Secretary of Air Force addresses graduates at commencement ceremony

The Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management awarded 241 master’s and doctorate degrees March 22 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

This graduating class includes 208 Air Force officers, three Air Force NCOs, 10 Army officers, three Marine Corps officers and 13 civilians. The school also had three international students from Argentina and the Republic of Korea.

Of the total graduated, the Graduate School awarded 235 master’s degrees and six doctorate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math fields. One graduate received dual degrees. In addition, five master’s and 12 doctoral alumni who graduated earlier in the academic year returned to participate in the ceremony.

The guest speaker for the graduation ceremonies was Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson.

“The United States Air Force relies on the most advanced technology to defend our nation and project power in the air and space around the globe,” Wilson said, addressing the graduates. “We are going to lean hard on you as the next generation of scientists and engineers in air and space. So choose to ask why, choose to innovate and choose to build strong relationships throughout your professional lives. Our nation needs you desperately and our future generations are counting on you.”

AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management is a research–based institution offering graduate programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in engineering, applied science and selected areas of management. The mission is to provide high-quality graduate education programs and engage in research activities that enable the Air Force to maintain its scientific and technological dominance.

This year marks AFIT’s 99th anniversary. AFIT first granted accredited resident degrees in 1955 and since then more than 19,550 master’s and 835 doctoral degrees have been awarded.

During an awards ceremony earlier in the day at AFIT, some students were presented awards for their exemplary performance during their graduate studies. Those awards presented were:

• Capt. Steven M. Beyer from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department was presented the Chancellor’s Award for demonstrating the most exceptional individual master’s thesis research.

• Capt. Daniel J. Broyles from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department received the Mervin E. Gross Award for his exceptional academic achievement and high qualities of character, initiative and leadership. The award is named in honor of Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross, first commandant of the institute.

• Capt. Martin Span III from the Systems Engineering and Management Department received the Louis F. Polk Award. The winner of this award exhibited the highest standards of academic and professional accomplishment and through their research made a significant contribution toward strengthening the nation’s industrial defense base.

• Maj. Steven M. Hoak, from the Engineering Physics Department received the Edwin E. Aldrin Sr. Award, presented for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program.

• Master Sgt. Benjamin D. Bobic from the Operational Sciences Department received the Secretary James G. Roche Award for demonstrating exceptional academic achievement through a combination of grade point average and outstanding research, as well as high qualities of character, initiative, leadership and service.

The following students have met all degree requirements and have been approved for the designated degree (in bold):

* Distinguished graduate

^ Graduated earlier in the academic year and returned to participate in the ceremony

Doctor of Philosophy

Christopher W. Badenhop^

Maj. Jarred L. Burley^

Maj. Daniel J. Casey

Capt. Jonathon R. Climer^

Ricardo Davila

Lt. Col. Armando DeLeon Jr.

