WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - On June 16th, many family and friends gathered at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kenney Hall, to watch 55 engineering and management students receive their degrees. The graduation address was presented by Lieutenant General Michael J. Basla, Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, CO.

"Today's graduation is a perfect example of what makes AFIT unique. The students and faculty you see here today represent our Nation's Total Force concept. We have students from different services, officers and civilians as well as partner nations." said Maj. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, AFIT commandant, to begin the graduation ceremonies.

AFIT's Graduate School of Engineering and Management awarded 94 graduate degrees, 21 of which were given at alternate ceremony locations. Of the 55 students in attendance, there were 40 Air Force officers, 2 Army officers, and 13 civilians. Degrees conferred included 55 master's degrees and one doctor of philosophy degree with one graduate receiving a dual master's degree.

During the ceremony several awards were provided to students in recognition of exemplary performance during their graduate studies.

Presented awards included:

• Maj. Benjamin Bishop 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, who, following World War II was responsible for reorganizing the Air Corps Engineering School as the Air Force Institute of Technology.
• Maj. Jason Eckberg received the Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr. Award, named in honor of Lt. Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr., member of the Institute's first graduating class of 1920 and AFIT's first vice commandant, presented for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program.
• Maj. Ronald Gilbert received the Louis F. Polk Award recognizing the student who has made an advanced contribution in their professional field significantly strengthening the Nation's industrial base through their research.
• Maj. Benjamin Bishop received the Air Force Historical Foundation's General Bryce Poe II Award. This award is given to a student or group of students whose thesis contributes to an understanding of the historical factors affecting an Air Force or Department of Defense problem, event or process.
• Maj. Dain Kleiv received the Jerome G. Peppers Jr. Outstanding Student Award which is given to a member of each graduating class whose academic record and research significantly contributes to the field of logistics.
• Fairul Modh-Zaid received the Military Operations Research Society Award which is given to the author of a thesis judged to demonstrate the best application of operations research methodology or theory development into a military problem.

Among the many distinguished guests on hand for the ceremonies were Col Amanda Gladney, Commander, 88th Air Base Wing, WPAFB, Ohio, Colonel Jerry Johnson, Commander, 3rd Maintenance Group, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, George Bailey, the Dayton Chair of the International Society of Logistics, and Mike Garrambone, Military Operations Research Society.

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.

"We count on you, the graduates of today, to be our champions of science and technology, and in fact you have already begun to assume that mantle through the work and research you have done here during your studies at AFIT, which is one of the unique attributes of this institution that makes it so valuable." said General Givhan ";As you graduate, we recognize each and every one of you as champions of science and technology whose work will ensure our dominance in defense technology. You are the Jimmy Doolittles, the Bennie Schrievers, the Buzz Alrdrins, and the Guy Blufords of tomorrow, and we expect equally great things from you."

June 2011 AFIT Graduates:

• Major Kris Barcomb*
• Major James Becker
• Capt Lachlan Belcher
• Capt Tereca Benton
• Major Benjamin Bishop*
• Mr. Bradley C. Boehmke
• Mr. Gregory Briggs*
• Capt Youngdong Choi
• Major Heather Cooley
• Major Benjamin Crossley
• Major Jason Eckberg*
• Major Jonathan Frampton
• Mrs. Rachel Ghai
• Major Ronald Gilbert
• Major Christopher Hammond
• Mr Kevin Huber
• Major Jarod Hughes
• Mr Renato Jelic
• Major Todd Jensen
• 1Lt Brooke Kaszynski
• 1Lt Terra Kier
• Major Dain Kleiv
• Major Christopher Kretsinger
• Maj Dennis J. Krill
• Mr Benjamin Kuhar
• Major Aaron Larose
• Major David Lavine
• Major David Leach
• CAPT Christy A Licklider
• Major Samuel Little
• Major Ronald Llantada
• Mr Kevin Lustic
• Capt Mattew Maier
• Major Todd Markwart*
• Major Richard Martino
• Major Donald Mccallie
• Capt Kassandra Merritt
• Mr Fairul Mohd-Said
• Major Gregory Morissette
• Major Yira Muse
• Major Michael Myers
• Mr Alexander Nelson
• Capt Jason Niederhauser
• Major Christopher Olsen
• Mr Rachel Russo
• Major Mark Scheer*
• Major Robert Schreiner
• Major Chad Searle
• Lt Cmdr Nicholas Sinnokrak
• Major Guy Spencer
• Capt Donald Stack
• Mr Jacob Stange
• Capt Krishna Surajbally
• Major Katrina Terry
• Major Kenneth Underwood
• Major John Varilek
• Major Shane Vetter*
• Ms Lauren Wagoner
• Major Ted Wahoske
• Major James Wilson

*designates student graduated as a Distinguished Graduate