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Print PageContact: Army Capt. William Greer, (785) 864-1111; Air Force Capt. Corey Edmonds, (785) 864-4676; Naval Commander Sean Fox, (785) 864-3161.
ROTC units commission new officers in May 18 ceremony in Kansas Union
LAWRENCE — Seventeen University of Kansas graduates and four graduates of other area colleges and universities will be honored as newly commissioned officers in the armed forces during ceremonies at 10 a.m. today in the Kansas Union.
2nd Lt. Dustin Johnson, KU spring 2008 graduate now in pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, will welcome the cadets, their families, friends and guests, including Denise Stephens, vice provost for information services and chief information officer. Lt. Col. Gena Stuchbery, KU Air Force ROTC commanding officer, will introduce the speaker, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles Mosley of Lawrence.
A 1965 KU graduate in chemical engineering, Mosley was commissioned a second lieutenant through KU’s Air Force ROTC program. After pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, Mosley progressed to advanced fighter training in the F-4 Phantom II. In September 1967, he was assigned to the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron in Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. His F-4 Phantom jet was shot down about 15 miles from the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam on July 8, 1968. The next morning, a 15-aircraft rescue team pulled him to safety.
During Mosley’s military career of more than 21 years, he was a pilot of F-4s and A-6 Intruder aircraft, an instructor-trainer and administrator in Arizona, Florida, Washington and England, and an offensive operations officer with the 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force, part of NATO, in the Netherlands.
Following his NATO assignment, Mosley returned to KU as commander and professor of aerospace studies at Air Force ROTC Detachment 280 for three years. He spent a year as operations officer for the 554th Range Support Group at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He retired from the Air Force in 1986 and taught chemistry and coached football in the Kansas City area. Before his retirement in 2008, he also taught chemistry and was an assistant football coach at Lawrence Free State High School.
Mosley will administer the oath of office for the new officers. They have completed requirements of KU Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC units or the Marine Corps Platoon Leadership Course. ROTC branch representatives introducing cadets for their commissioning are Maj. Gary Marsteller, Air Force ROTC; Capt. William McGreer, Army ROTC and Commander Sean Fox, Naval and Marine ROTC.
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, KU’s ROTC program also trains cadets from Baker University in Baldwin City; Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence; Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe; the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth; and Washburn University in Topeka.
Four graduates from other universities are receiving commissions: Shane R. Thomas, University of St. Mary, and Samuel A. Smith and Christopher M. Steiber, both of Mid-America Nazarene, all U.S. Army; and Washburn University graduate Jeffrey Bennett Waddell, U.S. Air Force.
Justin Bradford Goodman, Lawrence senior in finance at KU and a Naval ROTC cadet, participated in the ceremony but will not receive his commission officially until August.
The newly commissioned KU graduates are listed below by hometown, degree earned and, when available, their parents’ names and high schools.
CRAWFORD COUNTY
From Girard 66743
Chase Patrick McFarland, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science, son of Mark and Michele McFarland; Girard High School; Air Force second lieutenant.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Eudora 66025
Michael Ryan Cribbs, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, son of Joe and Cathy Cribbs; Eudora High School; Navy ensign.
Craig Thomas Potthast, graduating with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, son of Thomas and Pamela Potthast; Norfolk Senior High School, Norfolk, Neb.; Navy ensign.
From Lawrence 66049
Frances Geeneel Glass, graduating with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, daughter of Steve and Edwina Glass; Lawrence Free State High School; Army second lieutenant.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park 66209
David Matthew Strachan, graduating with bachelor’s degrees in history and Spanish; Robinson School in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Navy ensign.
From Overland Park 66221
Brittany Nicole Ramos, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history, daughter of Angeles and Jeanne Ramos; Blue Valley Northwest High School; Air Force second lieutenant.
Stephanie A. Smiros, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and in Slavic languages and literatures, daughter of John and Jane Smiros; Blue Valley Northwest High School; Navy ensign.
From Shawnee 66216
Devon Austin Cartwright, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, son of Steven and Deborah Cartwright; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; Navy ensign.
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth 66048
John Arthur Irvine Jr., graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business management and geography, son of John and Marcia Irvine; Leavenworth Senior High School; Army second lieutenant.
From Tonganoxie 66086 and Kansas City, Mo.
Erin Michelle Wood, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, daughter of Dana Wood of Tonganoxie and Daniel Wood of Kansas City, Mo.; Air Force second lieutenant.
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66610
David Andrew Ehret, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, son of Richard Ehret and Teresa Ehret; Washburn Rural High School; Navy ensign.
SUMNER COUNTY
From Conway Springs 67031
Carl Joe Amerine, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, son of Clyde and Janet Amerine; Conway Springs High School; Air Force second lieutenant.
WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66109
Daniel Parker, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, son of James and Anita Parker; Lansing High School in Lansing; Air Force second lieutenant.
MARYLAND
From Lexington Park 20653
Joshua Edmund Thomas, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, son of Steven Thomas; Great Mills High School, Great Mills, Md.; Marines second lieutenant.
MISSOURI
From Kansas City 64155 and Tonganoxie, Kan.
Erin Michelle Wood. See LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
NEVADA
From Reno 89502
Julie Marie Golbov Randolph, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, daughter of George Golbov and Clemencia Golbov; Earl Wooster High School; Navy ensign.
TEXAS
From Allen 75013
Alejandro E. Carrera, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology, son of Jessie and Jesus Carrera; Allen High School; Air Force second lieutenant.
WASHINGTON
From Buckley 98321
Shawn Phillip Ridings, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, son of Kim Jones; Sumner High School, Sumner, Wash.; Marines second lieutenant.
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