Ben Eshel^

Zachary C. Little

Capt. Gordon E. Lott^

Capt. Carlos R. Garcia

James S. Okolica^

Maj. Matthew D. Roberts^

Lt. Col. James M. Sattler^

Lt. Col. John E. Stubbs^

Noah R. Van Zandt^

Frederick C. Webber^

Maj. Pamela L. Wheeler^

Andrew J. Zakrajsek

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering

2nd Lt. Joshua-Edward C. Beardsley III

Capt. Anthony A. Castello

Capt. Dayle L. Chang

2nd Lt. Kevin J. DeMarco

Capt. Jeffrey A. DesRoches

2nd Lt. Christopher J. Ditter

Capt. Andrew D. Durkee

2nd Lt. Jacob P. Fischer*

Maj. Michael Fritts

Maj. Michael J. Harris, U.S. Marine Corps

2nd Lt. Dylan N. Hope

2nd Lt. Riley Huff

Capt. Brian G. Kroeger

Capt. Tyler S. Levy

Capt. Steven W. M. Long

2nd Lt. Nicholas J. Marco

2nd Lt. Savannah N. Minor

2nd Lt. Kyle D. Moore

Capt. Lee R. Morris

Capt. Aadit A. Patel

Charles L. Shuff

Capt. James G. Tewaheftewa

2nd Lt. Michael C. Waters

Capt. Lee F. Wise

Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering

2nd Lt. Jacob A. Dahlke

Mark C. Duane

2nd Lt. Jeremiah R. Hoffman*

2nd Lt. Justin D. Katzovitz

2nd Lt. Robert B. LaRue

Kan Liu

Capt. Rodrigo I. Ocampo

2nd Lt. Karson A. Roberts

Capt. Christopher C. Rocker

Benjamin N. Sargeant

2nd Lt. Braeden A. Sheets

Capt. David F. Spendel

Capt. Perry K. VanZandt

Capt. Caleb J. Werner

Capt. Samuel D. Wright

Master of Science in Materials Science

Capt. Matthew T. LeSaint^

Capt. Glen E. Pry III*

Capt. Steffan M. L. Wilcox

Master of Science in Space Systems

Maj. Taehoi Koo, Republic of Korea

Capt. Isaac M. Nacita*

Capt. Von Drake L. Ramos

Capt. Daniel A. Timme (Dual Degree)

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

Capt. Karl C. Bentjen

Capt. Steven M. Beyer*

Capt. Brandon P. Froberg

Capt. Robert P. Loibl Jr.

Master of Science in Computer Science

Capt. Sarah J. Bolton

2nd Lt. Luke M. Bradford

Capt. Daniel D. Hart

2nd Lt. Min Woo Kang

2nd Lt. Samuel A. Mayer

2nd Lt. Zachary C. Paulson

Capt. Jonathan B. Roeber

Capt. Kenneth R. Sample

Capt. Daniel J. Schelkoph

2nd Lt. Nicholas J. Seydel

Master of Science in Cyber Operations

Capt. Markus M. Borneman

Capt. Mason R. Bruza

2nd Lt. Daniel J. Celebucki

Jacob W. Connors

Capt. Michael H. Dunn

Capt. Jeffrey J. T. Guion

2nd Lt. Blaine M. Jeffries

Capt. Matthew D. Kanning

Capt. Bradford E. Law*

2nd Lt. Tiffany M. Phan

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

1st Lt. Matthew N. Alombro

Capt. Roger S. Anderson

2nd Lt. Taylor B. Bodin*

Capt. Daniel J. Broyles*

Capt. Alexander W. Duchane

Capt. Kolby H. Elliott

Capt. Joseph A. Ellis

Capt. Roderick D. Ervin

Capt. Antwon R. Gallagher

2nd Lt. Ian R. Goodbody

Capt. Robert E. Irby, IV

Capt. Patrick R. Kennedy

Capt. Daniel K. Koch

Capt. Lawrence J. Lee

Capt. Michael P. Malec

Capt. Tyler M. Moore

Capt. Lauren A. Mount

Capt. Duy Kien Nguyen

2nd Lt. Seeley M. Pentecost*

Capt. Christian K. Peters

2nd Lt. Bertus A. Shelters

Capt. Chad M. Sobota

Maj. Thomas Stuart

Evan V. Swihart

Capt. Joseph C. Tompkins

Capt. Kullen W. Waggoner

Capt. John Willis

Capt. Clark L. Wolfe

Department of Engineering Physics

Master of Science in Applied Physics

Maj. Diana Cruz, U.S. Army

Capt. Carlos D. Diaz

Capt. Kalen L. Knippling

Capt. Cameron A. Merriman

2nd Lt. Richard D. Peterson

Capt. Christopher R. Pitkins

Maj. Nathan D. Smith

Master of Science in Atmospheric Sciences

Capt. Gabriel D. Donndelinger

Capt. Tania M. Garza

Capt. William J. Graff

Capt. Nancy M. Holden

1st Lt. Jeremy A. Mayo-Johnson

2nd Lt. Sarah A. Olsen

Capt. Matthew W. Perkins

Master of Science in Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction

Capt. Richard F. Daughtry III, U.S. Army

Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering

CPT. Peter D. Anderson, U.S. Army

Maj. Todd A. Bryant, U.S. Army

Capt. Zachary T. Condon

2nd Lt. Anita N. Dunsmore*

Maj. Steven M. Hoak, U.S. Army

2nd Lt. Robert J. Olesen*

Jay E. Ostler*

2nd Lt. Steven G. Sauer

Capt. Jason R. Stickney

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Master of Science in Applied Mathematics

Capt. Daniel E. Hill

2nd Lt. Andrew P. Lawrence

2nd Lt. Justin Ng

Department of Operational Sciences

Master of Science in Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Vice Commodoro Jose A. Alvarez*, Argentina

Capt. Rachael S. Beightel

Maj. Thomas S. Bihansky Jr.

