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Gold Bars Earned: Seven Florida Tech Cadets Commissioned as Army Officers

By Colonel Steve Bond (USA-Ret), MOAACC Army LNO

The Florida Institute of Technology Army ROTC Panther Battalion commissioned seven new Army Second Lieutenants during its spring commissioning ceremony held Friday, May 8, in the Hartley Room of the Student Union on the Florida Tech campus.  Family members, friends, ROTC instructors, cadets, and community supporters gathered to witness the time-honored tradition as the cadets took the oath of office and pinned on the “gold bars” of a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.  The ceremony included remarks and congratulations from Florida Tech President Dr. John Nicklow and guest speaker Brigadier General Mark A. Holler, USA (Ret.), former Deputy Commanding General for Operations, Eighth U.S. Army.

In addition to completing the commissioning requirements, each of the new officers graduated from Florida Tech during the university’s May commencement ceremonies, earning bachelor’s degrees in a variety of academic disciplines.

The newly commissioned officers — all new members of the Cape Canaveral Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAACC) — are:

• 2LT William Leonard – After enlisting in the Army following high school, Leonard was selected for the Army’s Green to Gold program at Florida Tech. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with a concentration in History and was commissioned as an active-duty officer in the Chemical Corps.

• 2LT Blair Watson – A 2022 graduate of Merritt Island High School, Watson earned a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology and was commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserve as a Military Police officer.

• 2LT Brooklyn Stellato – A 2022 graduate of Westshore Jr./Sr. High School, Stellato served as Panther Battalion Commander and held several other leadership positions during her ROTC career. She also completed both the Army Airborne and Air Assault Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science and an Associate of Arts degree in Air Traffic Control and was commissioned as an active-duty Field Artillery officer.

• 2LT Gus Guerrero – Originally from New Jersey, Guerrero earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science and was commissioned into the Army National Guard as an Infantry officer.

• 2LT Kenton Bailey – A graduate of Satellite High School, Bailey completed the Army Air Assault School while attending Florida Tech. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science and was commissioned as an active-duty Military Intelligence officer.

• 2LT Kerrigan Burns – Burns graduated from high school at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and was commissioned as an active-duty officer in the Military Police Corps.

• 2LT Matt Abell – A 2022 graduate of Ramstein High School in Germany, Abell completed the Army Air Assault School during his time at Florida Tech. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and was commissioned as an active-duty Military Intelligence officer with a branch detail to Infantry.

The new officers also received congratulations from LTC Rob Stillings, Professor of Military Science at Florida Tech.  This marked LTC Stillings’ final commissioning ceremony at Florida Tech before his reassignment to Fort Leavenworth, KS later this summer.

The MOAA Cape Canaveral Chapter participated in the ceremony by presenting each new lieutenant with a ceremonial “Gold Bar” commissioning set along with membership in both MOAA and the Cape Canaveral Chapter.  The gold bars used during the ceremony had been displayed throughout the year in the ROTC building in a special display case, funded by the MOAACC Good Deeds Foundation.  Colonel Steve Bond, USA (Ret.), past president of the Cape Canaveral Chapter, presented the Gold Bar sets and congratulated the new officers as they begin their careers and leadership in the United States Army.

Photo Caption:  Commissioning Ceremony for New Army 2^nd Lieutenants at the Florida Tech Commissioning Ceremony on May 8^th.  Pictured left to right are LTC Hans Hunt, USA (Ret.), MOAACC First Vice President; 2LT Kerrigan Burns; 2LT Blair Watson; 2LT Matt Abell; 2LT Gus Guerrero; Florida Tech President Dr. John Nicklow; 2LT Brooklyn Stellato; LTC Rob Stillings, Professor of Military Science; 2LT Kenton Bailey; 2LT William Leonard; guest speaker BG Mark A. Holler, USA (Ret.); and COL Steve Bond, USA (Ret.), MOAACC.