Mike began his association with the Troopers in 1988 at age 17, marching with the Troopers for five seasons as a member of the horn line. During his time as a marching member, Mike received the Outstanding Member Award and the Director’s Award. He also served as Corps Commander during his age-out year in 1992. Mike was part of the Troopers' administration team from 1996 to 1998, and was given the Traute Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Award in 1997. He was appointed CEO of the Troopers in the fall of 2005. In 2015, Mike was elected to the Troopers Hall of Fame and received the Drum Corps International Volunteer of the Year Award. Mike currently serves as the Treasurer of the Wyoming All-State Marching Band Board of Directors.

Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Wyoming. He lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with his wife Michelle, also a Troopers alum, and his two daughters. He is vice president and owner of Arrow Moving & Storage Co. Inc.

Michael was a member of the Troopers from 2000 through 2004 where he performed on soprano prior to being named Drum Major in 2003.

During the 2006/2007 season, Michael produced the award-winning documentary film "America's Core" showcasing the passionate return of the Troopers following their inactive year.

He returned in 2009, producing the follow up film, "Hell Bent for Victory" which chronicled the corps' epic return to DCI finals.

From 2009 to 2016, Michael worked in the television and film industry, earning multiple Telly awards and a regional Emmy Award.

In 2016, Michael, along with his family, moved to Casper, WY to take on the role as the Troopers Marketing Director. While in this role, he helped coordinate events like the 60th anniversary reunion with the alumni association, manage the Rocky Mountain Rivalry fundraising campaigns, and build community relationships with organizations like VIBES Fine and Performing Arts.

During the challenging year of 2020, Michael took on the technology efforts to completely digitize the entire Troopers operation, converting it into an online format, introducing new technologies to the organization, creating virtual performance opportunities, and establishing virtual platforms for our members and staff to continue the Troopers mission during the pandemic.

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Michael became Corps Director in 2021, leading the drum corps through the pandemic era, and back to the performance field. In 2022, Michael helped lead the Troopers back to the Top 12 for the first time in thirteen years and oversaw the continued advancement into the Top 10 in 2023.

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In the fall of 2023, Michael accepted the position of Executive Director. In 2024, he was inducted into the Troopers Hall of Fame.

Michael lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife Elizabeth, and their two daughters, Audrey and Livie. Together they have a dog and two cats.

Mary Duerkop is currently the Corps Director for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.  

Before becoming the Corps Director, Mary was a Junior High and High School Band Director with Nixa Public Schools for 6 years.  Mary was also a K-5 General Music teacher for 4 years prior to becoming a band director.  In 2013 she graduated with her Bachelors of Arts in Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas.  Mary’s previous drum corps experience was with The Academy from 2007 - 2009.  She also had the opportunity to travel to Japan with the production “Odyssey” in 2008.  Mary won an audition for Odyssey, which was an all-female cast that toured Japan, while performing 40+ shows over the course of 2 months.  Mary was a feature tuba performer in the 2 hour, on-stage show that utilized brass, percussion and guard.  

After aging out from The Academy, Mary began working with the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps.  She worked with the Mandarins from 2010 - 2012 and 2015 - 2020 as a visual and brass instructor.  In 2021 Mary was hired as the Brass Caption Head for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.  In 2022 she helped the Troopers in their first return to finals since 2009.  During the 2023 season Mary continued her work as Brass Caption Head and also took on the Staff Coordinator position.  In the 2023 season Mary, and her team, made history by keeping the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps in finals for the first time in 36 years.  In 2024 Mary was named the Corps Director.  Fresh off her first year of being a Corps Director for the Troopers she is excited to continue serving in the Corps Director role for the 2025 season.  Mary currently lives in Casper, WY and is loving the community and everything Casper has to offer.  

Mat Krum is a seasoned veteran of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, having been a member from 1988-1993 and serving as Drum Major for his last two seasons. After aging out of the corps, Mat continued to work with the Troopers, eventually being named Corps Director in 1996.

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During his time as Corps Director, Mat helped guide the Troopers through some challenging financial years and played a key role in maintaining the corps' high level of excellence. In 2005, he stepped down as Corps Director and has been the Bingo/Business Manager ever since, making him the longest serving employee in Troopers history.

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Mat's dedication and contributions to the Troopers have not gone unnoticed, as he was inducted into the Troopers Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding service to the corps. His leadership and guidance have been invaluable to the Troopers, and he continues to play a vital role in the success of the organization.

Amy Roberts Clark comes to the Troopers by way of her love of drum corps, her experience in public relations/marketing and her interest in combining the two.

Roberts holds a BS in Communications focused on Public Relations and Journalism as well as a Master’s in Public Administration concentrated in Marketing for not-for-profits. She has 25+ years of PR, journalism, photography, publication production, event planning and campaign management experience. She produced 80+ issues of a national magazine, published her first book in 2021, and has had articles in the Los Angeles Times, the Austin American Statesman, the Houston Chronicle and more.

Amy’s favorite work has been event planning, fundraising, promotion and international travel coordination for the DeKalb High School Marching Barbs. Other non-profit marketing and public relations clients include the American Shetland Pony Club, the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, DeKalb County 4-H Foundation, the Private Industry Council of Northern Illinois and others.

Amy’s love for the marching arts began as a member of a competitive high school marching band. Her love of public relations grew from the attention that band garnered in local, state and national media on their trip to the Tournament of Roses Parade. She encouraged her children to pursue marching music performance. Daughter Hannah is a 2021 DCI age out, whose 7 years marching included a year in the Troopers’ color guard.

A native of Illinois, Amy and her husband now live in Arvada, CO. Hannah is in college in Iowa where she is color guard coordinator for a local high school. Daughter Maddie studies at Colorado State University and pursues the family’s other interest, showing small equine at the national level.

When not following winter indoor, DCI and fall high school marching band, Amy enjoys horse shows, reading, crafting and spending time with family and friends.

Amy currently serves as Development Director for the Troopers and has been with the organization since the 2022 season.

Benjamin Corneliusen is a multi-instrumentalist and educator in Northern Colorado.  He joined the faculty at Eaton High School as the Director of Bands in 2022.  He holds a degree in Music Education (summa cum laude) from the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied under the likes of Kenneth Singleton, Dick Mayne, Dana Landry, Erik Applegate, Jim White, Drew Zaremba, Kenyon Brenner, and Camille Thurman.  Benjamin grew up in Colorado Springs, CO and has worked with several award-winning groups & ensembles including UNC's Jazz Lab I, Funk & Soul Lab, Academy Jazz Ensemble, Summit Jazz Ensemble, the Larimer Chorale, and The Cuddies.  As a clinician, he's led groups to perform at the Colorado Music Educator's Association State Conference, the UNC / Greeley Jazz Festival, and has worked with bands all over northern Colorado.  He also teaches a private saxophone studio, in which many of his students have been accepted into honor bands all over the state.  When not performing or teaching, Benjamin loves to read, hike, play chess, and hang out with his wife, Shaina.  His passion for music education has turned into a stimulating and fulfilling career, and he could not imagine doing anything else.

Originally from Lubbock, TX,  Scott has been part of the Troopers since 1990.  He marched as a contra from 90-93, while also severing as a corps commander in 1993.  After Aging out, he was hired to be a low brass tech and then became Director of Operations for the first of 3 times.  In mid-1995, Scott moved back to Lubbock, and with the help of his soon to be wife Marie Long (also marched 91-95), he founded and he directed the Legend of Texas Drum and Bugle Corps 1997-2001.

In 2001, Scott reunited with the Troopers as Director of Operations.  Scott became Corps Director for the Troopers in 2003-04.  In 2005, Scott oversaw the design, planning and building of the current Troopers Center.  In 2021, Scott was once again in the role of Director of Operations, while owning and running a charter bus company in Casper.  Scott was inducted into the Troopers Hall of Fame in 2022.

Scott resides in Casper with his wife Marie and his two children Miles and Ella.

Dajia Simmons is currently the Assistant Band Director at South Garland High School in Garland, Texas, where she teaches high school marching band and jazz band. 

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Prior to becoming a band director, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from East Texas Baptist University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2021. While at ETBU, she participated in the ETBU Jazz Band, ETBU Symphonic Band, and the Tiger Marching Band while also serving as the drum major from 2019 to 2021.

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She recently graduated with a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. While at UNCO, Dajia studied with Andrew Janak while also participating in the Lab III Jazz Band and in multiple combos.

Dajia's drum corps experience began in 2019 with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, where she marched baritone, earning the "Most Improved Brass Player" award. During her 2020-2021 seasons, she served as Assistant Drum Major, earning herself the Jim Jones Leadership Award from the Troopers. In 2022, she served as the low brass intern and returned in 2023 and 2024 as a euphonium tech.

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She is excited to join the administration team and looks forward to the 2025 season.

Karen is a longtime fan of Drum Corps and the marching arts. Her relationship with the Troopers started when her son marched in 2019 and she volunteered for 3 weeks, washing uniforms and working on the food truck. She continued working with the Troopers post COVID  every year since 2021, working in various capacities on the Health and Wellness team, and was inducted into the Troopers Hall of Fame in 2023.  She is looking forward to this new role and is hoping to boost the volunteer experience.

After a Trooper bus accident in 2011, Jen created the first social media page to connect parents with key tour information. This page transitioned into the Troopers Fan Page and she began the Trooparents page for current member parents to bond, get information from staff regarding the corps and tour. Jen, who was also the recipient of the 2017 Volunteer of the Year award for her efforts, has continued to manage both The Troopers Fan page and The Trooparents page for over a decade and has helped countless parents feel at ease while their kids are off marching as members of the Long Blue Line.

Kayla was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She started her marching journey at Westmoore High School in 2016. She has since marched with Zephyrus (Drum Corps in 2019 and Winter Guard 2021-2025), the Madison Scouts (2020-2022), and, most recently, she aged out with the Troopers (2024).  Kayla was the color guard director for Edmond North High School (2021-2024) and Westmoore High School (2020-2021). She is currently studying Forensic Science and Psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Kayla cannot wait to be back and help the Troopers have another amazing season!

Joining the Troopers for the 2025 season this year is Mr. Jesse Aguilar. Jesse Aguilar is the Associate Director of Bands at Frankford Middle School in Plano ISD.  He graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a Bachelor of Music Education, magna cum laude in the Spring of 2023. During his time in college, he took part of Drum Corps International, marching with the Guardians in 2019, Blue Knights in 2020 & 2021 and Aged out with Troopers in 2022 as an Audio Engineer Intern. Later on, he served as a Low Brass Technician for the Guardians in 2024. He has been on staff as a Marching Band Technician with multiple high schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

When Jesse Aguilar is not working, he can be found practicing meditation, going on walks at a nearby park and spending time with his family. He is incredibly excited to return to the Troopers in this new role and collaborate with other great staff for the 2025 season.

Carlos M. Alicea Quiñones is a 27-year-old music educator from Puerto Rico. He currently teaches music at an elementary school within the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Carlos holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and is pursuing his Master's Degree in the same field at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.

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He is the founder and director of Puerto Rico’s first winterguard, originally named “Puerto Rico Royalty” and now known as “Imperium Winterguard.” Under his leadership, the group has achieved remarkable milestones, including performances at CGN United in the Netherlands, WGI Sport of the Arts in Dayton, Ohio, and even for the President of the United States. This year marks the ensemble’s fifth anniversary. 

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Carlos currently serves as the color guard instructor for Banda SUM in Guayanilla, where he was formerly the drum major. He has been involved in the marching arts since 2018, both as a performer and educator. As a performer, he marched with Music City Drum Corps in 2018 and 2019. Since 2020, he has worked as a guard staff member in DCI, with groups such as the Madison Scouts, Southwind, and most recently, Music City, where he had his first experience as a volunteer last season.

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Carlos credits DCI with changing his life and continues to use his experiences to inspire others through the art of color guard. His work in the marching arts has opened doors for him to lead clinics across Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panamá, Mexico, and Costa Rica. He has also served as a judge at various events, including the “Festival de la Luz” in Costa Rica and the prestigious “Justas LAI,” a national collegiate guard competition in Puerto Rico. In June 2025, he will bring his expertise to Italy as a judge for an international band festival.

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Carlos is thrilled to be working with the Troopers this season and looks forward to contributing to the continued growth and excellence of the organization.

Michael is in his second year working with the Troopers. Follow his work @brunkosaurus

I’m a visual storyteller with a passion for videography, photography, and creativity. I combine my love for media with innovative ideas, working on diverse projects that make an impact. Follow his work at www.cameronelder.net 

Sam is a Troopers alum and in his second year working with the corps on the administration.