Fellowship Faculty
1/20/2026 2:25:00 PM | General
LIEUTENANT COLONEL BRANDON MORGAN
Lieutenant Colonel Morgan is the Program Director, USAF Physical Therapy Operational Readiness Fellowship, Special Warfare Training Wing, Operating Location F, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. Lt Col Morgan leads ten full-time and adjunct faculty members, providing advanced education and training to Air Force Active-Duty Physical Therapists in preparation for embedded assignments within operational units across the Air Force. The Fellowship graduates three to six personnel annually and has placed 21 graduates into SW positions. Lt Col Morgan also serves as the Force Development Chair (P7), advising the Physical Therapy Consultant to the Surgeon General on Air Force Physical Therapy Education and Training, Deployment Readiness, Officer Development, and Health Professions Educational Requirement programs.
Lt Col Morgan completed the Salt Lake Community College Plumbing Trade School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems from Utah State University and worked for several years as a partner in his father's plumbing company. He received his commission as Captain into the United States Air Force in May 2007 after receiving his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Creighton University. Lt Col Morgan attended Commissioned Officer Training in June 2007, where he earned recognition as an honor graduate, and reported to Keesler Air Force Base for his first duty station in July 2007. In 2014, he earned board certification in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and later that year, completed the Army-Baylor Doctor of Science Degree and Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and is now a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Lt Col Morgan is supported by his wife of 27 years, Amanda, and their four children: Zachary (26), Samantha (24), Ruben (17), and Bella (17).
Dr. Derek Vraa
PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, CSCS, CMTPT, FAAOMPT
Associate Professor
Dr. Vraa is a co-founder of the original USAF Tactical Sports and Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program where he serves as Senior Faculty, mentoring fellows and teaching didactic coursework. Prior to moving to Colorado, he spent over a decade treating complex pain patients in private practice. He has lectured and taught at a number of physical therapy schools in the upper Midwest including creating orthopedic content for a candidacy DPT program.
Derek is a board certified Orthopedic and Sports clinical specialist, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, certified in dry-needling and completed his Fellowship training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy through Regis University in Denver, CO. He has spoken at CSM, AASPT, AAOMPT, the US Air Force Advanced Training Course, has 8 published abstracts, and authored a chapter in the Travell, Simons & Simons Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction 3rd and 4th edition textbook as well as the 2nd edition of Trigger Point Dry Needling: An Evidence and Clinical-Based Approach by Jan Dommerholt and Cesar Fernandez de las Penas. Additionally, Derek completed his DSc at Bellin College, has served as the AAOMPT Academic and Clinical Faculty Special Interest Group Vice-President, and a Program Reviewer for both ABPTRFE and ACOMPTE
and is currently the ACOMPTE Chair.
Lt Col Kyle East
PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT
Associate Professor
Lt Col Kyle East is currently the Flight Commander of Operating Location-Foxtrot (OL-F) at the United States Air Force Academy, Special Warfare Human Performance Squadron and faculty at the USAF Physical Therapy Operational Readiness Fellowship. Lt Col East directs three full-time faculty members and two enlisted members, in addition he coordinates with five adjunct faculty members. His current role provides advanced education and training to Air Force Active Duty Physical Therapist in preparation for embedded assignments within tactical operational units across the Air Force. Lt Col East also serves as the Special Warfare Functional Advisor to the Physical Therapy career field.
Lt Col East commissioned into the Air Force on 26 June 2006. After completing the Officer Training School, Lt Col East was assigned to the 48th Medical Operations Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, UK. While stationed at RAF Lakenheath, he deployed to Balad, Iraq in support of OIF. He was selected for a position to support NASA's Transoceanic Abort Landing Sites. Lt Col East separated from active duty in June 2010 and transferred to the AF reserves at Whiteman AFB, MO while attending graduate school. Upon graduation Lt Col East recommissioned to active duty in July 2015 and was assigned to the 86th Medical Operations Squadron, Ramstein AB, GE. Lt Col East was selected for the prestigious U.S. Army-Baylor Sports Fellowship at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. Currently, Lt Col East is the OL-F Flight Commander at the United States Air Force Academy.
Maj Nicole Saulovich-Rogan
PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Assistant Professor
Nicole Saulovich-Rogan accepted a direct commission into the Air Force in October 2019 after working two years in the civilian sector. She graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2014 with her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Biology, the California University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with her Masters in Exercise Science and Health Promotions, and then the University of Southern California with her Doctorate in Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy in 2019. Nicole then completed her Therapeutic Pain Specialist and Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist Certification. She was stationed at Nellis AFB, NV then took Flight Command at Kunsan AB, South Korea. After, she was stationed at the USAF Academy and completed a deployment to Saudi Arabia during this time. Upon returning, she started in the USAF Operational Readiness Fellowship and graduated with her FAAOMPT in November 2025. She will remain on as Faculty.
Maj Saulovich-Rogan is married to Maj Alexander Rogan, current Medical Service Core Officer, and they have three beautiful doggies: Zeus, Oden, and Apollo.
