In observance of Veterans Day, Nebraska Today reached out for a question and answer session with commanders of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s ROTC program. Here, you can learn more about Capt. Mark Lakamp, commanding officer of the Navy ROTC program.

Learn more about the Air Force ROTC’s Lt. Col. C. J. Zaworski here, and the Army ROTC’s Capt. Sandra Chavez here.

Capt. Mark Lakamp is in his second year on campus, having reported as commanding officer of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Navy ROTC cadre in July 2018. He has served in the Navy for 27 years.

Lakamp was commissioned in May 1992 through the University of Illinoi’s Navy ROTC program. His military specialty is surface warfare officer and he has served at sea on various destroyers, frigates, cruisers and afloat staff.

Lakamp’s key assignments include commanding officer of the USS McClusky, a Perry-class frigate, home-ported in San Diego; and Naval Station Everett, a Navy homeport for six guided missle destroyers in Everett, Washington.

He earned a master’s degree in national security affairs from the Naval Post Graduate School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois. This is his second tour of duty in Nebraska, having previously held a joint service station at U.S. Strategic Command at Offut Air Force Base.

Lakamp is married with four children, a daughter and three sons.

Why did you opt for military service?

During high school, I decided I wanted to serve my country in one of the armed services, but wasn’t sure which one. This probably sound kind of silly, but as I was researching the various options when the movie “Top Gun” came out. I instantly was hooked on the Navy. Although, in college I decided to become a surface warfare officer instead of a naval aviator, that movie is really the reason I decided to join the Navy instead of the other services.

Why are you passionate about helping educate the next generation of military leaders?

I have been blessed to have received quality education, both academic and professional, through the Navy. I also remember my time in NROTC as a midshipman and looking up to the staff at the University of Illinois. When it came time decide what assignment to request for my final tour of duty, coming back to a NROTC unit to help train and educate the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps Officers just seemed to naturally fit what I was looking for in a “Twilight Tour.”

Why are you excited to add the University of Nebraska to your military service record?

Naturally, the Navy is a very “coastal focused” organization. If you look at where most of our officers either come from, or are trained and educated, the East and West coasts play heavily into this. While I love the sea and all of positive things the coasts have to offer, the fact that our midshipman are also able to experience and bring some “heartland,” Midwestern experience into the Navy and Marine Corps is very important to the organization as a whole.

Coming here, I knew University of Nebraska is an outstanding educational institution. My time here has only strengthened my view of that.

Being able to interact on a daily basis with the outstanding faculty and staff here along with the talented students is something I never would have been able to experience in a “normal” tour of duty.