AFIT Graduates Class of 209 students Published March 26, 2013 By Bill Hancock 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Family and friends gathered, March 21, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force to watch 209 Air Force Institute of Technology engineering and management students receive their degrees. Dr. Todd I. Stewart, AFIT chancellor, started the ceremony with a salute to former graduates and those on hand. "AFIT graduates 181 Masters and 7 PhD degrees tonight in 25 different research areas," said Dr. Stewart "education and training are the fundamental foundation of our Air Force and why our unique AFIT mission is focused on advancing air, space, and cyberspace power for the Nation, its partners, and our armed forces. We do this by providing relevant defense-focused technical graduate and continuing education, research, and consultation, but the most important thing that makes AFIT different is our students." Since resident degrees were first granted at AFIT in 1956, more than 17,600 graduate and 650 doctor of philosophy degrees have been awarded. Lieutenant General Michael J. Basla, Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, delivered the graduation address. His advice to the graduates was to make their mark in history during this time of technological innovation. Remarking that several AFIT campus buildings are named for past notable graduates, the general said. "Which of these buildings will be named after you?" "The Air Force is fueled by innovation." While Looking out amongst the nights graduates, General Basla stated "We ask for answers, to difficult questions and you have delivered. This is what innovation looks like." During an earlier award ceremony, some students were presented awards for their year of exemplary performance during their graduate studies. Those presented awards included: -- The Chancellor's Award, presented to Capt. Timothy A. Cleaver, who demonstrated the most exceptional individual master's thesis research. -- Capt. Cindy D. Finke 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, first commandant of the Institute. -- The Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr. Award, named in honor of Edwin Aldrin, Sr., member of the Institute's first graduating class of 1920 and AFIT's first vice commandant, was presented to 1Lt. Elizabeth E. Scherrer for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program. -- Senior Master Sgt. David J. Weller-Fahy 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. After graduation the students will go to their next respective duty stations or back to their countries to begin the next step in their careers. Since AFIT's establishment in November of 1919, the institute counts among its alumni some of the most accomplished engineers and scientists known worldwide, both past and present. This list includes Air Force pioneers General George Kenney, General Jimmy Doolittle, General Bernard Schriever, Astronauts Virgil 'Gus' Grissom, Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin and Guion Bluford, to name but a few. Those wishing to know more about the Air Force Institute of Technology are encouraged to visit: www.afit.edu 2013 AFIT Graduates: DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS Master of Science Second Lieutenant David J. Cooke DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING Master of Science (Cyber Operations) Second Lieutenant Kyle O. Bailey First Lieutenant Zachry H. Basnight Mr. Salvatore Capra Captain James E. Emge First Lieutenant John B. Guptill Captain James C. Hannan Captain Preston B. Iverson Second Lieutenant Ryan A. Morehart Captain Evan L. Raulerson Senior Master Sergeant David J. Weller-Fahy Master of Science (Computer Science) Captain Jonathan S. Bristow Captain Cindy D. Finke Captain Robert M. Jaromin Captain Karl A. Sickendick Master of Science in Computer Engineering Captain James W. Dean Second Lieutenant Bridget Nolan Flatley Captain Michael P. Knight Second Lieutenant Ryan K. McLean Second Lieutenant David A. Ryan Second Lieutenant Trevor J. Vranicar Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Captain Brian S. Acerson Captain Michael D. Archer Second Lieutenant Julio D. Armijos Captain David Becker Flight Lieutenant Stjepan Blazevic (Australia) Second Lieutenant Brent L. Danner Captain Ryan L. Drinkwater Mr. Clay K. Dubendorfer Second Lieutenant John A. Hadjis Captain Joshua A. Hardin Second Lieutenant Evan P. Harvey Captain Jonathan D. Hill Captain Benjamin J. Kuhar Captain Nathan J. Lehman First Lieutenant Stephen D. Maksim Mr. Daniel A. Marietta Captain Aaron T. Myers Second Lieutenant Elizabeth K. Norvell Second Lieutenant James Ofoe Quarmyne Second Lieutenant Anthony Mario Runco, Jr. Captain Melissa A. Sawyer Second Lieutenant John R. Schmidt First Lieutenant Benjamin F. Toler Second Lieutenant Russell D. Wilson, IV Master of Science (Optical Sciences & Engineering) Ms. Anum R. Barki Master of Science in Applied Physics Captain Bryan M. Adomanis Captain David Jeremy Broadwater Captain Evan J. Carlson Captain William R. Frey Second Lieutenant Matthew R. Guy Captain Alanna R. Keith Captain Stephanie Rae Keith Second Lieutenant Robert L. Lloyd Mr. Ryan M. Richards First Lieutenant Jack A. Shepherd III Master Sergeant Chad T. Taguba Captain Christopher D. Vineski Captain Andrew J. Westman Master of Science (Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction) Captain Lucas J. Hoffmann (US Army) Second Lieutenant Allen K. Janeczko Master of Science (Nuclear Engineering) Major Aaron B. Blanning (US Army) First