KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The Army and Naval ROTC units at the University of Kansas commissioned five fall graduates in separate campus ceremonies Dec. 19.

Allan Milton Blair, of Lawrence, and Daniel Thomas Novak, of Kansas City, Mo., and Columbia, S.C., were commissioned in the Army ceremony. Retired Army Col. Bernie Kish, director of facilities and lecturer for the Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences, addressed the officer candidates and their families and friends. Lt. Col. John Basso, KU Army ROTC battalion commander and professor of military science, administered the oath of office.

Robert Alley, of Overland Park; Stephen Thomas, of Leavenworth; and Darren Elder, of Platte City, Mo., were commissioned in the Navy ceremony. Navy Capt. Carl A. Carpenter, KU Naval ROTC commanding officer and professor of naval science, was the guest speaker. Marine Capt. Jose Nicolas, Naval ROTC adjunct instructor, administered the oath of office.

KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering a ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. Besides training KU students, the ROTC program also trains cadets, midshipmen and officer candidates at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Baker University in Baldwin City, the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Washburn University in Topeka, Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Johnson County Community College in Overland Park and Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Fall graduates who were commissioned are listed below by hometown, degree(s), parents’ names, high school, rank and commissioning details and destination assignment.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66047
Allan Milton Blair, bachelor’s degree in anthropology and global and international studies; son of Irma Blair; Lawrence High School; Army second lieutenant. His mother and brother Mark Blair, also of Lawrence, were invited to pin his gold bars. He will be commissioned into the Army Air Defense Artillery Corps after a branch detail to the infantry. He later will attend Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Ga., followed by an assignment to be determined.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park 66212
Robert Alley, bachelor’s degree in history; son of Rick and Janet Alley; Shawnee Mission South High School; Marine Corps second lieutenant. His parents were invited to pin his gold bars. His initial assignment is to U.S. Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico,Va.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth 66048
Stephen Thomas, bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering; son of Dale and Kristine Thomas; Lansing High School; Marine Corps second lieutenant. His parents were invited to pin his gold bars. His initial assignment is to U.S. Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico, Va.

MISSOURI
From Kansas City 64137 and Columbia, S.C.
Daniel Thomas Novak, bachelor’s degree in political science; son of Tom and Dawn Novak, Columbia, S.C.; Lower Richland High School, Hopkins, S.C.; Army second lieutenant. His wife, Amanda, was invited to pin his gold bars. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps and will be a gold bar recruiter at KU. Later, he will attend the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., followed by an assignment to Fort Hood, Texas.

From Platte City 64079
Darren Elder, bachelor’s degree in biology with concentration in biodiversity and ecology and evolutionary biology; son of Darren and Dina Elder; West Platte Junior-Senior High School, Weston, Mo.; Navy ensign. His wife, Ashley, and his parents were invited to pin his ensign bars. He will be assigned to naval student aviator training at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola. Fla .

SOUTH CAROLINA
From Columbia 29209 and Kansas City, Mo.
Daniel Thomas Novak. See MISSOURI.