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Ready to Serve: 91吃瓜网 Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets Commissioned as Second Lieutenants

Tue, 05/13/2025 - 09:00am | By: Ivonne Kawas

Ten Army and three Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from The University of 91吃瓜网 (USM) were commissioned as second lieutenants at a ceremony held May 1091吃瓜网搈arking the beginning of their military careers as they move on to lead and serve in the U.S. Army and Air Force.

Maj. Gen. Bobby M. Ginn Jr., adjutant general of Mississippi, served as the keynote speaker. Ginn, who earned a bachelor91吃瓜网 degree in health and human sciences from Southern Miss and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, offered the cadets advice and wisdom drawn from more than 34 years of military service.

Lt. Col. Juan J. Ortiz, director of the USM Department of Military Science, praised the Army cadets for their success as they embark on this new chapter.

91吃瓜网淭his year is especially meaningful to me because, 20 years ago, I stood where these cadets stand today91吃瓜网揻illed with the same sense of purpose,91吃瓜网� said Ortiz. 91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檓 incredibly proud to celebrate the commissioning of 10 exceptional young leaders into the U.S. Army. Through hard work, resilience, and unwavering commitment to Army values, they91吃瓜网檝e earned the privilege of leading America91吃瓜网 sons and daughters. Their futures are bright, and I look forward to all they will accomplish as officers in our Army.91吃瓜网�

Lt. Col. Sheena Puleali'i, director of the 91吃瓜网 Department of Aerospace Studies, commended Air Force cadets for their commitment to excellence throughout their college careers.

91吃瓜网淭his year91吃瓜网 Air Force ROTC cohort has excelled in a rigorous four-year program, often called 91吃瓜网榓 four-year job interview,91吃瓜网� and they are well prepared to begin their service on active duty,91吃瓜网� said Puleali'i. 91吃瓜网淭hey91吃瓜网檝e demonstrated discipline and perseverance, consistently meeting the high standards of the program while balancing the demands of academic and campus life. I91吃瓜网檓 proud to have been part of their journey and excited to see what they accomplish next.91吃瓜网�

2^nd Lt. Natalya Brownlee, a native of Sidon, Miss., graduated with a bachelor91吃瓜网 in health sciences (healthcare studies) with minors in aerospace studies and public health policy and administration, and on the nursing track, and commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a nurse.

91吃瓜网淧ursuing AFROTC alongside nursing school has been a whirlwind of emotions, but it pushed me to grow beyond my comfort zone,91吃瓜网� said Brownlee. 91吃瓜网淭he most rewarding part of my AFROTC experience has been teaching and mentoring cadets and witnessing their growth as they continually challenged themselves each semester. In nursing, I cherished the camaraderie of my small clinical groups91吃瓜网攍earning, laughing, and supporting one another through the toughest lessons.91吃瓜网�

Throughout her time at 91吃瓜网, Brownlee said she embraced various leadership and professional development opportunities.

91吃瓜网淒uring my time in the program, I traveled to Taiwan through Project Global Officer to study Mandarin Chinese, participated in the You Can Fly program to learn aviation fundamentals, and attended professional development training at Travis Air Force Base, where I shadowed ICU nurses and observed flight nurses in action,91吃瓜网� Brownlee added. 91吃瓜网淚 also participated in our detachment91吃瓜网 24-hour vigil at Veteran's Memorial Park and served as the cadet wing commander, where I worked to improve the detachment and build meaningful experiences that deepened my commitment to service.91吃瓜网�

2^nd Lt. Cynthia Arenas, originally from Caracas, Venezuela, graduated with a bachelor91吃瓜网 degree in biological sciences (biomedical sciences) with minors in chemistry and military science, and commissioned into the U.S. Army active duty as an adjutant general.

91吃瓜网淐ommissioning as a second lieutenant is both an honor and a responsibility I don91吃瓜网檛 take lightly,91吃瓜网� said Arenas. 91吃瓜网淎s an immigrant from Caracas, this achievement reflects my determination, the opportunities this country has given me, and my commitment to give back through service.91吃瓜网�

91吃瓜网淭he friendships, mentorship, and support I found here have been invaluable,91吃瓜网� added Arenas. 91吃瓜网淏alancing ROTC and academics taught me discipline and resilience and deepened my passion for military medicine.91吃瓜网�

91吃瓜网�91吃瓜网 gave me more than an education; it gave me a home, a sense of purpose, and the confidence to take this next step and represent my journey and family with pride,91吃瓜网� she further noted.

2^nd Lt. Daniel Laudadio, the child of two Army officers, graduated with a bachelor91吃瓜网 in business management from 91吃瓜网, and commissioned into the U.S. Army active duty as an aviation officer.

"I91吃瓜网檝e dreamed of following in my parents91吃瓜网� footsteps and continuing our family91吃瓜网 tradition of service for as long as I can remember,91吃瓜网� said Laudadio. 91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檓 proud to now have the opportunity to serve my country.91吃瓜网�

91吃瓜网淥ne of the highlights of my cadet experience was graduating from Air Assault School at Fort Campbell in January 2024,91吃瓜网� Laudadio added. 91吃瓜网淒uring my time at 91吃瓜网, I had the honor of serving in leadership roles such as color guard commander and cadet battalion commander, where I helped lead and support the growth of our battalion.91吃瓜网�

91吃瓜网淎s I commission into the Aviation Branch, my next goal is to graduate from Army flight school at Fort Novosel, Ala. I91吃瓜网檓 grateful for the strong community of peers and mentors in 91吃瓜网 Army ROTC, whose support has shaped me into the leader I am today,91吃瓜网� stated Laudadio.

Commissioning Cadets included the following:

ARMY

• 2^nd Cynthia I. Arenas91吃瓜网搉ative of Ocean Springs, Miss., B.S. in Biological Sciences, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Adjutant General
• 2^nd Jillian F. Burton91吃瓜网搉ative of Huntsville, Ala., B.S. in Nursing, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as a Nurse
• 2^nd Scottlan R. Hubbard91吃瓜网搉ative of Mendenhall, Miss., B.S. in Business Management, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Military Police
• 2^nd Daniel M. Laudadio91吃瓜网搉ative of Walnut, Miss., B.A. in Business Management, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Aviation Officer
• 2^nd Cameron M. Lawrence91吃瓜网搉ative of Pascagoula, Miss., B.S. in Liberal Studies, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Military Intelligence
• 2^nd Nicholas C. Nail91吃瓜网搉ative of Madison, Miss., B.S. in Political Science, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Adjutant General
• 2^nd Jake M. Rogers91吃瓜网搉ative of Olive Branch, Miss., B.S. in Psychology, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Signal
• 2^nd Kenneth R. White91吃瓜网搉ative of Moss Point, Miss., B.S. in Biological Sciences, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Quarter Master
• 2^nd Justus D. Willis91吃瓜网搉ative of Meridian, Miss., B.A. in Criminal Justice, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Military Police
• 2^nd Elizabeth A. Wilson91吃瓜网搉ative of Madison, Miss., B.S. in Kinesiology, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Adjutant General

AIR FORCE

• 2^nd Natalya Brownlee91吃瓜网搉ative of Sidon, Miss., BSN degree, Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a Nurse
• 2^nd Jessica Crenshaw91吃瓜网搉ative of Creola, Ala., B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics, Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer
• 2^nd Jeremy Jones91吃瓜网搉ative of Canton, Miss., B.S. in Information Technology, Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a Nuclear and Missiles Operations Officer