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AFIT graduates 234 masters and doctoral STEM students

  • Published
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering and Management awarded 234 advanced degrees at the National Museum of the United States Air Force March 21.

The graduating class included 203 Air Force officers, two Air Force non-commissioned officers, eight Army officers, two Marine Corps officers, and 15 civilians. The school also graduated three international students from Australia and Brazil. 

The Graduate School awarded 214 master’s degrees and 20 doctorate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math fields. One graduate received dual master’s degrees. 

AFIT’s Director and Chancellor, Dr. Todd Stewart, challenged the new alumni to use what they have learned to help solve some of the tough challenges facing the Air Force today.

“Your effectiveness in actually applying what you have learned will reflect on both you and on AFIT,” said Stewart. “I am confident that your AFIT graduate program has prepared you very well to make important contributions to our Air Force and its partners.”

Gen. David Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the USAF was the guest speaker for the graduation ceremonies.

Goldfein said the evening celebrated the newest graduates of the service’s epicenter of advanced technical education, who will carry the torch handed to them by the giants of AFIT’s storied history and long blue line.

“Joint warfighting excellence requires continued innovation with equal parts challenge and opportunity, and our challenge is figuring out which technology is the best fit,” said Goldfein. “To incubate the most promising innovations, fostering those ideas and integrating them for the best effect at the speed of relevance. So our nation is going to look to you as the thought leaders for us to prepare and help solve our nation’s toughest challenges.” 

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 school’s 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 100th anniversary. More than 19,760 masters and 855 doctoral degrees have been awarded since AFIT was first granted accredited resident degrees. To help celebrate the centennial year, a proclamation from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was read congratulating AFIT on its anniversary stating that Ohio “is indebted to the graduates, the faculty, and the staff of AFIT, who have served tirelessly to educate and innovate over the last century in building America’s airpower.”

Select students were presented awards for their exemplary performance during their graduate studies during an awards ceremony earlier in the day at AFIT. The awards presented were:

  • Capt. Dawn Sanderson from the Mathematics and Statistics Department was presented the Chancellor’s Award for demonstrating the most exceptional individual master’s thesis research. 

     

  • Capt. Nicholas Quartemont from the Engineering Physics 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. William Dallmann from the Electrical and Computer Engineering 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.
  • Capt. Ashlee Ellis, from the Systems Engineering and Management Department received the Edwin E. Aldrin Sr. Award, presented for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program. 
  • Master Sgt. Karen Harris 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):

 

Doctor of Philosophy

Aeronautical Engineering

Maj. Brian Thomas Bohan**

Maj. Christopher Christie Olsen**

Maj. Matthew Joseph Schwaab**

Lt. Col. Michael D. Zollars**

 

Applied Mathematics

Maj. Dana Morrill**

Maj. Beau A. Nunnally**

 

Applied Physics

Maj. Bryan Adomanis**

Capt. Elizabeth Marie Scherrer

 

Computer Science

Maj. Richard Dill**

Capt. Brent Jackson Stone (US Army)**

 

Electrical Engineering

Capt. Joseph A. Curro II**

Lt. Col. Joshua C. Egan**

Mr. Aaron S. Evers

Mr. Alexander Graham Knisely**

 

Materials Science

Maj. Ryan A. Kemnitz**

 

Nuclear Engineering

Capt. Michael Alan Ford**

 

Operations Research

Capt. Alexander G. Kline (US Army)**

 

Optical Science and Engineering

Mr. Mason D. Paulec**

 

Space Systems

Capt. Eric Reed Prince**

 

Systems Engineering

Maj. Ryan David Lukens Engle**

 

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

 

Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering

2nd Lt. Horatio J. Babcock

Capt. Scott A. Boller*

Capt. Patrick Michael Callaghan

Capt. James Carpenter

2nd Lt. Anthony Michael Ciccarello

1st Lt. Tara E. Crouch

2nd Lt. Kenneth Michael Ehrenberg

Capt. Kenneth C. Gahan*

Capt. Dustin Patrick Graves

Capt. Erin Margaret Hager

Capt. Grant Robert Johnson

1st Lt. Casey Martin Keilbarth

2nd Lt. David A. LaBuda

2nd Lt. Avery William Leonard

Capt. Alexander R. Lesieur

Capt. Michael Aneglo Macchia

Capt. Luke J. McNamara

1st Lt. Evan P. Oren**

Maj. Daniel J Prudhomme

Capt. Justin A. Pung

Capt. Tylor C. Rathsack

Capt. Juan Austin Rivera

Capt. John Joseph Runco

2nd Lt. Ryan Grier Saunders

2nd Lt. Kyra Louise Schmidt

2nd Lt. David Michael Shald

Capt. Ryan James Thompson

2nd Lt. Zane Aaron Willburn

Capt. Paul B. Wilson

 

Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering

Capt. Jaime M. Badui

2nd Lt. Christian M. Chavez

Mrs. Tiffany Danielle Musholt Cole**

1st Lt. Samuel Thomas Crouch

Capt. Charles J. Garlisi

2nd Lt. Sunderlin Jackson*

2nd Lt. Matthew Jacob Krott

2nd Lt. Megan Nicole Maikell

2nd Lt. Mark R. Mercier

Ms. Destiny Beatrice Tomlin**

2nd Lt. Talon Ayres Townley

1st Lt. Jeremiah M. Webb

 

Master of Science in Materials Science

Maj. Megan Lynn Harkins

Capt. Charles Connor Hohnbaum

1st Lt. James C. O'Keefe

Capt. Tyler A. Wallis

 

Master of Science in Space Systems

Capt. Cole George*

 

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

Capt. Marcus A. Catchpole

Capt. Luis Alberto Cintron*

Capt. Frankie Antonio Cruz

Capt. William E. Dallmann*

2nd Lt. Matthew Alexander Grimm

2nd Lt. Kenneth Landon Hacker

 

Master of Science in Computer Science

2nd Lt. Christian Michael Alexander Arnold

Capt. Andrew Charles Gorospe

Capt. Kyung Min Kim

1st Lt. Ian McQuaid

Capt. Daryl William Schmitt

Capt. Yong U. Sinn

2nd Lt. Landon George Miley Tomcho

 

Master of Science in Cyber Operations

1st Lt. Nikolai Aleksandrovitch Adderley

Capt. Angelito Espedido Aragon

Capt. Clint M. Bramlette

Capt. Senobio Vladimir Chavez

Mr. Ryan D. Harris

2nd Lt. Kenneth James

Maj. Justin D. Kulm

Capt. Rocco Francis Librandi

Capt. Seth A. Martin

Capt. Joshua K. Mosby

2nd Lt. Lukas Adam Stafira*

Capt. Micah Villarreal*

 

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

1st Lt. Taylor Shiloh Barber

Capt. David William Beargie

Capt. J. Mark Berhold

1st Lt. Brandon Neil Boggs

Mr. Andrew D. Braun

2nd Lt. John M. Carboni

Capt. Nicholas Scott Chiaratti

Capt. Lucas J. Clelland

Capt. Michael Taro Dela Cruz

Capt. Nicholas David Everett

Mr. Fernando D. Fernandez

2nd Lt. Enoc Flores

Capt. Graig S. Ganitano*

Capt. Avian Hughes

2nd Lt. Brooke E. Johnson

Capt. Rahn Matthew Lassiter

1st Lt. Taylor Nelson Lee

2nd Lt. Paul Lee Joseph Michaud

Capt. Michael Floyd Milton, Jr.

Capt. Madison John Montgomery

2nd Lt. Edwin Alexander Mora

Capt. Kaleb James Nelson

Flight Lieutenant Aileen Nundu (Australia)

Capt. Jennifer Nina Ramos

2nd Lt. Nathaniel J. Raquet

Capt. Tory Emerson Robinson

Capt. Jonathan W. Smith

Maj. Forrest D. Taylor

2nd Lt. Blaine Z. Underwood

2nd Lt. George C. Underwood

Flight Lieutenant Christopher Vergara (Australia)

2nd Lt. Patrick J. Wasz

 

 

Department of Engineering Physics

 

Master of Science in Applied Physics

Capt. Kevin K. Choe

Mr. James Allen Ethridge

Capt. Joshua Y. Gooch

2nd Lt. Will Dupuy Johnston

Capt. Davin Mao

Maj. Brian J. McReynolds

2nd Lt. Eric Koji Nagamine

Capt. Joseph F. Round

2nd Lt. Sophia G. Schwalbe

1st Lt. Scott Sarver Wolfmeyer

 

Master of Science in Atmospheric Sciences

Capt. Daniel Warren Bazemore

1st Lt. William Alden Hanson

1st Lt. Daniel O. Katuzienski

Capt. Amanda Mundell Nelson

Capt. Casey L. Zoellick*

 

Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering

2nd Lt. Bryan Vincent Egner

Capt. Amy Christine Hall

Capt. Nicholas J. Quartemont*

Mr. Robert S. Torzilli

 

