ROTC commissions new officers from four military branches


LAWRENCE – Members of the Army, Air Force, Naval Reserve and Marines ROTC programs at the University of Kansas, as well as officer candidates, were commissioned in a joint ceremony. Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little attended the event to recognize the students.

The six Navy-option and two Marine-option NROTC students were commissioned by Brig. Gen. John Simmons, Commanding General of Training Command, Quantico, Virginia, at the ceremony, which was May 19. More than 200 people attended the event.

Commissioning was the culmination of a long training path for these former midshipmen. “I can't wait to get out to the fleet,” said ENS Reston Bishop, one of the newly commissioned officers, from Springfield, Missouri.

During his commencement address, Simmons expressed words of encouragement, and he discussed leadership and the future responsibilities of the officers.  He described the oath and offered words of wisdom garnered over his vast career experience.

Simmons administered the oath of office to the group of new officers from all four military branches simultaneously.

Commanding officers presenting the commissions were Lt. Col. Storm Reynolds, professor of military science; Lt. Col. Brian Salmans, professor of aerospace studies; and Capt. David Schweizer, professor of naval science. The chancellor and Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Sara Rosen, were distinguished guests.

The newly commissioned officers are listed below by name, hometown and area of study:

Army:

2nd Lt. Andrew Acosta, Los Angeles, genetics          

2nd Lt. Courtney Brungardt, Rossville, history and geography

2nd Lt. Dale Colegrove, Overland Park, mechanical engineering           

2nd Lt. Lawrence Flanagan, Raymore, Missouri, finance and international business

2nd Lt. Andrew Grieve, Fort Collins, Colorado, psychology 

2nd Lt. Seth Hemker, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, nursing

2nd Lt. Stuart McConnell, Newton, film and media studies

2nd Lt. Deaven Miller, Gardner, missionary studies

2nd Lt. Jessica McCoy, Junction City, nursing

2nd Lt. Danny Portillo, Santa Ana, California, applied behavioral science

2nd Lt. Austin J. Simons, Lawrence, history

2nd Lt. Daniel Stork, Leawood, psychology

2nd Lt. Howard Ting, Galloway, New Jersey, biology

2nd Lt. Bobbi Walden, Lansing, business management

2nd Lt. Madeline Wilcox, Leavenworth, political science 

Air Force:

2nd Lt. Katherine Benson, Woodbury, Minnesota, nursing

2nd Lt. Nathaniel Berndt, Wichita Falls, Texas, business management

2nd Lt. Megan Honeywell, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, nursing

2nd Lt. McKenna Hall, Lansing, communications studies

2nd Lt. Julian McCafferty, Lawrence, aerospace engineering

2nd Lt. Margaret Schuetz, Holton, biochemistry

2nd Lt. James Sellers, Benton, aerospace engineering

2nd Lt. Emily Thompson, Sandpoint, Idaho, aerospace engineering         

2nd Lt. Tyler Underwood, Derby, mechanical engineering

2nd Lt. Yinglong Xu, Overland Park, aerospace engineering

2nd Lt. Hannah Young, Sedalia, Missouri, nursing

Navy:

Ensign Luis Berges, Julesburg, Colorado, aerospace engineering

Ensign Reston Bishop, Springfield, Missouri, mechanical engineering

Ensign Kuran Bricker, Overland Park, mechanical engineering 

Ensign Cameron Flora, Sedgwick, mechanical engineering

Ensign Kyle Flynn, Denver, civil engineering  

Ensign Robert Stanton, Wichita, electrical engineering

USMC:

  • 2nd Lt. Lucas Frickey, Clearwater, exercise science
  • 2nd Lt. Edward Stimac, Kansas City, Kansas, accounting and information systems

KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. KU’s ROTC program also trains cadets from Baker University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Mid-America Nazarene University, University of Saint Mary, Washburn University and Benedictine University.

Wed, 05/21/2014

author

Tamara Horner

Media Contacts

Tamara Horner

Navy ROTC

785-864-3161