WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB. Ohio -- The Air University’s Air Force Institute of Technology graduated 181 students during its March 2026 commencement ceremony, highlighting Air University’s role in developing technically advanced warfighters who can solve operational problems across the Joint Force.
As part of Air University’s broader mission to educate and develop joint warfighters, AFIT provides advanced academic education and research that prepares officers, enlisted members, civilians and international partners to apply technical expertise in real-world operational environments, supporting more informed and effective decision-making.
The graduating class included 127 Air Force officers, 10 U.S. Space Force officers, nine Army officers, four Marines, two enlisted Airmen and 18 Department of the Air Force civilians, along with international partners from Australia, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Brazil and Israel. The diverse makeup reflects Air University’s role in developing joint and coalition warfighters capable of operating across domains and strengthening interoperability.
Lt. Gen. Daniel Tulley, commander and president of Air University, presided over the ceremony and emphasized AFIT’s role in developing technical expertise for the force.
“AFIT is a unique institution,” Tulley said. “The mixture of air domain expertise, space expertise, technology paired with warfighting is unmatched anywhere in this world.”
He said the impact of the institution extends beyond the classroom and continues with graduates as they move into operational assignments.
“When a student goes off, a part of every instructor goes with them,” Tulley said. “To the graduates, I don’t know if you realize it now, but the faculty and staff here, a part of all them is going with you.”
Tulley encouraged graduates to carry that investment forward in their service.
“Pay it forward to the nation, pay it forward with your service,” he said. “Pay it forward to make the next generation Airmen and Guardians better than we can ever be. That is how we remain the world’s greatest air and space force.”
Distinguished Air Force guests in attendance included Chief Master Sgt. Raun Howell, Air University command chief, and Dr. Yolanda Williams, Air University provost and chief academic officer, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Luke C. G. Cropsey, military deputy for acquisition, technology and logistics, told graduates their education positions them to tackle some of the Department’s most complex challenges.
“You are, in fact, the representative class of what it takes to bring a scholar and a warrior together in a way that propels us forward,” Cropsey said.
He said AFIT graduates bring a combination of technical expertise and operational understanding that is critical to how the Air Force develops and delivers capability.
“We’ve invested a lot of national treasure to make sure you have the tools, training and wherewithal to go into these highly technical spaces to figure out what ‘right’ really looks like,” he said.
Cropsey also pointed to the growing complexity of today’s operating environment, noting that future challenges will demand leaders who can think critically, integrate systems and provide clear, actionable solutions.
In his closing remarks, Cropsey highlighted distinguished AFIT graduate, General Bernard ‘Bernie’ Schriever, and his remarkable contributions to intercontinental ballistic missiles during the cold war and the inventor of systems engineering.
“As you move into your careers, follow-ons, and jobs, the level of complexity that Shriever had to figure out when he invented systems engineering is ten-fold that today.
The things that we’re asking you to figure out are the things that we need you to be able to figure out with the degrees we gave you while you were at AFIT,” said Cropsey.
Through AFIT, Air University delivers advanced education and research that develops joint warfighters, supports operational problem solving and integrates capability across the enterprise.
Graduates leave AFIT with more than advanced degrees. They bring the ability to apply technical knowledge in operational settings and support faster, better-informed decisions across the Joint Force, reinforcing Air University’s role as a trusted partner to leaders across the Department of the Air Force and the broader Joint Force.
