May 11, 2026

29 ROTC members receive military commissions

Seven ROTC members in uniform stand onstage at Pinnacle Bank Arena as the audience and their fellow graduates applaud.
Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing

Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing
Members of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Reserve Officer Training Corps programs receive applause after reciting the oath of enlistment during the morning undergraduate commencement ceremony May 9 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Twenty-nine members of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Reserve Officer Training Corps received military commissions May 8-10.

Twelve cadets in Army ROTC were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army on May 8; eight midshipmen in Navy ROTC received commissions May 9, five as ensigns in the U.S. Navy and three as second lieutenants in the U.S. Marine Corps; and 10 cadets in Air Force ROTC were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force on May 10.

Following is a list by hometown of new officers, with rank and service branch.

Nebraska

Blair:

  • 2nd Lt. Cory James Grieb, Army

Denton:

  • 2nd Lt. Hailey Elizabeth Palmer, Air Force

Lincoln:

  • 2nd Lt. Calvin Wade Finley, Army
  • 2nd Lt. Olivia Johann, Army

North Platte:

  • 2nd Lt. Luke Ryan Rathjen, Army

Omaha:

  • 2nd Lt. Edward Alan Morrissette, Air Force
  • 2nd Lt. Christopher Wayne Nicodemus, Army

Papillion:

  • 2nd Lt. Josephine J. Hartley, Air Force

Wahoo:

  • 2nd Lt. Samuel Benjamin DuBois, Army

Elsewhere

Kingman, Arizona:

  • 2nd Lt. Jonah Matthew Waits, Army

Brighton, Colorado:

  • Ensign Austin James Hill, Navy

Castle Rock, Colorado:

  • 2nd Lt. Olivia Marie Fortin, Air Force

Littleton, Colorado:

  • Ensign Leah Lorene Linhardt, Navy

Destin, Florida:

  • Ensign Jessica Rose Sherman, Navy

Aurora, Illinois:

  • 2nd Lt. Matthew Malcolm Leslie, Air Force
  • 2nd Lt. Madison Rayne Pozzi, Air Force

South Beloit, Illinois:

  • 2nd Lt. Sebastian Wysocki, Army

Basehor, Kansas:

  • 2nd Lt. Alyssa Marie Batista, Army

Leavenworth, Kansas:

  • 2nd Lt. Nicholas Matheis Law, Army
  • 2nd Lt. Loren Grace Schowengerdt, Army

Andover, Minnesota:

  • 2nd Lt. Joseph Ronald Stuedemann, Air Force

Excelsior, Minnesota:

  • 2nd Lt. Lincoln Thomas Kohler, Marine Corps

Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota:

  • 2nd Lt. Abigail Catherine Thibodeau, Marine Corps

Sioux Falls, South Dakota:

  • 2nd Lt. Elena Rae Burgwald, Air Force
  • Ensign Olivia Kathryn Muenster, Navy

Pearland, Texas:

  • Ensign Ronie Craig Simpson, Navy

Norfolk, Virginia:

  • 2nd Lt. Gabrielle Linda Martinez, Marine Corps

Langley, Washington:

  • 2nd Lt. Kaia Richmond, Air Force

Lome, Togo:

  • 2nd Lt. Robert Mawuea Oklouvi, Army
ROTC members in uniform recite the oath of enlistment onstage at PInnacle Bank Arena.
Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing
Members of the university's ROTC programs recite the oath of enlistment during the afternoon undergraduate ceremony May 9 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

News Release Contact(s)

Detachment Commander, Air Force ROTC
Commanding Officer, Army ROTC; Professor of Military Science
Commanding Officer, Naval ROTC

High Resolution Photos

ROTC members on stage
Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing