AFIT graduates first class of pilot training pipeline students Published Oct. 24, 2022 By Katie Scott Air Force Institute of Technology Dr. Vincent Russo, retired member of the Senior Executive Service, was the speaker at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management commencement ceremony Sept. 15. Prior to retirement, Russo served as the executive director of the Aeronautical Systems Center. Russo earned a master’s degree in materials engineering from AFIT in 1964 and received the AFIT Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo by Hannah Carranza) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management held a commencement ceremony Sept. 15 to celebrate 103 new graduates. The graduates join a group of more than 22,000 AFIT alumni. Of the 103 degrees awarded, the Graduate School conferred 79 master’s degrees and 24 doctorate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math fields. Additionally, five master’s students and three doctoral alumni who graduated earlier in the academic year returned to participate in the ceremony. The graduating class included 84 Air Force officers, two Space Force officers, two Army officers, one Marine Corps officer, one Air National Guard officer and nine civilians. Four international students from Saudi Arabia and Singapore also received degrees. Participating in the ceremony was the first class of students to complete an in-residence, non-thesis master’s degree program option for officers in the USAF pilot training pipeline. The 12-month program allowed the 60 officers to earn an advanced degree instead of remaining in casual status until their undergraduate pilot training start date. Maj. Philip Cho (right) received his academic hood from his advisor Dr. Aihua Wood at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management commencement ceremony Sept. 15. Doctoral students wore academic regalia that included a gown with three bars in velvet material on each sleeve and a cap with a golden tassel. In addition to their diploma, the PhD graduates received an academic hood from their advisor. The 4-foot long hood is lined with AFIT’s colors of royal blue and bright gold. (U.S. Air Force photo by Hannah Carranza) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “You have wisely used this waiting period to expand your knowledge, and I know you will be better pilots and better officers because of your studies here at AFIT,” said Dr. Walter Jones, AFIT director and chancellor. The graduation speaker for the ceremony was Dr. Vincent Russo, retired member of the Senior Executive Service, whose 41-year Air Force career culminated as the executive director of the Aeronautical Systems Center, the predecessor of the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center. He also served as the director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and led the formation of AFRL from four separate laboratories into one. Russo earned a master’s degree in materials engineering from AFIT in 1964 and received the AFIT Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006. “Of all my education experiences, I believe AFIT most instilled in me the tools to be successful,” said Russo. “The academic knowledge you have gained while here at AFIT is invaluable, but so are the other skills associated with receiving an advanced degree. Skills such as discipline, inquisitiveness, and collaboration. These and other soft skills will be vital to your progress throughout your career.” Russo discussed four life lessons with the graduating class: 1) Things will happen to you that you can’t control, but make the best of what you were given. 2) A strong education base will help you in ways you can’t predict. 3) Leadership is an art that can be learned, it just takes study, hard work and a commitment to learning. 