WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Over 200 graduates endured years of late nights, long hours, painstaking research and pandemic ups and downs to finally cross the stage and receive their diplomas from the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management on March 23 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
This graduating class includes 172 Department of Defense officers, seven enlisted and 19 civilians, seven defense industry contractors and two international students from Australia and Israel.
Of the 208 degrees awarded, the Graduate School conferred 203 master’s degrees and five doctorate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math fields. One graduate earned dual degrees in data science and operations research. Students represent every branch of the military, with 157 Air Force, 13 Space Force, seven Army, four Marine and one Air National Guard members receiving degrees. Additionally, six graduates from previous quarters returned to walk in the ceremony.
Walter Jones, AFIT’s director and chancellor, introduced the ceremony’s guest speaker, retired Gen. Lester Lyles, former commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
“Gen. Lyles is someone who I admired and respected for many years and who now has become a dear friend,” Jones said. “Given all his important activity, I’m delighted he could find the time to be with us tonight on this very special occasion.”
Lyles celebrated the passion that pushed the graduates through their education and challenged them to carry a similar passion for their fields into the next steps they’ll take for their nation.
“I’m a lover of technology and a lover of science,” Lyles said. “I have been my whole life. And as I look out in the audience, I know all of you exhibit and have expressed passion for science and technology. I love that passion.”
Other officials in attendance included Heidi Ries, AFIT provost and chief academic officer, and Adedeji Badiru, dean of the Graduate School.
Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, AFIT’s mission is to provide defense-focused graduate education and related research and operationally relevant initial skills training and professional continuing education to enable the Air and Space Forces to maintain its scientific and technological dominance.
“Communicate,” Lyles charged the graduates. “Like great engineers, you know that great communication is more than just transmitting. It’s mostly receiving. I’m a big believer in talking less and listening more. But I feel very confident that as you all get into your jobs, careers and whatever you’re going to be doing for your country and services, we will hear you by the excellence you’re going to demonstrate in the endeavors and technology you’re a part of.”
At an awards ceremony earlier in the day, the following students were recognized for their exemplary performance:
- Capt. Matthew Johnson from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department received the Chancellor’s Award for producing the most exceptional individual master’s thesis.
- Capt. Linda Kuster from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department received the Mervin E. Gross Award for her exceptional academic achievement and high qualities of character, initiative and leadership. The award is named in honor of Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross, the institute’s first commandant.
- Master Sgt. Benjamin Johnis from the Engineering Physics department received the Louis F. Polk Award. The winner of this award exhibits the highest standards of academic and professional accomplishment, and through his or her research, makes a significant contribution toward strengthening the nation’s industrial defense base.
- Capt. Bret Wagner from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department received the Edwin E. Aldrin Sr. Award presented for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program. The award is sponsored by the Wright Memorial Chapter of the Air Force Association and named in honor of Lieutenant Edwin E. Aldrin Sr., a member of the institute’s first graduating class in 1920. Upon graduation, he became AFIT’s first vice commandant.
- Staff Sgt. Evan Lake from the Systems Engineering and Management 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 award is named after Air Force Secretary James G. Roche, whose leadership in 2002 led to the first class of NCOs into the Graduate School of Engineering and Management.
The following students met all degree requirements and were approved for the designated degree (in bold):
*Distinguished Graduate
** Returned to walk
Click on the degree category to see the graduate students names
Applied Physics
James Ethridge**
Lt. Col. Jesse Foster
Computer Science
Daniel Koranek**
Electrical Engineering
Lt. Col. David Lynes
Capt. Timothy Machin
Materials Science
Maj. Nathan Ellsworth
Nuclear Engineering
Lt. Col. Samuel Heider (Army)**
Operations Research
Matthew Ledwith
Optical Science and Engineering
Philip Plummer**
Robert Hickman
1st Lt. William Johnston
Maj. Eric LaPrade
Capt. Alexander Leaf
Capt. John Miller
Matthew Ratcliff
Capt. Spencer Sweat (Space Force)
Capt. Derek Yarke
Capt. Curtis Baker (Space Force)
Maj. Daniel Banakos (Space Force)
Capt. Benjamin Berezin (Space Force)
Capt. Nicholas Francis
1st Lt. Kathleen Hendershott
Capt. Cristian Hernandez Rivera (Space Force)
Capt. Kevin Hieronymus
Capt. Corey Mack
Capt. Zachary Ryan
Capt. Gregory Sanders
Capt. Katherine Ashton (Marine Corps)
2nd Lt. Tessa Barbosa
Capt. Christopher Bellanova, Jr.
Cody Butzer
Capt. Eidahn Eliash (Israel)
Capt. Michael Guenther
1st Lt. James Gunderson
Capt. Samuel Hiltner
2nd Lt. Bailey Hopkins
2nd Lt. Noor Khan
Titus Lee
1st Lt. Edward Maxwell
Capt. Alexander Moore
Richard Nyquist
Capt. Jesse Roberts
Capt. Troy Soileau, Jr.