Lieutenant Stefan Brian Fagan-Kelly Second Lieutenant Michael A. Ford Major Zachary L. Hadfield (US Army) Major Anthony D. Marchand (US Army) First Lieutenant Curtis W. Pacleb First Lieutenant Elizabeth Marie Scherrer Major Neeraj Sethi (US Army) Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering Captain Jeremy S. Best (Marine Corps) Captain Timothy M. Higley Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Kress (US Army) Major Michael G. Lee (US Army) First Lieutenant Nathaniel C. Loyd Captain David D. Lynes First Lieutenant Mischa L. Monroe Captain Jon Devlin Rowland Major James F. Shinn (US Army) DEPARTMENT OF OPERATIONAL SCIENCES Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Captain Karl E. Bolt Captain Troy T. Huber Lieutenant Colonel Juan E. Perot (Argentina) Captain Robert S. Rabon Captain Matthew D. Roberts Captain Paula F. Silva (Brazil) Captain David M. Thompson Captain Chad M. Whitson Master of Science in Operations Research Captain Andrew L. Bigley Mr. Benjamin Allen Clapp Second Lieutenant Scott C. Finkbeiner Second Lieutenant Micah J. Hafich Second Lieutenant Alexander P. Hillman Captain Mitchell R. Kieffer Captain Taylor J. Leonard Captain Aaron M. Lessin Captain Joshua B. Meents Major Eric A. Miller (US Army Master of Science in Operations Research Captain Dana F. Morrill Major Ahmet Ozdemir (Turkey) Captain Nathaniel L. Resendez Second Lieutenant Sean C. Ritter Captain Theodore C. Shiveley DEPARTMENT OF SYSTEMS AND ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT Master of Science in Cost Analysis Captain Shaun T. Carney Captain Kevin T. Crumrine Captain Gregory J. Ferry Captain Gary L. Jones Master of Science in Engineering Management Captain Daniel L. Blomberg Captain David G. Brost Captain Trevor A. Gustafson Captain Joshua A. Hager Captain John William Marshall II Captain Justin C. Meihaus Captain Andrew Reid Myers Captain Jonnathan B. Page Captain Joseph G. Pickenpaugh Captain Peeter E. Pleake-Tamm Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science Major Travis J. Meidinger Major Edward B. Walters Master of Science (Industrial Hygiene) Captain Michael A. Schmidt Master of Science in Information Resource Management Master Sergeant James W. Harker, Jr. Master Sergeant Jason George Russi Senior Master Sergeant Jeffrey C. Sandusky** First Lieutenant Laurienne C. Santana (Brazil) Master of Science in Research and Development Management First Lieutenant Luke M. Kaspari Captain Brandon L. Keller Captain Brian R. Mauntel First Lieutenant Cihan Okur (Turkey) Captain Andrew T. Soine Master of Science (Systems Engineering) Major Jonathan Welborn (US Army) Captain Landon B. Bastow Captain Klayton S. Bobsein Captain Joseph A. Czabaranek Captain Kevin M. Nastasi Captain Kevin J. Pohl First Lieutenant Timothy J. Shuck Captain Scott A. Songer Captain Joshua M. Splawn Captain Sarah E. Storm Second Lieutenant Daniel J. Uribe Master of Science (Materials Science) Captain Theodore R. Shillig Master of Science (Aeronautical Engineering) Mr. Brian C. Cranston** Ms. Lauren B. Wuertemberger** Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering Captain Kacey E. Blunck Captain Justin R. Carl Captain Frank T. Clark Captain Timothy A. Cleaver Captain Matthew M. Conrad Captain Boyce H. Dauby Second Lieutenant Nick D. Debarmore, Jr. Captain Mollie C. Drumm Captain Colin C. Engebretsen Captain Travis Don Husaboe Second Lieutenant Samuel C. Johnson Captain Kathleen H. Le Second Lieutenant Robert K. Lenzen First Lieutenant Justin K. Mason Second Lieutenant Stephen J. Miller Second Lieutenant Craig C. Porter Second Lieutenant Jacob J. Robertson Captain Matthew J. Satchell Second Lieutenant Scott W. Theuerkauf Captain Eric T. Wolf Master of Science (Space Systems) Captain Brian Moore Captain Douglas B. Ruyle Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering Second Lieutenant Christopher Anthony Birge Mr. John Robert Claybrook Mr. Timothy E. Coon Second Lieutenant Adrianna J. Eaton Captain Steven P. Ingraham Second Lieutenant Rex Newman Doctor of Philosophy Mr. Randall L. Bostick Captain Eric A. Buschelman** Major Thomas C. Co** Major Benjamin L. Crossley** Mr. Mark M. Derriso Major Steven P. Dillenburger** Major Jose R. Gutierrez** Major Marshall E. Haker** Lieutenant Colonel Paul Kenneth Harmer Major Robert B. Hartlage** Lieutenant Colonel Troy C. Hoeger** Mr. Kyle J. Kauffman** Captain Derrick Langley** Captain David Liu** Captain Robert D. Loper Lieutenant Colonel Aaron G. Norris Major Ryan P. O'Hara** Major Jason V. Paul Ms. Miriam J. Poteet** Mr. Donald R. Reising** Mr. Christopher A. Rice** Mr. Christopher R. Schrock Major Jeremiah A. Shockley** Major Troy C. Welker** Captain Jason P. Williams** (In Absentia) Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering Captain Colin Quinn Hanson Captain Philip E. Lorenzini Major Richard Jon Turner Master of Science in Applied Physics Mr. Jacob G. Castilow Master of Science in Cost Analysis Captain Charlton E. Freeman Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Captain Matthew B. Booth First Lieutenant Isaac B. Putnam Master of Science in Engineering Management Captain David J. Murley Master of Science (Environmental Engineering) Major Peter A. Baker (Marine Corps) Master of Science in Information Resource Management Senior Master Sergeant Carissa Mae Parker Master of Science (Materials Science) Captain Joseph Michael Derienzo Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering Mr. Paul M. Thelen Master of Science in Systems Engineering Mr. Daniel K. Mutunga Captain Sofia I. Russi Captain Thomas F. Shields