Master Sgt. Benjamin D. Bobic

Capt. Dustin D. Bohall

Capt. Melvin K. Boothe

Capt. Samantha R. Bryan

Capt. Joshua P. Casey

Capt. Brandon M. Clements

Capt. Daniel S. Finney

1st Lt. Rachel E. Herald

Capt. Michael J. Hester*

Master Sgt. Theodore S. Holliger

Maj. Scott M. Kubalek

Capt. Steven T. Lane

Capt. Andrew J. Lankow*

Capt. Benjamin W. Leung

Capt. Michael D. Mauro

Master Sgt. Michael P. McLane

Capt. Casey L. Owens

Capt. Samuel H. Pang

Capt. Josiah J. Pratt

Capt. Francisco J. Rodriguez

Capt. Luis D. Rosado-Medina

Jessica A. Smith^

Capt. Jessica M. Thomas

Capt. Michael J. Weber

Capt. Peter J. Williams

Master of Science in Operations Research

Capt. Nolan R. Bet

1st Lt. Stephanie M. Boone

2nd Lt. Luke M. Brantley

Capt. Spencer A. Butt

Capt. Josh D. Deehr, U.S. Army

1st Lt. Jacob T. Elliott

Capt. Chelsea T. Froom

Capt. Sarah K. Furrer

Capt. James C. Gallagher*, U.S. Army

2nd Lt. Preston A. Green

2nd Lt. Jake Edward Johnson

2nd Lt. Anthony J. Kallhoff

2nd Lt. Ivan G. Keene*

2nd Lt. Jacob R. Lindell

1st Lt. Miguel J. Macias

1st Lt. Frances G. MacKinnon

Capt. Richard E. Mard, U.S. Army

2nd Lt. Lindsey N. McEvoy

Capt. Evan L. Munson, U.S. Army

2nd Lt. Sarah E. Neumann

Capt. Clifton M. Noble

Maj. Rachel C. Ramirez

Joseph E. Schoenbeck

1st Lt. William C. Sevier

Capt. Matthew T. Small

Capt. Jeffrey R. Smith Jr.

1st Lt. Alexander M. Trigo

Capt. Nicholas M. Uhorchak, U.S. Army

Maj. Kyle S. Wilkinson*

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

Master of Engineering in Applied Systems Engineering

Capt. Steven P. Carpenter

Capt. Marie Gaudreault

Jacob Jackson

Capt. Montgomery B. Kirk IV^

Capt. Jordan Ziegler

Master of Science in Cost Analysis

Capt. Evan R. Boone

Capt. Kirsten Bunecke

Capt. Tarah E. Cotton

1st Lt. Bradley M. Duncan

Capt. James Ellis

1st Lt. Scott C. Hewitson

1st Lt. Chase M. Houser

1st Lt. Deborah B. Kim

Capt. Amanda L. McGowin

Capt. Raymond L. Mims II

1st Lt. Garrett B. O’Hanlon

Capt. James T. Okamoto*

1st Lt. Bryan J. Price

1st Lt. Shauna M. Young

Master of Science in Engineering Management

Capt. Joseph A. Applebee

Maj. William E. Bentley

Capt. Bianca E. Boney

Capt. Corey J. Booker

Capt. Jared R. Breuker

Capt. Joshua C. Chambers-Mills

Capt. Samuel M. Clark

Capt. Andrew W. Davenport

Capt. Paul P. Dennison

Capt. Christopher A.J. Edlund

Capt. Jared R. Erickson

Capt. Justin M. Iungerich

Capt. Brendan J. Maestas*

2nd Lt. John P. McCrea

Capt. Robert J. McGaha

Capt. Philip A. Ramsey*

Capt. Sean M. Stuntz

Capt. Jesse A. Trawick

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering & Science

Capt. Sean M. Dyson

Capt. Thomas G. Hornstein, U.S. Marine Corps

Capt. Joseph B. Kunicki, U.S. Marine Corps

Capt. Ariel L. Waiters

Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene

Michelle L. Page^

Maj. Keith A. Sanders*

Master of Science in Systems Engineering

Capt. Timothy J. Allen

2nd Lt. Walid Basraoui

Capt. Mark G. Bateman Jr.

Capt. Joe R. Berry

2nd Lt. David J. Buehler

Capt. Daniel Cipera

Capt. Matthew W. Davis

Maj. Michael S. Felten

Capt. Michael M. Kaniut

Austin M. Klaus

Maj. Kijun Lee, Republic of Korea

Capt. Martin Span III*

Capt. Daniel A. Timme (Dual Degree)

Capt. Austin A. Troya

Michael J. Walters^

About the Author