Instructor Bios

Rick Higingbotham
Program Manager, Force Protection Program, Military Education Institute (MEI), and Florida Security Institute (FSI).
Military Experience: 30 years (25 U.S Navy - 5 U.S. Marine Corps)

Rick is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and Emergency Response Team/Military Police Academy located at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio , Texas . He served five years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman, and is a ground combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He also served in the Persian Gulf War in the Navy.

As a Naval Air crewman in fixed and rotary winged aircraft, Rick was stationed in various locations around the world. His last two tours in the Navy were as Command Master Chief of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Three and Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

Rick received his M.A. in Business and Organizational Security in July, 2004. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Southern Illinois University and has been with Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) since 2001.

Ed Clancy
Instructional Program Coordinator, MEI and FSI
Military Experience: 30 years (U.S. Coast Guard)

During his 11-years of enlisted service in the Quartermaster (navigation) rating Ed served on five vessels and advanced to Chief Petty Officer. After receiving a commission as a Warrant Officer in the Boatswain (seamanship) specialty, he sailed aboard four additional vessels, completed three tours as Shipyard Docking Pilot, and retired with over 30 years of active service.

During his previous sea-duty tours he participated in numerous law-enforcement boardings aboard foreign and domestic vessels on both the high-seas and in U.S. Territorial Waters to enforce international and U.S. laws. His final active duty assignment was a five-year tour as Chief, Security Police Department at the U.S. Coast Guard Shipyard in Baltimore , Maryland during which Ed gained invaluable ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security) Code practical experience. The shipyard is the Service's sole shipbuilding and major repair facility, is an essential part of the Coast Guard's core industrial base and fleet support operations, and operates on $60-million internal revenue annually.

As a current Instructional Program Coordinator for FSI he developed and received joint U.S. Maritime Administration/U.S. Coast Guard certified approval for seven new courses, and is currently developing several additional courses for similar certification. He maintains a license as Master of steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 gross registered tons (domestic tonnage), 3000 gross tons (ITC tonnage) upon oceans, Master of steam or motor vessels of any gross tons upon inland waters, and Second Mate of steam or motor vessels of any gross tons upon oceans.

Ed earned a Masters of Arts degree in Twentieth Century U.S. Diplomatic and Political History from Salisbury University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in U.S. History from the University of Maryland . He started at FCCJ in October, 2003 as Project Coordinator for Coast Guard Programs with the MEI.

George E. Correa
Military Vocational Training Specialist, Force Protection Program, MEI and FSI
Military Experience: 20 years (U.S. Navy)

During his 20-years of Naval service George served on two amphibious assault ships, three destroyers (as part of CTF138 USCOMSOLANT staff), and a 3-year tour at NAVSCIATTS in Rodman ,  Panama . George also served as a Spanish-speaking instructor and taught various combat craft courses to Central and South American Navies.

During his career he earned a Combat Action Ribbon for his involvement in OPERATION JUST CAUSE, and also earned a Master Training Specialist (MTS) certification. Other duty assignments in his career included one shore tour at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL, another tour with the Mine Counter Measures Minesweeping community in Ingleside, TX , and his last tour of duty at the Naval Marine Corps Reserve Center, Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

George expects to earn his Bachelor of Science in Business Management in the Summer of 2006. He has been with FCCJ since 2002, and is a lead instructor for various courses. He is also a certified instructor for Small Arms (FDLE), Baton, Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW), OC Pepper Spray, Taser , Unarmed Security Guard, and other certifications.

Pamela Scherer
Project Coordinator, Private Security Officer Program, MEI and FSI
Military Experience: 22 years (U.S. Navy)

Pamela attended a Physical Security and Law Enforcement Academy located at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio , Texas . Her career included a 3-year tour of duty in Sigonella , Sicily as a Military Law Enforcement Patrolman and Supervisor, and 3-years as a Recruit Company Commander Orlando, Florida. Pamela's last tour of duty was as an instructor at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

Pamela will earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in the Spring of 2006. She has been with FCCJ since 2002, and is a lead instructor for various courses. She is also a certified instructor for Small Arms (FDLE), Baton, OC Pepper Spray, Taser , Unarmed Security Guard, and other certifications.

Elliot (Pancho) Torres
Military Vocation Training Specialist, MEI and FSI
Military Experience: 23 years (U.S. Navy)

Elliot served the U.S. Navy as Chief Gunners Mate in Naval Special Warfare Coastal/ Riverine as a bilingual instructor, and as a weapons and Master Training specialist. He deployed several years in Central America, South America and the Caribbean basin and provided maintenance and tactics training to host nations.

Elliot is a federally certified Weapons of Mass Destruction and Bombing Incident Awareness Level Instructor and earned a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Metropolitan University after his separation from the U.S. Navy.

He has been with the College since January 2002, and is currently a Security Specialist Instructor in Navy Force Protection Programs.