will honor three distinguished individuals during its 32nd annual ROTC Hall of Heroes induction ceremony. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 9 a.m. in the Cooper Alumni Center.
The inductees are Brig. Gen. Sandra K. Martin, deputy commander for support at the 412th Engineer Command Mission Support; Retired Col. John E. Hall, former chief executive officer of the Defense Commissary Agency; and the late Lt. Col. Herbert E. “Gene” Moody, a U.S. Army veteran who retired in 1974. Moody will be inducted posthumously.
Family, friends, and guests of the honorees are invited to attend pre- and post-ceremony social hour events.
Brig. Gen. Sandra K. Martin, a native of West Memphis, graduated from A-State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and was a distinguished military graduate. She was commissioned into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has held numerous leadership roles, including leading border improvement initiatives with Joint Task Force 6 and serving in Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Martin will assume command of the 100th Training Division next summer, making her the first woman to lead both the 368th Forward Engineer Support-Main and the 100th Division. Outside the military, she works as a senior program analyst and is actively involved in community service. She resides in Madison, Ala., with her husband and their five children.
Ret. Col. John E. Hall, originally from Joiner, earned his bachelor’s degree from A-State in 1977 and graduated with distinction from the ROTC program. Hall served 27 years in the U.S. Army, including three combat deployments and a role as deputy commander of the Third Corps Support Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After retiring from active service, he worked in senior executive positions within the Department of Defense for more than 18 years, including overseeing the Defense Commissary Agency. His efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic included the distribution of over 200 million vaccines and therapeutics. Hall’s numerous honors include the Legion of Merit and the Army Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service.
Lt. Col. Herbert E. “Gene” Moody, a Brookland native, graduated from Arkansas State College (now A-State) in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law. While a student, he served as the ROTC unit’s regimental commander. Over his military career, Moody held several command and instructional roles—including two tours in Vietnam, where he served as a senior adviser and as a division operations officer. He also taught economics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and military science at the University of Central Arkansas. Moody retired in 1974 and earned decorations such as the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.
The Hall of Heroes ceremony highlights the enduring legacy of A-State’s ROTC graduates, who have served with distinction in a range of leadership roles both in uniform and beyond.