The following graduates met all degree requirements and were approved for their respective degrees:
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
Master of Science (Applied Mathematics)
Mr. Trevor Cross
Captain Ray Raymon Freeze
Major Travis J. Salter (US Space Force)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Master of Science in Computer Engineering
Mr. Ryan Bradley Bazzell
Mr. Joseph Lisle Drury
Captain Robert M. H. Kramer
Mr. Joseph Rabaut
Second Lieutenant Mason Scott Rolph
Second Lieutenant Marcus Allen Sander
Master of Science (Computer Engineering)
Second Lieutenant Sophie Briann Callahan
Mr. Michael Vincent Smith*
Master of Science (Computer Science)
First Lieutenant Abdullah Khalid A. Albrethen (Royal Saudi Air Force)
Captain Don Ellington
Captain John Henry Hardy VI
Mr. Joel Hottinger
Second Lieutenant Kai Kam
Second Lieutenant Kayleb Klapp
Second Lieutenant Matthew Mendoza
Captain Sanford Lorin Threlkeld
Second Lieutenant Grace Theresa Treanor
Second Lieutenant Kevin Michael Trigg
Second Lieutenant Meilyn Jade Wong
Captain Dalton Kueter Woods
First Lieutenant Jiwoon Yim
Master of Science (Cyber Operations)
Captain Tyler Bertles (US Army)
Major Benito Augusto de Laia Silva (Brazilian Air Force)
Captain Jacob Daniel Dimmitt
Captain Reid B. Hessman
Major Renan Machado de Oliveira (Brazilian Air Force)
Captain Alexander P. Mundy
Captain César T. Ramirez-Thatcher
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Mr. Ethan Bolt
Second Lieutenant Aaron James Bonner
First Lieutenant Dylan Michael Bott
Captain Victoria Crowder
Captain Woodson T. Culp
Captain Noah Tyler Frandsen
First Lieutenant Jeremiah Ryan Carlucci Gaulding (US Space Force)
Captain Jeremy Steven Germenis (US Space Force)
Mr. Ethan D. Hays
Captain Noah Christopher Holston
Captain Bradley Lemon
Captain Naaman Eliseo Morales
First Lieutenant Seth Porter Myers
Second Lieutenant Hilary Tran Nolen
Captain Kojo Otoo
Second Lieutenant Joshua Pigg
Second Lieutenant Caleb Joshua Stilp
First Lieutenant Ethan J. Ward
Captain Minjong Yoon
Master of Science (Electrical Engineering)
Captain Sebastián Cifuentes Valdebenito (Chilean Air Force)
Captain William A. L. Helms
Captain Laine Grace Jeston-Fenton (Royal Australian Air Force)
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Master of Science (Applied Physics)
Second Lieutenant Grant Christopher Ferry
Captain Sharjeel Hyder
Captain Lucas N. Kulesza
Mr. Travis Morris
Mr. John Norton*
Mr. Robert J. Von Holle*
Mr. Jaden Woodward*
Master of Science (Atmospheric Science)
Mr. Daniel E. Haegele*
Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering
Captain Samuel Joseph Foster
Major Scott M. Lorette (US Army)
Mr. Richmond J. McDonald
Mr. Josten M. Meade
Captain Eric James Plummer
Major Rafael Antonio Polo (US Army)
Major Zachary O. Priday (US Army)
DEPARTMENT OF OPERATIONAL SCIENCES
Master of Science (Data Science)
Captain Kyle P. Daley
Major Daniel Patrick Delaney
Second Lieutenant Emma Finch
Captain Tristan Henry Alaric Godbold (US Army)
Captain Edward P. Lara (US Army)
Second Lieutenant Christopher M. Rafnson
Captain Benjamin Shinskie
Master Sergeant Andrew Swanson
Second Lieutenant Lyssa Avery White
Master of Science (Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
Captain Michael J. Bechtel Jr.