Lieutenant Colonel Morgan is the Program Director, USAF Physical Therapy Operational Readiness Fellowship, Special Warfare Training Wing, Operating Location F, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. Lt Col Morgan leads ten full-time and adjunct faculty members, providing advanced education and training to Air Force Active-Duty Physical Therapists in preparation for embedded assignments within operational units across the Air Force. The Fellowship graduates three to six personnel annually and has placed 21 graduates into SW positions. Lt Col Morgan also serves as the Force Development Chair (P7), advising the Physical Therapy Consultant to the Surgeon General on Air Force Physical Therapy Education and Training, Deployment Readiness, Officer Development, and Health Professions Educational Requirement programs.
Lt Col Morgan completed the Salt Lake Community College Plumbing Trade School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems from Utah State University and worked for several years as a partner in his father's plumbing company. He received his commission as Captain into the United States Air Force in May 2007 after receiving his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Creighton University. Lt Col Morgan attended Commissioned Officer Training in June 2007, where he earned recognition as an honor graduate, and reported to Keesler Air Force Base for his first duty station in July 2007. In 2014, he earned board certification in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and later that year, completed the Army-Baylor Doctor of Science Degree and Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and is now a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Lt Col Morgan is supported by his wife of 27 years, Amanda, and their four children: Zachary (26), Samantha (24), Ruben (17), and Bella (17).
Dr. Derek Vraa
PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, CSCS, CMTPT, FAAOMPT
Associate Professor
Dr. Vraa is a co-founder of the original USAF Tactical Sports and Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program where he serves as Senior Faculty, mentoring fellows and teaching didactic coursework. Prior to moving to Colorado, he spent over a decade treating complex pain patients in private practice. He has lectured and taught at a number of physical therapy schools in the upper Midwest including creating orthopedic content for a candidacy DPT program.
Derek is a board certified Orthopedic and Sports clinical specialist, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, certified in dry-needling and completed his Fellowship training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy through Regis University in Denver, CO. He has spoken at CSM, AASPT, AAOMPT, the US Air Force Advanced Training Course, has 8 published abstracts, and authored a chapter in the Travell, Simons & Simons Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction 3rd and 4th edition textbook as well as the 2nd edition of Trigger Point Dry Needling: An Evidence and Clinical-Based Approach by Jan Dommerholt and Cesar Fernandez de las Penas. Additionally, Derek completed his DSc at Bellin College, has served as the AAOMPT Academic and Clinical Faculty Special Interest Group Vice-President, and a Program Reviewer for both ABPTRFE and ACOMPTE
and is currently the ACOMPTE Chair.
Lt Col Kyle East
PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT
Associate Professor
Lt Col Kyle East is currently the Flight Commander of Operating Location-Foxtrot (OL-F) at the United States Air Force Academy, Special Warfare Human Performance Squadron and faculty at the USAF Physical Therapy Operational Readiness Fellowship. Lt Col East directs three full-time faculty members and two enlisted members, in addition he coordinates with five adjunct faculty members. His current role provides advanced education and training to Air Force Active Duty Physical Therapist in preparation for embedded assignments within tactical operational units across the Air Force. Lt Col East also serves as the Special Warfare Functional Advisor to the Physical Therapy career field.
Lt Col East commissioned into the Air Force on 26 June 2006. After completing the Officer Training School, Lt Col East was assigned to the 48th Medical Operations Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, UK. While stationed at RAF Lakenheath, he deployed to Balad, Iraq in support of OIF. He was selected for a position to support NASA's Transoceanic Abort Landing Sites. Lt Col East separated from active duty in June 2010 and transferred to the AF reserves at Whiteman AFB, MO while attending graduate school. Upon graduation Lt Col East recommissioned to active duty in July 2015 and was assigned to the 86th Medical Operations Squadron, Ramstein AB, GE. Lt Col East was selected for the prestigious U.S. Army-Baylor Sports Fellowship at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. Currently, Lt Col East is the OL-F Flight Commander at the United States Air Force Academy.
Maj Nicole Saulovich-Rogan
PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Assistant Professor
Nicole Saulovich-Rogan accepted a direct commission into the Air Force in October 2019 after working two years in the civilian sector. She graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2014 with her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Biology, the California University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with her Masters in Exercise Science and Health Promotions, and then the University of Southern California with her Doctorate in Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy in 2019. Nicole then completed her Therapeutic Pain Specialist and Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist Certification. She was stationed at Nellis AFB, NV then took Flight Command at Kunsan AB, South Korea. After, she was stationed at the USAF Academy and completed a deployment to Saudi Arabia during this time. Upon returning, she started in the USAF Operational Readiness Fellowship and graduated with her FAAOMPT in November 2025. She will remain on as Faculty.
Maj Saulovich-Rogan is married to Maj Alexander Rogan, current Medical Service Core Officer, and they have three beautiful doggies: Zeus, Oden, and Apollo.
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