AFIT graduates first class of pilot training pipeline students
Posted Thursday, September 29, 2022
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)
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.
“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 AF 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: things will happen to you that you can’t control, but make the best of what you were given; a strong education base will help you in ways you can’t predict; leadership is an art that can be learned, it just takes study, hard work, and a commitment to learning; and 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.”
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 Jaima Fogg)
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 Jaima Fogg)
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
Maj. Nathan J. Snow
Applied Mathematics
Capt. Peter A. Calhoun
Maj. Philip Y. Cho
Capt. Gonzalo Hernando
Capt. Kristopher N. Kilpatrick
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