4) Pay it forward by using your technical interest and expertise to help develop our nation’s next generation of STEM workforce. “Fifty-eight years, three months and five days. That’s the time it took me to go from your seats to this stage, and those years went by way, way too fast,” Russo told the students. “Graduates, I hope you enjoy your next 58 years, three months and five days as much as I have enjoyed mine.” The Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management commencement ceremony Sept. 15 included the first class of students to complete an in-residence, non-thesis master’s degree program option for officers in the USAF pilot training pipeline. The 12-month program allowed the 60 officers to earn an advanced degree instead of remaining in casual status until their undergraduate pilot training start date. (U.S. Air Force photo by Katie Scott) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The following students met all degree requirements and were approved for the designated degree (in bold): Doctor of Philosophy Aeronautical Engineering Maj. Nathan J. Snow Applied Mathematics Capt. Peter A. Calhoun Maj. Philip Y. Cho Capt. Gonzalo Hernando Capt. Kristopher N. Kilpatrick Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Physics James A. Ethridge Capt. Nicolas J. Guerrero Capt. Steven A. Owens Doctor of Philosophy in Astronautical Engineering Maj. Daniel G. Miller (Space Force) Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science Maj. Jose A. Gutierrez Del Arroyo Gabriel H. Greve Maj. Tor J. Langehaug Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering Capt. John T. Becker Maj. Patrick B. Cunningham Lt. Col. Matthew J. Maier Lt. Col. Willie H. Mims Michael A. Rucci Paul M. Simon Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Engineering Maj. James J. Frey (Army) Lt. Col. Samuel A. Heider (Army) Lt. Col. Brian Holloway (Army) Capt. Ashwin P. Rao Doctor of Philosophy in Operations Research Capt. Marc W. Chale Maj. Joseph C. Hoecherl Maj. Benjamin D. Leiby Doctor of Philosophy in Space Systems Capt. Darren M. Thornton (Space Force) Doctor of Philosophy in Systems Engineering Maj. Dustin L. Hayhurst Master of Cyber Systems 2nd Lt. Scott P. Culbreth 2nd Lt. Nathan N. Lervold 2nd Lt. Thomas J. McCurdy 2nd Lt. Alec D. McGahee* 2nd Lt. Devarsh H. Modh 2nd Lt. Jesse S. Sidhu Master of Engineering (Aeronautical Engineering) 2nd Lt. Austin T. Amour 2nd Lt. Joshua L. Budig 2nd Lt. Sierra N. DeHart 2nd Lt. Patrick M. Dillon 2nd Lt. Jacob A. Hughes 2nd Lt. Matthew H. Jones 2nd Lt. Peter K. Keller 2nd Lt. Il J. Kim 2nd Lt. Nathanael J. Kreiser 2nd Lt. Mark D. MacKenzie 2nd Lt. Jack T. Morgan 2nd Lt. Connor A. Neal 2nd Lt. Aaron T. Peasley 2nd Lt. Noah M. Qiu 2nd Lt. Alex M. Ramsperger 2nd Lt. Matthew J. Steiner* 2nd Lt. Nathan T. Stieren Master of Engineering (Applied Systems Engineering) 2nd Lt. Julia N. Baldasare* 2nd Lt. Karl J. Boerwinkle 2nd Lt. Bridget M. Calvert 2nd Lt. Brook A. Chilton 2nd Lt. Matthew J. Cooper 2nd Lt. Stephen T. Harold 2nd Lt. Kevin S. Johnsen 2nd Lt. William S. Johnson 2nd Lt. Coby L. Kurtz Maj. Dustin Kurtz 2nd Lt. Kyle M. Latzke Keith L. Lucas 2nd Lt. Wyatt A. Perry* 2nd Lt. Quinton W. Riddle Rachel L. Rife 2nd Lt. Julio C. Rosales 2nd Lt. Joshua M. Sayers 2nd Lt. Griffin D. Smith 2nd Lt. Hannah M. Sobczyk Capt. Luke D. Strebel 2nd Lt. Kade J. Sundvall 2nd Lt. Nathan J. Thompson 2nd Lt. Zachary D. Wiese 2nd Lt. Thomas A. Zammataro Master of Engineering (Space Systems) 2nd Lt. Joshua M. Block 2nd Lt. Reece A. Cooke 2nd Lt. Nathan L. Cundiff 2nd Lt. John M. Hayes 2nd Lt. Patrick W. Mahoney 2nd Lt. Cole M. Mooty Master of Operations Analysis 2nd Lt. Colton C. Blatchford* 2nd Lt. Isaac P. Coolidge 2nd Lt. Kevin E. Cruz 2nd Lt. Daniel T. Flynn 2nd Lt. Rhett C. Harms 2nd Lt. Connor P. McCormick 2nd Lt. Alec B. Schrank Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering Maj. Megan L. Bustin (Marine Corps) Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering 2nd Lt. Brendan J. Hennessey Rose Master of Science in Computer Engineering 1st Lt. Matthew R. Stone Master of Science (Electrical Engineering) 1st Lt. Augusta J. Vande Hey Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Capt. Samuel B. DeWhitt Master of Science in Engineering Management Maj. Heaf Hussain Alqahtani (Saudi Arabia) Capt. Mark A. Elliott Capt. Samuel R. Grothman* Master of Science in Logistics Maj. Eric L. Hitzfeld Capt. Austin Stott Master of Science in Logistics & Supply Chain Management Maj. Faisal Abdullah Al Dawood (Saudi Arabia) Capt. Faris Jazaa Alotaibi (Saudi Arabia) Master of Science in Materials Science Capt. Grayson M. Harber Jefferson R. Helstad Master of Science in Scientific and Technical Intelligence Pedro Alvarado Aaron Burkett Jeremy M. Wightman Master of Science in Space Systems Wilson E. Flores 2nd Lt. Conor M. Wisentaner* Master of Science (Systems Engineering) 1st Lt. Gonzalo Garcia-Rubio (Air National Guard) Capt. Madeline H. Johnson* (Space Force) Master of Science in Systems Engineering Maj. Kyle J. Arruda Prithvi Prasanna Maj. Yong Hua Siritape Teo (Singapore) *Distinguished Graduate