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Like other National Special Activities, NESA's Cadre are among the most talented and dedicated professionals money can't buy.  But two things make staff members at NESA stand out.  First, is that they are all hand picked.  Quite a feat when you consider there are roughly 100 staff members selected per year.  The student to staff ratio ensures that quality will be the best service we deliver.  The second feature of NESA staff members is the coin you see above.  A numbered challenge coin is issued to staff members upon completion of their first tour with us.  Average tenure for NESA staff is four years at the schoolhouse and some members have been with us since the beginning.

The NESA program was started in 1996 in VA as the National Ground Search And Rescue School.  The first Activity Director was Bernie Harriman (RIWG). John Desmarais (HQ CAP) served as the Project Officer and Commandant.  The first Cadet Commander was Mike Bower (PAWG).

John Desmarais became the Activity Director in 1997 and his Deputy, Gary Brockman, (INWG) served as the Commandant.  CAWG's John Fox was the Cadet Commander.         

1998 marked the inception of the Mission Base Staff School and the Advanced GSAR program.  The schoolhouse had grown large enough that it was moved to Camp Atterbury, IN and was reconstituted as the National Emergency Services Academy.  John and Gary led the mission staff, Dave Rosatti (CTWG) was the Basic Commandant, Aaron Roy (TNWG) the Advanced Commandant and David Korzen (RIWG) the Cadet Commander. 

1999 proved to be the break out year for NESA.  John D and Gary returned as Academy Director and Deputy Director respectively, Bob Spencer (VAWG) became the Chief of Staff, Dave Rosatti returned to direct Basic GSAR and Kurt Bowden (NatCAP) served as Commandant of the Advanced School.  Pete Norris (ALWG) and Connie Carlson (UTWG) steered the Basic and Advanced Mission Base Staff Schools respectively.  The Cadet Commander was Stephen Grusendorf and the Squadron Commanders were Jason Dehner (INWG) and Brent Welch (OKWG).

2000 saw Dave Rosatti away from the schoolhouse for military service and the creation of the Mission Aircrew School.  Don Wyatt (OKWG) took over Basic GSAR, Joe Curry (IAWG) Advanced GSAR, and Brian Aguila (FLWG) took cadet command.  Elizabeth Massung (INWG) was the Advanced GSAR XO, Mike Dubois (SWR) and Rich Simerson (TXWG) were the MAS co-Commandants. 

2001 was the first year the senior cadre (Directors and Commandants) returned for all of the programs.  Elizabeth Massung (MIWG) was the Cadet Commander, Ed Gaston (ALWG) was the Advanced XO and the concept of Lead Training Advisors "TA's" was refined.  Mac Brice (CTWG) was the Lead TA for Basic GSAR and Michael Long (ALWG) was the Lead TA for Advanced.

2002 brought us new Basic GSAR Commandants, Greg Sykes (MOWG) and Jim Blessing (CTWG).  Joe Curry (now at HQ CAP) returned as the Advanced Commandant, Michael Long (ALWG) was once again the Lead TA.  Eddie Gaston moved up to cadet command, Megan McIntosh (NatCAP) was the Basic XO, and John Ryle (INWG) the Advanced XO.  Mike and Rich returned to MAS and Pete carried on the MBS while Connie supported the medical team.

2003 saw John D step away from directing the activity to become the Academy Provost.  Gary Brockman became the Director and Bob Spencer continued as Chief of Staff.  For the first time since 1997 the GSAR program was united under one Commandant, Michael Long.  Rodger Coale (CAWG) and John Borges (MAWG), both long time TAs in Advanced GSAR, stepped up to be the lead TAs in Basic and Advanced respectively.  John Ryle became the Cadet Commander, Nick Drake (CTWG) led the Advanced GSAR cadets, and Ed Gaston returned to the fold to offer his experiences to Basic GSAR.  Galen Hall (KYWG) took over MAS, John and Rich moved to the Staff School and John D's father, Jean (RIWG), became the MBS Commandant as Pete Norris departed for Japan in support of IACE.

2004 brought us updated curriculum and saw the creation of the Team Leader School.
Michael Long remains the GSAR Commandant, Jean Desmarais returned to the staff school for both weeks, and Mark Reeves (INWG) moved in to become the MAS Commandant.  As predicted, a single Cadet Commander was no longer needed.  Each school operates under its cadet XO and training staff, supervised by the Lead TA and responsible to the Commandant and the Academy Staff.  Colleen Desmond (SDWG) became the XO of Basic GSAR, Megan McIntosh returned to Camp Atterbury to be XO of the Advanced School, and Jeremy Joyce (CAWG) became the first XO of the Team Leader Course.