Florida Tech Army ROTC Hosts Commission Ceremony of Three New U.S. Army Second Lieutenants

The new Lieutenants took their commissioning oath of office and pinned on new gold bars

BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — The Florida Institute of Technology Army ROTC Panther Battalion held its Spring Ceremony to commission three new Army Second Lieutenants on Friday, May 9.

The ceremony was held at the All Faiths Center on the Florida Tech campus. Families, friends, ROTC Instructors, and other cadets were 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. All three of the new Lieutenants completed requirements to receive master’s degrees at the Florida Tech Spring Commencement, and all three have prior enlisted service in the Army.

During the ceremony, they heard messages and congratulations from the President of Florida Tech, John Nicklow, and the Guest Speaker, retired U.S. Army Colonel James Jenkins III.

Colonel Jenkins retired from the Army in 2014. His last assignment was as Deputy Commander for Army Space and Missile Command. He is now the President and General Manager for the Armed Forces portfolio at BlueHalo in Huntsville, Alabama.

The new Army Second Lieutenants are:

● Nicholas King graduated from Florida Tech with a master’s degree in Strategic Communications and 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 and was commissioned as an active-duty officer in the Cyber Branch. His first duty assignment will be at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia.

● Danial Ochoa Perez graduated from Florida Tech with a master’s 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 Korea.

LTC Rob Stillings, Florida Tech Professor of Military Science, congratulated the new lieutenants.

Colonel Steve Bond, retired U.S. Army officer and Past President of the Cape Canaveral Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, congratulated the new officers on their achievement and presented them with “Gold Bars,” the rank insignia of Second Lieutenants, on behalf of MOAACC.

Col. Bond wished them the best of luck as they began their journey as officers in the United States Army.

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