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Florida Tech ROTC Panther Battalion Conducts Virtual Commissioning for five Army Second Lieutenants

12/11/2020

Florida Tech ROTC Panther Battalion Conducts Virtual Commissioning for five Army Second Lieutenants  

Melbourne, Fl – December 11, 2020

On Friday December 11th, the Florida Institute of Technology ROTC Panther Battalion held their Winter Commissioning Ceremony for five new Army Second Lieutenants.  Due to the pandemic, the Panther Battalion conducted the ceremony socially distanced, with most speakers, friends and families attending remotely.  The new Army Officers were sworn-in as Lieutenants, where they pinned on their new rank insignia with family, while other participants live-streamed the ceremony.  LTC Jimmy Crook, Florida Tech Professor of Military Science, acknowledged the uniqueness of this ceremony and reminded the new Lieutenants of the responsibilities they were undertaking as Army Officers.  The new Lieutenants also heard messages from Army Leaders, including the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Army, Commanders of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Cadet Command, while the President of Florida Tech, Dr. T. Dwayne McCay, and the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, MG Christopher Donahue were the guest speakers. 

The new Florida Tech Graduates and Army Second Lieutenants are:

  • Ivan Chernokolpakov, graduating with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, with his branch assignment as an Engineer Officer.  As a cadet, he completed the Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, the Army Combatives Level I & II Courses, and a Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program in Poland.  He is a graduate of Oasis Charter High School in Cape Coral, FL. 
  • Diego Gonzalez, graduating with an B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, with his branch assignment as an Engineer Officer.  He completed his Cadet Summer Camp in 2019, and Cadet Troop Leader Training in Fort Richardson, AK.  He is a native of Puerto Rico and attended High School in Massachusetts.
  • Kellie Krygier, graduating with a B.S. degree in Business Administration, Global Management and Finance where she finished first in her graduating class and as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate.  She was commissioned as an Engineer Officer.  She was born in Cape Canaveral and attended Merritt Island High School. 
  • Isiah Mossiah, graduating with a B.S. degree in Genomics and Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology.  He was commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer.  As a cadet, he graduated from the Basic Airborne Course as the Cadet Honor Graduate, participated in a Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program in Romania, and the Cadet Troop Leader Training with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.  He is a graduate of Heritage High School.   
  • Luke Mullins, with a B.S. degree in Global Management and Finance.  He received an educational delay and will commission as a Chaplain after receiving his Masters of Divinity from Liberty University.  As a cadet, he completed the Air Assault School and Cadet Troop Leader Training with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.  He also earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and was the Cadet Battalion Commander.  He is a graduate of Melbourne High School. 

Normally, representatives from the Cape Canaveral Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAACC) attend the commissioning ceremony and present the new officers with their first “Gold Bars” --the rank insignia of Second Lieutenants--and welcome the new officers into the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).  Due to the pandemic, representatives of MOAACC attended remotely and LTC Crook presented the commissioning sets to the new Lieutenants on behalf of the chapter.  “We welcome these new officers into our ranks and congratulate them for their achievements”, said Colonel Steve Bond (USA-Retired) Vice President of MOAACC.  “This ceremony was certainly unique and one that none of us will forget.” 

Photo Caption:  New Army Second Lieutenants Commissioned from Florida Institute of Technology ROTC on December 11th--Top Row L-R: Ivan Chernokolpakov, Diego Gonzalez, Kellie Krygier. Bottom Row, Isiah Mossiah, MOAA Commissioning Set provided by MOAACC, and Luke Mullins.

 

About MOAACC

The Military Officers Association of America Cape Canaveral Chapter (MOAACC) is an affiliate of the national Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).  MOAA and affiliates are nonprofit veterans’ organization dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and ensuring our nation keeps its commitments to currently serving, retired and former members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors.  Membership is open to those who hold or have ever held a warrant or commission in any of the Uniformed Services or their surviving spouse.  MOAA and its affiliates are nonpartisan organizations.

Located in Brevard County, Florida, the Cape Canaveral chapter is the largest chapter in MOAA with 1400 members.  MOAACC supports MOAA’s aims at the national and local level, engages in philanthropy by providing direct support—monetarily and with volunteer hours—to local military, veterans, and their families, and is a social organization sponsoring activities for members.  For more information, visit our website at www.moaacc.org.

 

Media Contacts

Marilyn Sanford

978-758-7348

marilynmsanford@gmail.com

 

CPT Donn Weaver, USA Former

757-871-6576

DonnWeaver2020@@gmail.com

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