Faculty and CLA Profiles

Michael R. Pemberton

Science Department Chair

Michael Pemberton is marking his 25th academic year at Missouri Military Academy. He has an A.S. in biological sciences, a B.A. in zoology and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction. Winner of the 2021 Abbott-Albright Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, he currently teaches Biology I, Biology II and Environmental Science. He enjoys tennis, reading and spending time with family.

How is the Academy different from other educational environments? MMA is different because we provide a 360-degree educational program — academics, leadership, service and character education. We want the cadets to make the most of their opportunities and have great experiences in a structured environment.

What do you appreciate most about the MMA Corps of Cadets? The MMA corps is a brotherhood of cadets committed to looking like soldiers, studying like scholars and acting like gentlemen. I appreciate their hard work and commitment to each other and the MMA community. What do you hope every MMA student learns during their time here? I hope the cadets learn to think for themselves during their time at MMA. I want all of the cadets to learn how to think, not what to think.

What are you reading right now? The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson (recently recommended by one of our MMA parents)

Favorite quote? “Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today.” — Lorenzo Snow, fifth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Doug Wright

Senior Company Leadership Advisor

A former deputy sheriff, Doug Wright has worked at Missouri Military Academy for four years, providing a compassionate role model and authority figure to cadets. He uses his law enforcement background as a foundation to build upon the structured yet caring environment of MMA. Wright enjoys spending time with family, video games, paintball and airsoft, camping, hiking and spelunking.

How would you describe what you do at MMA? What do you think is the most important part of your role? I help guide cadets through daily decisions — anything from how to properly wear their uniforms to holding them accountable for academic decisions. I’m always there for them when they need a voice of encouragement. I care for cadets as if they were my own. The cadets are why I do what I do. I give them my care and respect, and they return the favor by becoming successful young men of exceptional character. The most important part of what I do is ensuring the cadets obtain success in everything they do. What do you wish all parents knew about life in the barracks for cadets? Parents need to understand that trusting the MMA system is the most important thing they can do, aside from working alongside the CLAs.

Favorite podcast? My favorite podcast is Unashamed with Phil & Jase Robertson.

Favorite place you’ve ever visited? The Smoky Mountains in Tennessee is my absolute favorite place to spend time.

Dream trip you want to take? My dream trip would be visiting the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

Most people don’t know that I … … homeschool my son before coming into work.