News Posts List

Florida Tech ROTC Commissions five new Army Lieutenants

Melbourne, Fl – December 15, 2023 –

While the marquee flashed congratulations, Florida Tech ROTC cadets, family and friends gathered in the Hartley Room of the Student Union building for the Fall Commissioning Ceremony.  In the ceremony, five new officers received their commissions as 2^nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Army.  The five also completed the requirements to graduate from Florida Tech at the Fall commencement.  During the commissioning ceremony, the new officers took the oath of office and pinned on their new “gold bars”—the rank insignia of Second Lieutenants and heard messages and congratulations from the President of Florida Tech, John Nicklow (Ph.D.) and Guest Speaker, Brigadier General Mark A. Holler (USA), recently retired as the Deputy Commanding General for 8^th U.S. Army.

The new Army Second Lieutenants are:

• Oswaldo Cruces—Oswaldo was an enlisted soldier and graduated from Florida Tech with a Master’s Degree in Business Management.  He was commissioned as a Military Intelligence officer in the reserves. 
• Mason Elizondo—is a graduate of Merritt Island High School.  He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida Tech in Computer Science and was commissioned into the reserves in the Cyber Branch.  MOAACC member, LTC Scott Waggoneer (USA, Ret) his former Junior ROTC instructor at Merritt Island High School, administered his oath of office. 
• Chandler Hake—Chandler attended High School in Pennsylvania and was the ROTC Cadet Battalion Commander at Florida Tech, where he graduated as a distinguished military graduate with a B.S. degree in Computer Science.  He was commissioned as an active-duty Cyber Officer.    
• Vincent Palermo—Vincent also graduated from High School in Pennsylvania and earned his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He was commissioned as an active-duty Military Intelligence Officer, detailed to Infantry Branch.
• Elysia Slattery—Elysia is a graduate of Eau Gallie High School and earned her B.S. degree from Florida Tech in Oceanography.  She received her commission in the reserves as an Engineer Officer. 

The new Lieutenants were also congratulated by LTC Rob Stillings, the new Florida Tech Professor of Military Science.   Several MOAACC members were at the ceremony and the chapter provided the Lieutenants with “Gold Bar” commissioning sets and membership in the Cape Canaveral Chapter and MOAA. 

Photo Caption:  MOAACC members with New Army Lieutenants at the Florida Tech Commissioning Ceremony on December 15^th.  From Left—COL Steve Bond, MOAACC; 2LT Elysia Slattery, 2LT Vincent Palermo, 2LT Oswaldo Cruces, 2LT Chandler Hake, 2LT Mason Elizondo, and LTC Hans Hunt (USA, Ret), MOAACC Student Affairs Committee.