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The Florida Institute of Technology Army ROTC Panther Battalion held their spring ceremony to commission three new Army Second Lieutenants on Friday, May 9^th.  The Ceremony was held in the All Faiths Center on the Florida Tech campus.  The new Lieutenants took their commissioning oath of office and pinned on new “gold bars”—the rank insignia of Second Lieutenants in the ceremony.  Families, friends, ROTC instructors, and other cadets were present to witness the event.   All three of the new Army Officers completed requirements to receive master’s degrees at the Florida Tech Spring Commencement, and all three have prior enlisted service in the Army.  In the ceremony, they heard messages and congratulations from the President of Florida Tech, John Nicklow (Ph.D.) and Guest Speaker, Colonel James Jenkins III (USA, Retired).  Colonel Jenkins retired from the Army in 2014, and his last assignment was as the Deputy Commander for Army Space and Missile Command.  He is currently the President and General Manager for the Armed Forces portfolio at BlueHalo out of Huntsville, Alabama.

The new Army Second Lieutenants, Florida Tech Graduates, and MOAACC Members are:

• Nicholas King— Graduated from Florida Tech with a master’s degree in strategic communications.  He was commissioned as an active-duty officer in the Chemical Corps.   His first duty assignment will be at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. 
• Jayoul Lee—Graduated from Florida Tech with a master’s degree in computer information systems.  He was commissioned as an active-duty officer in Cyber Branch.  His first duty assignment is at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia
• Danial Ochoa-Perez—Graduated from Florida Tech with a master’s degree in human resource management.  He was commissioned into the Adjutant General Branch as an active-duty officer.  His first duty assignment will be at Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea.

LTC Rob Stillings, Florida Tech Professor of Military Science, also congratulated the new Lieutenants.   Colonel Steve Bond, US Army-Retired, Past President of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Cape Canaveral Chapter (MOAACC), and current President of the MOAA Florida Council was on hand congratulate the new officers and present them with “Gold Bar” commissioning sets provided by the chapter, and membership in MOAA. 

Photo Caption:  Colonel Steve Bond (USA, Ret)--MOAACC, congratulates New Army 2^nd Lieutenants at the Florida Tech Commissioning Ceremony on May 9^th with commissioning guests and ROTC cadre.  Front Row from Left—Steve Bond and new 2nd Lieutenants Nicholas King, Daniel Ochoa Perez, and Juyoul Lee.  Center Row--Ms. Dana Washington, and CPT Zachery Smith (FLA Tech ROTC Cadre).  Back Row from Left:  LTC Rob Stillings, Guest Speaker Colonel James Jenkins III (USA, Ret), and SFC Jason Watson, MSG Alan Roche, Joe Matthews, and MSG Michael Johnson (all ROTC Cadre).