On 24 March 2016, the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Graduate School of Engineering and Management hosted a commencement ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.  Degrees awarded at the ceremony included 219 Master's (three students earned dual degrees) and six Doctor of Philosophy degrees.  In addition, eight Master's and 26 Doctoral graduates returned to walk in the ceremony.

This graduating class included 18 U.S. Army, two U.S. Marine Corps, and 19 civilian students.  In addition, seven international officers from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Republic of Korea, and Turkey received degrees.  More than 20 different research areas were represented. The graduation speaker was Lieutenant General Stephen Wilson, Deputy Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. 

During a ceremony earlier in the day at AFIT, some students were presented awards for their exemplary performance during their graduate studies.  Those presented awards included:

• Capt Thompson Graves, U.S. Marine Corps, from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics was presented the Chancellor's Award, for demonstrating the most exceptional individual master's thesis research. 
• MAJ Nicholas Shallcross, U.S. Army, from the Operational Sciences Department 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, first commandant of the Institute.
• 1st Lt Brian Frandsen from the Engineering Physics Department received the Louis F. Polk Award.  The winner of this award exhibited the highest standards of academic and professional accomplishment and through their research made a significant contribution toward strengthening the nation's industrial defense base.
• Capt Bradford Shields from the Systems Engineering and Management Department received the Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr. Award, presented for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program. 
• MSgt Andrew Seitz from the Electrical and Computer Engineering 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.

Since AFIT's establishment in November of 1919, the institute has counted among its alumni some of the most accomplished engineers and scientists known worldwide, both past and present. This list includes Air Force pioneers Gen. George Kenney, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, Gen. Bernard Schriever, Gen. Benjamin Chidlaw, Astronauts Virgil  " Gus" Grissom,  Gordon Cooper, and Guion Bluford, to name a few.

AFIT first granted accredited resident degrees in 1955 and since then more than 18,700 Master's and 760 Doctoral degrees have been awarded. 

List of Graduates:

Doctor of Philosophy
Mr. Lee Burchett PhD in Applied Physics
Mr. Brian Cranston PhD in Aeronautical Engineering
Mr. Christopher Craft PhD in Astronautical Engineering
Lt Col Daniel Schmitt PhD in Computer Science
Mr. Sean Calhoun PhD in Electrical Engineering
Maj Angelo Bonavita PhD in Nuclear Engineering
Maj Christopher Allen PhD in Electrical Engineering^
Mr. Michael Benson PhD in Optical Sciences & Engineering^
Mr. Trevor Bihl PhD in Electrical Engineering^
Capt Jason Bindewald PhD in Computer Science^
Mr. Bradley Boehmke PhD in Logistics^
Maj Samuel Butler PhD in Applied Physics^
Capt Timothy Carbino PhD in Electrical Engineering^
Maj Jason Crosby PhD in Electrical Engineering^
Maj Michael Dexter PhD in Nuclear Engineering^
Maj Cole Doupe PhD in Space Systems^
Lt Col James Fee PhD in Nuclear Engineering^
Capt Gary Goff PhD in Space Systems^
Mr. Jeremy Hendrix PhD in Systems Engineering^
MAJ Shamaun Holston (U.S. Army) PhD in Nuclear Engineering^
Lt Col Nidal Jodeh PhD in Aeronautical Engineering^
Maj Sergey Kaplan PhD in Aeronautical Engineering^
Capt Michael Kretser PhD in Logistics^
Maj Matthew Krisak PhD in Materials Science^
Capt Robert Lake PhD in Electrical Engineering^
Maj Alan Lin PhD in Computer Science^
Lt Col David Meier PhD in Applied Physics^
Capt Wooddy Miller PhD in Applied Physics^
Maj Scott Robertson PhD in Aeronautical Engineering^
Lt Col Richard Seymour PhD in Applied Mathematics^
Mr. Michael Steinbock PhD in Electrical Engineering^
Lt Col Robert Vandawaker PhD in Systems Engineering^

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS

Master of Science in Applied Mathematics
2 Lt Takayuki Iguchi
Ms. Christine Knott
2 Lt Maloupu Watts

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Master of Science in Computer Engineering
Maj Barry Geise
Capt Derek Worth
Mr. Bradley Denby

Master of Science in Computer Science
Capt Austin Davis
CPT Jonathan Fuller (U.S. Army)
Capt Joseph Giametta
Capt Scott Harned
CPT John Pavlik (U.S. Army)
Capt Ikaika Ramos
Capt Alexander Roosma
MAJ Derek Young (U.S. Army)

Master of Science in Cyber Operations
CW3 Charles Byrd (U.S. Army)
MAJ Barrie Ciotti (U.S. Army)
Mr. Kyle Girtz
CPT Nathan Grunzweig (U.S. Army)
Capt Joseph Hall*
Capt Joshua Lapso
MSGT Andrew Seitz
Capt Michael Todd

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
2 Lt Jeffrey Bintz
Capt Michael Bollinger
Capt Edwin Colon
Capt Kevin Colson
Capt Patrick Cunningham
Capt Jorge Diaz
Capt James Dossett
Capt Travis Freeman
Capt Derek Jelinek
Capt Jin Kim
2 Lt Christopher Kodama*
Capt Christopher Kokoczka
Capt Tyrel Kvasager
Capt Adam Lemmenes
Capt Nathan Lett
2 Lt Daniel Levy
Capt Jimmy Lohrman
Maj Kurt MacAloney
2 Lt Timothy Machin
Capt Turner Montgomery
1 Lt David New
Capt Seth Nickolas
Capt Alec Rasmussen
Flight Lt Dayne Schmidt (Australia)
Capt Collin Seanor
Capt Jeffrey Sovern
1 Lt Barron Stone*
2 Lt Jack Waller
2 Lt Tatsuki Watts*
Capt Justin Wylie
CPT Jungsang Yoon (U.S. Army)*
Capt John Walton^

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING PHYSICS

Master of Science in Applied Physics
1 Lt Derek Burns
2 Lt Richard Cook
2 Lt Thomas Dickinson*
Capt Kyle Fitch*
Capt Matthew King
MAJ Ember Maniego (U.S. Army)
2 Lt Steven Owens
Capt Adam Poulin
Capt Frederick Schmidt
Mr. Stephen Shirey
Capt MacLane Townsend
1 Lt Austin Wallerstein
1 Lt Shannon Young

Master of Science in Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction
MAJ Aaron Ferguson (U.S. Army) *#
Ms. Crystal Grijalva 
MAJ Stephan Varga (U.S. Army)#

Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering
Capt Olivia Borman
1 Lt Brian Frandsen
2 Lt Christopher O'Daniel
MAJ Robert Botsford (U.S. Army)
Capt J. Anthony Cammarata
2 Lt Sarah Castro
2 Lt Carl Eichert
MAJ Aaron Ferguson (U.S. Army) *#
CPT Nathaniel Kaminski (U.S. Army)
MAJ Stephan Varga (U.S. Army) #
2 Lt Molly Wakeling

DEPARTMENT OF OPERATIONAL SCIENCES

Master of Science in Logistics & Supply Chain Management
1 Lt Bahadir Aykiri (Turkey)
Capt Christopher Clawson
Capt James Cotton
Capt Brian Fitzpatrick#
Maj Daniel Griffith*
Mr. George Lafiguera
Lt Col Santiago Martin (Argentina)
Capt Anton Martyn
Capt Jacob Maywald
Capt Jessica Salgado
Capt Leandro Valviesse de Oliveira (Brazil)
MSgt Cassidy Wilson
Capt Candis Woods

Master of Science in Operations Research
2 Lt Nicholas Boardman*
2 Lt Amelia Bradshaw
Maj Calvin Bradshaw
2 Lt Kevin Cardenas
2 Lt Lauren Clisby
Capt Michael Davis
Capt Eric de Guzman
2 Lt Thomas Dickey
MAJ Justin Dwyer (U.S. Army)
2 Lt Jacob Ehrlich
1 Lt Kiley Hefty
2 Lt Helen Jantscher
Capt Clay Javid
Capt Changsung Kim
MAJ Lucas Lease (U.S. Army)
Capt John Lira
MAJ Joshua McDonald (U.S. Army)
2 Lt Warren McGriff
Capt Brenden McLean
Capt Richard Mickelsen
Capt Robert Montgomery
2 Lt Kyle Palko
1 Lt James Park
2 Lt Jovan Popovich
Major Abdurrahman Sevimli (Turkey)
MAJ Nicholas Shallcross (U.S. Army)*
Capt Alyssa Tetrault
MAJ Russell Walter (U.S. Army)
Maj Christine Zens*

DEPARTMENT OF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT

Master of Engineering in Applied Systems Engineering
Maj Daryl Brezina
Capt Douglas Downs
Capt Garret Duff
Mr. Darryl Evanetich
Maj Luke Haywas

Master of Science in Cost Analysis
Capt Brian Fitzpatrick#
Ms. Elizabeth Hodson
Ms. Candice Honious
Capt Christopher Jimenez
Capt Brandon Johnson
Capt Scott Kozlak
1 Lt Thomas Lamb
Ms. Huan Li
1 Lt Danielle Mrla
1 Lt Samuel Oh
Capt Anthony Pena Huertas
1 Lt Robert Wolfe

Master of Science in Engineering Management
Capt Ryan Amedee
Capt Jeffrey Buchholtz*
Capt Jay Calvo
Capt Perry Cansick*
Capt Patrick Deering
Capt Arthur Dietrich
Capt Trevor Ellis
Capt James Forbes
Capt Drew Gallucci
Capt Brian Greszler
Capt Eric Holm
Ms. Maria Meeks
Capt Bradford Shields
Capt Clark Smith
Capt Freddie Stephens
1 Lt Brandon Stewart
Capt Micki Sundheim
Capt Christopher Wittman
CPT Michael Quigg (U.S. Army)
Capt Kadir Yildiz (Turkey)

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering & Science
Capt Christopher Brown
Capt Anthony Suh (U.S. Marine Corps)
Mr. Benjamin Doane^

Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene
Capt Thomas Dominguez*
MSgt Amanda Taylor

Master of Science in Systems Engineering
Capt Stuart Everson
2 Lt Tyler Goodman
Capt Kevin Hendricks
2 Lt Erich Maxheimer*
Mr. Craig Pakish
2 Lt Cody Palmer
Capt Brian Scheller
Capt Michael Watson
Capt Craig Zinck
Major Sungbin Kim (Republic of Korea)
2 Lt Eric Shirley
Mr. Jeremy Gray^
Capt David Meyer^
Mr. Michael Maroney^

DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICS & ASTRONAUTICS

Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering
Capt Michael Anstaett
Capt Jacob Bills
2 Lt Peter Cialkowski
Maj Allison Dempsey
Capt Matthew Deutsch
Capt Nicholas Gilbert
Capt William Graves (U.S. Marine Corps)
1 Lt Chase Guarnaccio
Capt Evan Hanks
2 Lt Daniel Hope
Capt George Ip
2 Lt Joshua Kim
Capt Aaron Knoblauch
Mr. Michael Magers
1 Lt Andrew Petry
Maj Zachary Probst
2 Lt James Sellers
Capt Joshua Shepard*
2 Lt David Simeroth
Maj William Stephenson
2 Lt Jason Torf
Maj John Trombetta
2 Lt Connor Wiese
Capt Eric Yerly
Capt Curtis Babbie^
Capt Eduardo Nieto^
Capt David Walker^

Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering
1 Lt Scott Biehl
Capt David Cunningham*
2 Lt Laura Duffy
Ms. Stacie Flamos
Ms. Kerianne Gross
2 Lt James Liu
2 Lt Monica Yuen Jing Liu
2 Lt Julian McCafferty
2 Lt James Millar
Capt Daniel Miller
2 Lt Blake Morgan
2 Lt Connor Muilenburg
1 Lt Ryan Patrick
Capt Matthew Piper
2 Lt Jacob Singleton
2 Lt Meredith Wilmer
2 Lt Alfredo Zurita

Master of Science in Materials Science
Capt Len Kedrow
2 Lt Michael Lee

Master of Science in Space Systems
Capt Jonathan Denton*
Capt Jonathan Fullenkamp*
Capt Jason Holt*
Capt Joshua Loudermilk
1 Lt Jeremiah Specht

*Distinguished Graduate
#Dual Degree
^Return to Walk
 

The original article can be read here.