Florida Tech ROTC Panther Battalion Commissions Four New Army Lieutenants

By Space Coast Daily // May 10, 2024

heard message and congratulation from Florida Tech President John Nicklow

The Florida Institute of Technology Army ROTC Panther Battalion held its spring ceremony to commission four new Army Second Lieutenants. Above, front row left to right, are retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Holler, 2nd Lt. James Pillow, 2nd Lt. Jose Vazquez, 2nd Lt. Quinn Sellers, 2nd Lt. Jose Pina, FIT ROTC Cadre Dana Washington; and MOAACC’s retired U.S. Army Col. Steve Bond. In the back row, left to right, are ROTC Cadre Maj. Daniel Gil; Capt. Zachery Smith, Lt. Col. Rob Stillings, M Sgt. Alan Roche and Michael Johnson. (Florida Tech image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Florida Institute of Technology Army ROTC Panther Battalion held its spring ceremony to commission four new Army Second Lieutenants.

The ceremony was held in the Hartley Room of the Student Union building on the Florida Tech campus with families, friends, ROTC Instructors, and other cadets present to witness the event.

The new Lieutenants took their commissioning oath of office and pinned on new “Gold Bars” the rank insignia of Second Lieutenants in the ceremony.

Three of the new Lieutenants met the requirements to graduate from Florida Tech at the school’s May commencement, and one graduated from Eastern Florida State College.

During the ceremony they heard messages and congratulations from Florida Tech President John Nicklow, and Guest Speaker retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark A. Holler, a former deputy commanding general for operations of the 8th US Army.

The new Army Second Lieutenants are:

■ José Piña — a 2017 graduate with honors from Heritage High School, who graduated from Eastern Florida State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management. He was commissioned through the Florida Tech ROTC program as a Military Intelligence Officer in the reserves, and his first duty assignment will be in Fort Buchanan, PR.

■ James Pillow III — a graduate of Cocoa High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida Tech in Strategic Communication with a minor in General Psychology. He was commissioned as an active-duty Infantry Officer and sworn in by LTC Joe Pavone (US Army-Retired), the senior JROTC instructor at Cocoa High School.

■ Jose Quiles Vazquez — he initially graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He received his Master of Science degree from Florida Tech in Logistics Management while completing ROTC requirements there. He was commissioned as a Transportation Officer and his first duty assignment will be at Fort Bliss, TX.

■ Quinn Sellers — he graduated from high school in Alabama and graduated from Florida Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. She was commissioned as an active-duty Quartermaster Officer.

The new Lieutenants were also congratulated by Lt. Col. Rob Stillings, Florida Tech Professor of Military Science, and retired U.S. Army Col. Steve Bond and past president of the Military Officers Association of America Cape Canaveral Chapter, who were on hand to congratulate the new officers and present them with “Gold Bar” commissioning sets and membership in MOAA.