Retired Sgt. 1st Class Ashley Wolfe, an educator at Henderson County High School, and retired Col. Mike Stewart, an educator at John Hardin High School (Hardin County), were honored by the U.S. Army Cadet Command 7th Brigade as winners of its 2025 Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Instructor of the Year competition. Photo courtesy retired Col. Tim McDonald, state director of Army instruction, Kentucky Department of Education
(FRANKFORT, KY) – Two Kentucky educators were honored by the U.S. Army Cadet Command 7th Brigade as winners of its 2025 Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Instructor of the Year competition. The award recognizes outstanding leadership, mentorship and dedication within the JROTC program.
Retired Col. Mike Stewart, senior Army instructor at John Hardin High School (Hardin County) has been named the 7th Brigade’s Senior Army Instructor of the Year. Retired Sgt. 1st Class Ashley Wolfe, Army instructor at Henderson County High School, has been named the 7th Brigade’s Army Instructor of the Year.
Wolfe said receiving the 7th Brigade’s JROTC Army Instructor of the Year honor came as surprise. She said the most meaningful part of the job is witnessing her cadets’ long-term growth.
“I like to think I played a role in teaching them the leadership skills they apply and hone each year,” Wolfe said. “When those cadets go on and enlist then reach out and share their experiences with me, it’s an honor.”
Both instructors were selected after a rigorous evaluation process that assessed professional excellence, commitment to student development, community engagement and contributions to the success of their respective JROTC programs. The competition included more than 400 instructors from five states within the 7th Brigade’s area of responsibility, highlighting the exceptional caliber of educators and leaders serving in JROTC programs across the region.
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