KU News Release

Army, Naval ROTC units announce fall 2008 graduates commissioned as officers

LAWRENCE — Several students in the Army and Naval ROTC programs at the University of Kansas were commissioned as officers last month after earning their degrees. Air Force ROTC had no candidates for commissioning this fall.

KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. Students in KU’s ROTC programs are not only from KU but also from Baker University in Baldwin City, Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Washburn University in Topeka, Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe and Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Naval ROTC commissioned Jonathan David Weishaar of Maize as a Navy ensign in a Dec. 20 ceremony at the Military Science Building with Capt. Thomas Arnold, professor of naval science, presiding.

Lt. Col. John Basso, KU Army ROTC battalion commander and professor of military science, took part in three commissioning events for Army second lieutenants in December.

He presided at a ceremony Dec. 19 for KU graduate Casey Atkins of Hill City and Baker University graduate Steven Elliott. Elliott has been assigned to the 326th Area Support Group, U. S. Army Reserve in Kansas City, Kan.

On Dec. 30, Basso commissioned KU graduate Craig McCullah of Lawrence.

Basso commissioned Baker graduate Brett Weir on Dec. 12 at Baker University. Weir is serving temporary active duty with the KU Army ROTC Jayhawk Battalion before his assignment in March to active duty with the Army Nurse Corps at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Commissioning is pending for another student, Christopher Steiber, a fall 2008 MidAmerica Nazarene graduate who is scheduled for a military intelligence assignment with the 35th Infantry, Kansas Army National Guard, at Fort Leavenworth.

KU graduates who were commissioned are listed below by their hometowns, majors, parents’ names (when available), high schools and their assignments as newly commissioned officers.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66047
Craig McCullah, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science; he has a general-equivalency diploma from the state of Kansas; after commission as a second lieutenant, assignment as an infantry officer with the 137th Infantry, Kansas Army National Guard in Kansas City, Kan.

GRAHAM COUNTY
From Hill City 67642
Casey Atkins, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, son of Sam and Melissa Atkins; Hill City High School. Atkins was commissioned by his older brother, Army 1st Lt. Shawn Atkins of the staff judge advocate office at Fort Leavenworth. Shawn Atkins is an alumnus of the KU ROTC program who received his second lieutenant commission as a Washburn graduate in spring 2005. Casey Atkins is assigned as an aviation officer with the 108th Aviation Unit of the Kansas Army National Guard based in Topeka.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Maize 67101
Jonathan David Weishaar, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history, son of Air Force Maj. David and Mary Weishaar; Bishop Carroll High School, Wichita. Weishaar received his commission as a Navy ensign from his father, Air Force Maj. David Weishaar, 184th Squadron Communications Flight Commander at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita. After his commission as an ensign, Jonathan Weisharr was assigned to aviator training in Pensacola, Fla.

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