Capt. Eric Stubblefield*
Capt. Ryan Trenter
2nd Lt. John Ursino
Capt. Timothy Winkler (Marine Corps)
Mary Collins
Capt. Raymart De Asis
Capt. Lauran Kittle
Staff Sgt. Evan Lake*
Capt. Tanner Gordon
Michael Gross**
2nd Lt. David Howe*
Capt. Seth Hyra
Capt. Dylan Shaver
2nd Lt. Colton Stoner
2nd Lt. Saumya Baswant
Eric Burkhart
2nd Lt. Joseph Canoy
Capt. Alec Cook (Space Force)
2nd Lt. Nicholas Higgs
2nd Lt. Alexander Petrocelli
Capt. Andrew Vogel*
2nd Lt. Lindsay Dedrickson
2nd Lt. Braeden Ede
Capt. Gregory Egger
Capt. Casey Reynolds
Capt. Tyler Bransfield
2nd Lt. Ryan Clendening
2nd Lt. Jonathan Price
Capt. Garret Rose
2nd Lt. Alexander Stephens
Maj. Quang Tran (Space Force)
2nd Lt. Richard Feustel
Capt. Ian Heffron
2nd Lt. Jonathan Moore
2nd Lt. Jonathan Nash
Capt. Adam Nasi*
2nd Lt. Caleb Richardson
Master Sgt. Matthew Weeks
2nd Lt. Brian Wheelhouse
2nd Lt. Leif White
2nd Lt. Nathaniel Wilson
Capt. Ryan Zacher*
Capt. Caleb Ahern
Capt. Patrick Bennett, Jr.
Capt. Trevor Bills*
1st Lt. Jordan Black
2nd Lt. James Demos
Capt. Helga Leite Evora
Capt. Joseph Moore, IV
Capt. Scott Reilly
Capt. Kyrie Rojo
2nd Lt. Jacob Smith
Capt. Kayla Vogler
Capt. Jacob Chan
2nd Lt. Tallas Goo
Capt. Michael Reyneke
2nd Lt. John Thebarge
2nd Lt. Todd Campo
2nd Lt. Nicholas Crino*
Capt. Brandon Harvill
Capt. Nathan Johnston
2nd Lt. Byungmoo Kim
2nd Lt. Grace Metzgar
2nd Lt. Connor Shaw (dual degree)
2nd Lt. Franklin Sun
Capt. Luke Bergeron
Thomas Butterick
Griffin Curtis
Maj. Eric Fairchild
Capt. Jesse Farber
Flavio Fernandes
Master Sgt. Michael Ingold*
Capt. Matthew Johnson*
1st Lt. Connor Martin
2nd Lt. Wyatt Melloy
Capt. Luis Montenegro
Flight Lt. Jacob Morrison (Australia)
Capt. Matthew Rofrano
Capt. Stephen Stumpf, Jr.
Andrew Van de Motter
Capt. Rudolf VonNiederhausern
Capt. Bret Wagner*
Thomas Wheeler
2nd Lt. Zachary Allen
Capt. James Anderson
2nd Lt. Caleb Boone
Capt. Anthony Brenes
Capt. Kathleenann Brunstad
Capt. Payten Connally
Capt. Caleb Dann
Capt. Spencer Figge*
1st Lt. Emily Frahm
Capt. Douglas Jaks
Capt. Linda Kuster
1st Lt. Christopher P. Lintz
2nd Lt. Kenneth McKnight
Capt. David Robinson (Space Force)
Capt. Melissa Sallberg
Maj. Zachary Schumann
Capt. Danielle Van Lanen
Capt. Stone Williford
Capt. Zachary Wontrop
Capt. Terrence Caploe (Marine Corps)
1st Lt. Leigh Durden
Tech. Sgt. Kyle Miller
Capt. Ryan Register (Marine Corps)*
Alisha Helm
Master Sgt. Jonathan Moroz*
Capt. Isabella Muffoletto
Capt. Joshua Cramer
Master Sgt. Benjamin Johnis
Capt. Laura Kelly (Space Force)
Capt. Roed Mejia
2nd Lt. Benjamin Miller
Staff Sgt. Lauren Rogers
Andrew Mason
Brian Pudlo
Wyatt Rabe
William Backman
Capt. Adam Card
Aidan Edens
2nd Lt. Anthony Hagey
Maj. Jeremy Hunter (Army)
Maj. Michael Lindsay (Army)
Henry Little
Chandler Moore*
Maj. Andrew Nesbitt (Army)
Daniel Parker
2nd Lt. Camila Quintero Hilsaca
Timothy Steimle
Maj. Christopher Sutphin (Army)
Capt. Evan Threlkeld*
2nd Lt. Seth Allen
Capt Nathanael Clark
2nd Lt. Camryn Deames
Maj. Francis Gargin (Army)
2nd Lt. Andrew Grove
Sarah Hoops**
Capt. Ryan Johnson
2nd Lt. Miles Kelly
Maj. Olin Kennedy (Army)*
2nd Lt. Stephen Kimatian
2nd Lt. Alexandra King
Capt. Tyler Lucas
Capt. Ian MacDonald
Capt. Chad MacWilkinson
Maj. Alexander Martinez (Army)
2nd Lt. Callan McCormick
2nd Lt. Elisha Palm
2nd Lt. Andrea Phillips
Maj Dante Reid
2nd Lt. Connor Shaw (dual degree)
2nd Lt. Caleb Taylor*
2nd Lt. Sonia Venegas
Michael Beiring
Adam Nesmith
Capt. Alexandria Connelly (Space Force)*
Capt. Matthew Connelly (Space Force)
2nd Lt. Noah Kutz
Maj. Jose Lopez Cordell (Space Force)
Lt. Col. Clayton Couch
2nd Lt. Alexandra Dobranski*
Capt. Gerald Hills Jr. (Space Force)
2nd Lt. Samuel Medvec
Capt. John Pasierbowicz
Peter Redle
Capt. Henry Schmitz
Capt. John Stevenson
Capt. James Winton