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 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 nine 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 Reserve Officer Training Corps 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

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