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UWF Air Force, Army ROTC cadets commissioned as second lieutenants

Twenty cadets from the University of West Florida Air Force ROTC and Army ROTC were recently commissioned as second lieutenants during Spring 2017 commissioning ceremonies.

The presiding officer for the Air Force ceremony was Lt. Col. Scott Lamont, Detachment 014 commander. Col. David Hanson, vice commander of the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, served as guest speaker. The distinguished graduate of the Spring 2017 Commissioning class was Joekenny Duran.

The following cadets were commissioned into the Air Force and will serve in the designated Air Force Specialty Code: Tinamarie Castro, cyber security officer; Joekenny Duran, pilot; Nathan McMurphy, remotely piloted aircraft; Megan Murphy, logistics readiness officer; Chance Pritchard, air battle manager; Matthew Stott, remotely piloted aircraft; Blaine Underwood, developmental engineer; and George Underwood, developmental engineer.

Col. Shana Peck, UWF alumna and 1991 distinguished military graduate, was the guest speaker for the Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony. During her 26-year career, she has served with distinction in numerous air defense artillery command and staff positions, and currently serves as commander of the 11th Air Defense “Imperial” Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas.  She made history in her unit as the first female to ever command the brigade and only the second woman to command an air defense artillery brigade in the Army. 

The following cadets were commissioned into the Army and will serve in the designated branch: Antonio Allende, armor; Javier Cardona, infantry; Brian Condon, cyber; Hakeem Douglas, signal corps; Claude Ellenberg, military police; Caleb Goodson, combat engineer; Christopher Hicks, armor; Kelyan Hurley, military intelligence; Alexandria Rodenbaugh, medical services corps; Andy Rodriquez, military intelligence; Carly Thomas, military police; and Yuzo Yamamoto, medical services corps.

For more information about the UWF Air Force and Army ROTC programs, visit uwf/rotc.