Captain Daniel W. Schott
Major Joseph Paul Spletzer
Master of Science (Operations Research)
Captain Addison M. Bieger (US Army)
Second Lieutenant Rebecca Lynn Daniels
Captain Luke A. Grossmann (US Army)
Captain Jordan A. Hartwig (US Army)
Second Lieutenant Vada Jeanette Kirsch
Major Dor Kleinfeld (Israeli Air Force)
Captain Alexander M. Mallory
DEPARTMENT OF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Master of Engineering
(Applied Systems Engineering)
Captain William T. Compton
Major Justin Anton Happ
Mr. Sayxue John Ly
Mr. Prithvijeet Shaha
Captain Trenton Mitsugi Shimata**
Captain Adam Simmons
Mr. Shawn Watkins*
Master of Science (Acquisition and Program Management)
Captain Kyle S. Broekhuis
First Lieutenant Alek Timothy Downs
Major Keah Giavanni Gee
First Lieutenant Jordan Anthony Graham
First Lieutenant Tevin Miller
Captain Matthew Griffin Papandrea
Captain Robert Saite
Captain Mitchell Stephen Wade
Master of Science (Cost Analysis)
Captain Benjamin L. Ainsworth
First Lieutenant Joshua A. Band
Captain John Christopher Hernandez
Captain Megan Michelle Keene
Captain Brian M. Lewis
Second Lieutenant Austin Jayke Romanov
Second Lieutenant Jocelyn Claire Ruiz
Captain Jacob William Saripkin
Master of Science in Engineering Management
Captain Evert June Chung
Second Lieutenant Kadyn Jacob Craigle
Captain Jacob Andrew Daum (US Marine Corps)
Captain Nicole A. Demoret
Captain Brian James Fink
Second Lieutenant Jeremiah Michael Garcia
Captain Jon-Scot B. Gilstrap
Captain Tabatha Harumi Herzig
Captain Alex Davis Kincaid
Captain Austin Colin Koch
Second Lieutenant Alise Nichole MacDonald
Second Lieutenant Christian Mae Y. Malacas
Captain Andrea Rake
Captain Ryan Rettig
Captain Miriansky Rivas Ramos
Captain Calvin Chae Ross
Captain Trenton Mitsugi Shimata**
Second Lieutenant Colin Gerard Sistrunk
Captain Kelsee Rae Stevens
Second Lieutenant Caroline Kay Weeren
Master of Science (Engineering Management)
Captain Omar Luis Campos (US Marine Corps)
Captain Malachijah Clark (US Marine Corps)
Second Lieutenant Kaitelyn Jihan Haynes
Major Andrew Michael Sumner
Master of Science in Systems Engineering
First Lieutenant Adrianna Alecia Blenkush
Captain Matthew D. Burchill
Captain Patrick Ryan Dougherty
Mr. Benjamin Mark Francis
Major Carlos James Horner
First Lieutenant Connor Martin
Captain Patrick Daniel McVey
Mr. Daniel Cooper Merrell
Second Lieutenant Elizabeth Ream Van Caster
First Lieutenant Jimmy Xiao
Second Lieutenant Corinne Yorkman
Master of Science (Systems Engineering)
Captain Elizabeth Anne Archer
Captain Ayelet Blank-Koplon (Israeli Air Force)
DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering
Captain Thomas Charles Balaj
Second Lieutenant Mabel Chui (US Space Force)
Second Lieutenant Amy Madelyn Cinnamon
Second Lieutenant Derek Daniel Dickenscheidt
Captain Bryce Nathaniel Graley
Captain Alex Harms
Second Lieutenant John Harrison
Second Lieutenant Caleb Michael Christian Harrold
Second Lieutenant Bryce Helmer
Captain Matthew T. Knoedler
Second Lieutenant Nicolas Medeiros
First Lieutenant Eva Medora Paleo
First Lieutenant Michael Francis Sweeney
Major Matthew Thompson
First Lieutenant Alex R. Thordson
Second Lieutenant Luke Alexander Wells
Mr. Christopher Weir
Master of Science (Aeronautical Engineering)
Captain Tanner Scott Barber (US Marine Corps)
Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering
Second Lieutenant Edward Blaney
First Lieutenant Ryan Collins
Captain James Quincy Mostek (US Space Force)
Second Lieutenant David Noh (US Space Force)
Captain Colin James Pate
Second Lieutenant Elliot Potter (US Space Force)
Captain Zachary Scott Randall
Second Lieutenant Paul Marcus Rickershauser (US Space Force)
Mr. Gabriel James Scheer-Scherer
Captain Cole Turner
Second Lieutenant Peter Joseph Van Cise
Captain Dylan Viveros (US Space Force)
Master of Science (Astronautical Engineering)
Captain Pablo Andrés Figueroa Toledo (Chilean Air Force)
Master of Science (Materials Science)
First Lieutenant Nicholas D. Garbinski
Captain Hassan Waheed Khokhar
Master of Science (Space Systems)
Second Lieutenant Conner Seamus O’Malley (US Space Force)
Senior Master Seargent Deng Gatkuoth Pour
Ms. Shelbie Lehto*
First Lieutenant Matías Andrés Ramírez Cisternas (Chilean Air Force)
Captain Alonso Javier Vásquez Castañeda (Chilean Air Force)
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**Dual-degree graduate
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Ms. Kara Lian Combs
Lieutenant Colonel William Harrell*
Ms. Rachel A. Heffner
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