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

 

Master of Science in Applied Mathematics

2nd Lt. Kevin J. Lin

Capt. Kevin Sean Pamilagas

Capt. Dawn L Sanderson

2nd Lt. Courtney Anne Schmitt*

 

Department of Operational Sciences

 

Master of Science in Logistics

Capt. Douglas M. Brown

Lt. Col. Terrence Raymon Kilgore

Capt. Michael P. McFadden

 

Master of Science in Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Capt. Parker H. Alford

Capt. Randall E. Davis Jr.*

Maj. Andrew Vincent Gill

Capt. Nicholas L. Green

Master Sergeant Karen Yvette Harris

Capt. Terry R. Hebert Jr.

Senior Master Sergeant Richard B. Keesling

Capt. Heston John Lubiano

Capitão Luciana Mesquita Monteiro (Brazil)

Capt. Keisha Annlouise Meyer

Capt. Talon M. Pope

 

Master of Science in Operations Research

1st Lt. Jade Frances Baker

2nd Lt. Nathanael R. Beveridge*

2nd Lt. Lauren Marie Bramblett

1st Lt. Jennifer A. Buck

Capt. Steven Hyunjin Chon

Capt. Samuel T. Clemens

Capt. Kanit Dararutana

Capt. Alec Sheldon Ferguson

Capt. Erika Elizabeth Gilts

2nd Lt. Sarah A. Gold

Capt. Zachary T. Hornberger

2nd Lt. Michael S. Hughes

2nd Lt. Dylan Allan Hyder

1st Lt. Petar Danilo Jackovich

2nd Lt. Zachary John Kane

Capt. George Adam Kilgore (US Army)

Maj. Bryan Michael Kolano (US Army)

Capt. Michael Thomas Larkin

Mr. Matthew Christopher Ledwith*

Capt. Jocelin S. Maus

Mr. Gordon Michael McClure**

Maj. Curtis Baxter Nelson (US Army)

Maj. Zachary A. Novitske (US Army)

Ms. Michaela Ann Pendergrass

2nd Lt. Brendon Tyler Sands

Capt. John Andrew Schlicht (US Army)

2nd Lt. Dominick Valentino Speranza III

2nd Lt. Troy Joseph St. Peter*

Capt. Ryan B. Walton

Capt. Marydell Violet Westman (US Army)

 

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

 

Master of Engineering in Applied Systems Engineering

1st Lt. William Ryan Bumgardner

1st Lt. Christopher Raymond Thompson

 

Master of Science in Cost Analysis

Capt. Emily E. Angell*

Capt. Jerry Leonard Baker

Capt. Benjamin J. Bonenfant

Capt. Loyd Alan Bradley, Jr.

Capt. Christopher J. Elworth

1st Lt. Trevor Adam Enos

Capt. Seth Andrew Kline

Capt. Matthew Ryan Markman

Capt. Sara Kirsten O'Connor

Capt. Robert E. Tyson, Jr.

 

Master of Science in Engineering Management

Capt. Cody J. Beemer*

Capt. William Christopher Berner

Capt. Lukas Alan Cowen

Maj. Branden D. DeLong

Capt. Ashlee Nicole Ellis

Capt. Joshua Ryan Glass

Capt. Austin Reid Hayes

2nd Lt. Parker Alan Hines

1st Lt. Christine Jestice

Capt. Ramoane E. Jordan Jr.

Capt. Theodore Joseph Labedz

Capt. Katie L. MacGregor

Capt. Jose Eloy Martinez Sanchez

2nd Lt. Christil Kalena Lyn Pasion

Capt. Timothy D. Plourde

Capt. Theodore A. Rask

Maj. Robert Heyward Shuler

Capt. Zachary John Spranger

Capt. James C. Tyhurst

 

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering & Science

Capt. David James Chester (US Marine Corps)*

Capt. Philicia Geiser (Dual Degree)

Capt. Travis Eugene McWhirter (US Marine Corps)

 

Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene

Capt. Philicia Geiser (Dual Degree)

 

Master of Science in Systems Engineering

1st Lt. David James Canzonetta*

Capt. Corey A. Combs

Mr. Kyle Allen Flenar**

Capt. Frederick D. Hertwig

1st Lt. Patrick J. Kelly IV

2nd Lt. Andrew Stephen LeValley

Ms. Rae Jean Eileen May**

Capt. Jonathan D. Poole

Capt. Alberto Sigala

 

*Distinguished Graduate

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