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Director of HISD JROTC Programs
Lieutenant Colonel (US Army Retired) Cornell T. McGhee assumed the position as HISD’s
Director of JROTC Programs on 1 September 2007. Prior to his current position, LTC
McGhee worked as the Supervisor for JROTC Curriculum and Instruction. From 2001 to
2005, he served as the Senior Army Instructor at Cesar E. Chávez High School.
LTC McGhee is a 1978 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. While on active duty,
LTC McGhee served in various leadership and staff positions in the 1st Cavalry Division,
the 32nd Army Air Defense Command, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),
Headquarters US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Headquarters US Army
Recruiting Command, and at the US Army Headquarters in Washington D.C. At the
Pentagon, LTC McGhee worked as a Program Analyst for future Air and Missile Defense
weapon systems and as a Special Assistant/Speechwriter for the Chief of Staff of the
United States Army, General Dennis J. Reimer. Following the Pentagon assignment, LTC
McGhee commanded the Army’s Recruiting Battalion in Houston, Texas where he was
responsible for directing the Army’s recruiting efforts throughout southeast Texas. In his
last active duty assignment LTC McGhee served as the Director of Training and Education
for the Army’s Recruiting Command.
LTC McGhee has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at
Austin, a Master of Science degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology
and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences (Military Operations) from the US Army
Command and General Staff College. LTC McGhee attended the US Army Command and
General Staff College as well as the Army’s prestigious School of Advanced Military
Studies. He is currently a student in the Educational Leadership Doctoral program at the
University of Houston, Clear Lake.
LTC McGhee earned numerous military awards and decorations including the Meritorious
Service Medal (7 awards), the Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Army
Achievement Medal (2 awards), the Army Expeditionary Medal, and the NATO Service
Medal. He has also earned the Army Staff Identification Badge Air and the Air Assault
Badge. LTC McGhee is an active member of Houston's Second Baptist Church, a Life
Member of the National Eagle Scouts Association, an Honorary Kentucky Colonel, and a
member of several Veterans Organizations. In 2008, LTC McGhee was awarded the US
Army Cadet Command Gold Instructor Award.
LTC McGhee is married to the former Karen Arbuckle of Beaumont, Texas. Cornell and
Karen are the proud parents of two sons; both graduated as National Merit Scholars from
HISD’s High School for Performing and Visual Arts. Their oldest son is a Magna Cum
Laude graduate of the University of North Texas. Their youngest son is a sophomore at
the University of Houston.
Director of JROTC Programs on 1 September 2007. Prior to his current position, LTC
McGhee worked as the Supervisor for JROTC Curriculum and Instruction. From 2001 to
2005, he served as the Senior Army Instructor at Cesar E. Chávez High School.
LTC McGhee is a 1978 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. While on active duty,
LTC McGhee served in various leadership and staff positions in the 1st Cavalry Division,
the 32nd Army Air Defense Command, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),
Headquarters US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Headquarters US Army
Recruiting Command, and at the US Army Headquarters in Washington D.C. At the
Pentagon, LTC McGhee worked as a Program Analyst for future Air and Missile Defense
weapon systems and as a Special Assistant/Speechwriter for the Chief of Staff of the
United States Army, General Dennis J. Reimer. Following the Pentagon assignment, LTC
McGhee commanded the Army’s Recruiting Battalion in Houston, Texas where he was
responsible for directing the Army’s recruiting efforts throughout southeast Texas. In his
last active duty assignment LTC McGhee served as the Director of Training and Education
for the Army’s Recruiting Command.
LTC McGhee has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at
Austin, a Master of Science degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology
and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences (Military Operations) from the US Army
Command and General Staff College. LTC McGhee attended the US Army Command and
General Staff College as well as the Army’s prestigious School of Advanced Military
Studies. He is currently a student in the Educational Leadership Doctoral program at the
University of Houston, Clear Lake.
LTC McGhee earned numerous military awards and decorations including the Meritorious
Service Medal (7 awards), the Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Army
Achievement Medal (2 awards), the Army Expeditionary Medal, and the NATO Service
Medal. He has also earned the Army Staff Identification Badge Air and the Air Assault
Badge. LTC McGhee is an active member of Houston's Second Baptist Church, a Life
Member of the National Eagle Scouts Association, an Honorary Kentucky Colonel, and a
member of several Veterans Organizations. In 2008, LTC McGhee was awarded the US
Army Cadet Command Gold Instructor Award.
LTC McGhee is married to the former Karen Arbuckle of Beaumont, Texas. Cornell and
Karen are the proud parents of two sons; both graduated as National Merit Scholars from
HISD’s High School for Performing and Visual Arts. Their oldest son is a Magna Cum
Laude graduate of the University of North Texas. Their youngest son is a sophomore at
the University of Houston.
| The Director, JROTC Programs oversees the operation of the department, consisting of the headquarters, 25 high school programs (21 Army, 3 Navy, 1 Air Force) and 6 middle school programs. LTC McGhee is responsible for monitoring the military aspects of the program involving 72 retired military instructors who train over 4,000 cadets, coach various JROTC teams, mentor college bound cadets, raise funds, and support over 1,500 school and community activities annually. |
LTC (Ret) Cornell T. McGhee
Director of HISD JROTC Programs