AFIT graduates 234 masters and doctoral STEM students Published March 28, 2019 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Oh. -- 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