Officers

Colonel Ronald W. Barnes, Commanding Officer

Colonel Barnes enlisted with the Pawtuxet Rangers in 1987. He started off as a drummer and has enjoyed playing in the Fife & Drum. He has previously held the positions of Artillery Officer and Executive Officer. He enjoys working in the armory and making educational presentations for the Company. Colonel Barnes is also currently the Commander of the Centennial Legion of Historic Military Commands. He is a recipient of the Honorable Order of St. Barbara and the Rhode Island Meritorious Service Award. Colonel Barnes is a Life Member of the Company.

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Rowell, Executive Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Rowell, driven by an interest in local history and the Rangers, enlisted in 2010. Starting as a private, he has risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and now serves as the Company’s Executive Officer after a stint as Adjutant. While he works with the musket line, artillery and color guard he has a particular interest in helping to maintain our historic armory.

Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Gilbert, Adjutant

Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert enlisted in 1988 as a musket man, was promoted to Corporal as Company Clerk and then to Sergeant. He was elected as Armory Security Officer, served as Colors Officer, Adjutant, Executive Officer and has returned to the Adjutant position. He had served as company clerk on and off (mostly on) since 1989. He has served all positions on the artillery and is qualified as a Gun Captain. He is also very involved with the encampments. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert is a Life Member of the Company.

Major Foggo enlisted with the Pawtuxet Rangers in July 2002.  With her love for colonial history, and to fulfill a longtime desire, this educator decided to become an active member.  For many years she was in the Color Guard and also served as the Grant Coordinator.  Major Foggo was instrumental in securing the funds necessary to refurbish our Armory Hall building to authentic specifications.  She enjoys wearing the regimental colors but also numerous other outfits as well; and interacting with the public about customs and matters of the period.  In May 2021 she was elected as Finance Officer.  Other accomplishments include being named Rhode Island History Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016, a docent for the Rhode Island Historical Society and Governor Stephen Hopkins House, and her work nationally with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the National Geographic Society to name a few.

Lieutenant Susan O’Hara, Communications Officer

Lieutenant O’Hara enlisted in the Rangers in 2012 at the urging of her three children, who were involved in the Fife & Drum and Color Guard. She learned to play the fife, and now enjoys the broad variety of events and community service the Rangers participate in. She loves the music, the history, and the people she gets to meet and work with. As a bonus, her husband had been a Ranger when he was young, and he reenlisted as a drummer. It has been a great family activity. She has served as Company Clerk, and is currently serving as Communications Officer.

Captain Meg Archer, Colors Officer

Captain Archer has been with the Rangers for five years. She has served as Colors Sergeant and recently was commissioned to Colors Officer. She grew up watching the Gaspee Days parade, which she hasn’t missed once in 23 years. Watching the Rangers lead the parade all of those years is what inspired her to join the group.

Captain Ron Niksa, Armory Security Officer

Captain Niksa is very interested in local history and to make sure newer and next generations remember this very important history. Lt. Niksa enlisted in 2015 and started as a private and has moved up to the rank of Lieutenant and at this time serves as the Company’s Armory Security Officer. He also has duties in the Color Guard, which was his desire when he enlisted. Also he has interest in maintaining the Armory and to make it safe and secure .

 

Lieutenant Rachel Sczurek, Supply Officer

LT Sczurek’s bio will be posted shortly.

 

 

 

 

Major Linda Deming, Commanding Officer, Fife & Drum

Major Deming joined the Pawtuxet Rangers Fife and Drum Corps in 1972 as a fifer when the Gaspee Days Committee formed a fife and drum Corps and reactivated the Pawtuxet Rangers Charter. She has been an active member of the fife and drum corps since. Under her leadership the fife and drum corps has performed at Colonial Williamsburg and Old Sturbridge Village among numerous ceremonies, parades and musters. She enjoys helping to recruit new members and making music with her fellow musicians. Major Deming is a Life Member of the Company.

Major Larry Perez, Executive Officer, Fife & Drum

Major Perez enlisted with the Pawtuxet Rangers Fife & Drum Corps in 2003 after being encouraged to do so by his close friends/neighbors, also members of the Corps. Having relocated to RI in 1999, he was looking for a community organization to join. He had been to several Gaspee Days Parades, where he saw a Fife & Drum Corps for the first time. He was very excited to find the Rangers’ Fife & Drum Corps and be able to rekindle his love of playing an instrument. He was elected Executive Officer of the Corps when Major Deming took over as the Commanding Officer. He enjoys meeting weekly with the members of varying ages to play music and helping keep the history of our country alive.

Lieutenant Colonel John Currier, Liaison, USFAA

Lieutenant Colonel Currier enlisted as a private in 1993. He was elected Adjutant in 1994. While serving as Adjutant he also served at various times as Operations Officer and Artillery Officer. In 2003 he was appointed Education Officer. Ltc Currier was elected Executive Officer in 2004 and served as Acting Surgeon from 1995 – 2015. Ltc Currier is a Life Member of the Company.

Major James Collinson, Liaison, Armory
Picture Not Available – Life Member of the Company.