17 ROTC cadets commission in spring ceremony

May 12, 2025

Columbus State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, battalion commissioned 17 of the U.S. Army’s newest second lieutenants during a ceremony on Thursday, May 8. Four of the 17 commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserves, with the rest bound for active-duty Army assignments.

The spring class included 11 who earned undergraduate degrees and six master’s degree recipients. More than half of those earning undergraduate degrees earned theirs in interdisciplinary studies. Maj. Dale Cox, a Columbus State graduate who now commands the Cougar Battalion as department chair and professor of military science, said the major is growing in popularity among cadets.

“The Interdisciplinary Studies Program gives cadets coming from active-duty status a way to maximize their Joint Service Transcripts as college credit toward their degrees,” Cox (pictured) said. “The program also allows our cadets and other Columbus State students to combine courses from multiple degree fields into a tailor-made program that positions them for specialized military and civilian career goals.”

Ten of this spring’s commissioning cadets are part of the Army’s Green to Gold program, which allows enlisted soldiers to pursue either a bachelor’s or master’s degree along with an officer commission.

"The Green to Gold program is a launchpad that empowers our dedicated soldiers to build upon their experience, gain a top-tier education, and emerge as officers and even more capable leaders,” Cox said. “Typically older than traditional-aged cadets, they bring invaluable perspectives and life experience to our program that better positions them as leaders as they mentor our traditional cadets, as all of the cadets learn together how to lead as an officer.”

This spring’s cadets—several of whom fulfilled their ROTC obligations in two to three years instead of the traditional four—completed their studies with an average 3.71 grade point average. Eight of the 17 received Distinguished Military Graduate honors for ranking nationwide in the top 20% of the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s 2025 commissioning class. The class also includes three of the Cadet Command’s top 3% Order of Merit list cadets—including its No. 1 and No. 9 nationally ranked cadets.

The commissioning class was encouraged to have the right mindset to be successful as an Army officer. You must “grow where you are planted...get comfortable with discomfort..., and treat everyone you meet with dignity and respect,” said Col. Neil J. Myres, commander of the 199th Infantry Brigade (Leader Brigade) based at Fort Benning and the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Myers also administered the new second lieutenants’ oath of office.

Commending the commissioning cadets for their determination as students and the active-duty sacrifices they will make during their military service, Columbus State President Stuart Rayfield presented each with a university presidential coin.

During the ceremony, the new second lieutenants received their gold bars, pinned on by family and friends, marking their commissioning. Following that, each received their first salute—an acknowledgment of the respect now due to the newly minted officer. The tradition is known as the “Silver Dollar Salute,” as it includes a coin exchange between the second lieutenant and the service member rendering the first salute as a symbolic request to be trained and mentored by a professional man-at-arms.

This spring’s class of commissioned second lieutenants included:

William S. Ayers Jr. was born in Pennsylvania and joined the Army after graduating from high school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and commissioned into the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. He will serve as a rigger platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy after completing the Logistics Officer Basic Leader Course.

Shalanda J. Baldwin was a sergeant when she joined ROTC as a Green to Gold cadet, having served as an Army combat medic. She earned a master’s in organizational leadership and branched into the Medical Service Corps and will be assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.

Deegan E. Brigman earned a bachelor’s in kinesiology. As a cadet, he ranked in the top 3% nationally on the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Order of Merit list and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He commissioned as an engineer officer and will attend the Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, with plans to attend the Sapper Leader Course soon after.

Kiana Delaney specialized in behavioral health at multiple stateside and international postings after she enlisted in 2014. She joined ROTC as a Green to Gold cadet and completed her bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies. She commissioned into the U.S. Army Medical Corps and will serve at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Jeffrey L. Deshields, a Pennsylvania native, joined ROTC after 11 years of service. He completed a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He is branching into the Adjutant General’s Corps and will be stationed at Fort Benning after completing the Basic Officer Leader Course.

Tyler S. Fleming served four years as an indirect fire infantryman at Fort Drum, New York, before joining ROTC. He graduated with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies and as a Distinguished Military Graduate. As a cadet, Fleming (pictured) ranked ninth nationally on the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Order of Merit list. He commissioned as a medical service corps officer and will report to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for his first assignment.

Sean Heisterman, a California native, served nine years and logged six combat deployments with the 75th Ranger Regiment before joining ROTC. He earned a bachelor’s in kinesiology and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He commissioned into the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps and will be assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington.

Angelica M. King completed a bachelor of science in nursing and was an active leader in the School of Nursing’s Student Nursing Association. Upon commissioning, she joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and will attend the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

Hosea E. King, a Green to Gold cadet, served for more than 15 years as a sergeant first class in the Military Police Corps before joining the ROTC program. With his master’s in organizational leadership, he commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate and branched into the U.S. Army’s Finance Division based at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Matthew A. McNeece served as an active-duty infantryman for 13 years before joining the ROTC program. He completed a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies and is a Distinguished Military Graduate. He commissioned as a medical service corps officer and will report to the 627th Hospital Center at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Ashunti K. Montgomery is a Griffin, Georgia, native who completed a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserves as a member of the Adjutant General’s Corps.

Carmen A. Sanchez, originally from Puerto Rico, completed her master’s in organizational leadership. She rose to the rank of staff sergeant before enrolling in ROTC, and after commissioning, will serve as a medical service officer at Fort Wainwright, Arkansas.

Brittany Singleton enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2016. Her most recent service before beginning her studies toward a master’s in organizational leadership included roles as a clinic manager and drill sergeant at Fort Benning. She commissioned as a medical service officer and will serve at Schoelfield Barracks, Hawaii.

Tyler M. Speer completed a master’s degree in cybersecurity and commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserves in the Cyber Corps, based at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia. She originally enlisted with the Army Reserves in 2016 and, since then, has supported homeland defense operations through various assignments.

Angelica Strange, originally from Dallas, Texas, completed her master’s in organizational leadership as a Green to Gold cadet after 11 years of enlisted service as a dental specialist. She commissioned as a medical service officer at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

Hunter E. Strayer from Columbus completed a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and commissioned as a U.S. Army infantry officer. He will attend the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning with the goal of graduating from Ranger School. As a cadet, Strayer (pictured) ranked first nationally on the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Order of Merit and commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

H. Jordan Underwood from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology while serving as the class’ representative to the CSU Student Government Association. She commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserves’ Adjutant General’s Corps and will continue her service with the 328th Human Resource Company headquarters in San Antonio.

Photos from the commissioning ceremony are available through the university’s Flickr account. 

The event was part of the university’s Spring 2025 graduation ceremonies, which included its three commencement ceremonies on May 9 where these commissioning cadets also received their academic degrees.

ABOUT THE ROTC COUGAR BATTALION

Columbus State’s ROTC program has been developing future military leaders and contributing to the nation's defense since 1972. In June 1974, it commissioned its first 12 graduates, and since then, CSU’s ROTC program has grown in size and reputation. Today, the battalion includes more than 70 cadets on the path to commission as Army officers.

The cadre consists of traditional college students and active-duty Green to Gold enlisted soldiers who desire to advance in rank by earning undergraduate and graduate degrees. Over the last 50 years, the Cougar Battalion has commissioned more than 700 officers and is recognized as one of the strongest units in the U.S. Army Cadet Command. In 2024, it earned the Cadet Command’s coveted Titan Helmet for the third consecutive year as the region’s top battalion.

For more information about Columbus State’s ROTC Cougar Battalion or to explore ways to benefit from adding ROTC participation while a Columbus State student, visit columbusstate.edu/rotc.

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Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu