On Friday, May 12th, for the first time ever in a virtual format using Zoom, 11 Clarkson University Class of 2020 and Air Force ROTC Detachment 536 graduates pinned on their gold bars as they were commissioned as officers in the United States Air Force.
In another first-ever milestone for Detachment 536, one of these officers, 2Lt. Michael Gagnon ‘20, a biology major, will be joining the United States Space Force as one of just 100 members in the United States’ newest branch of the Armed Forces.
General John W. Raymond, the Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force, provided the following remarks to Gagnon and his classmates on the significance of this event.
“Be bold, you will build this service from the ground up…you are the future of the United States Space Force,” Gen. Raymond advised 2Lt. Gagnon.
Lt. Col. Wes Nims, Air Force ROTC Detachment 536 Commander expects that this will be an area of growth for the Air Force ROTC program.
“Lt. Gagnon’s entry into the United States Space Force as the first-ever Det 536 graduate to accomplish this lays the groundwork for an exciting new chapter in the history of Det 536,” Lt. Col. Nims said. “Cadets who join this program will now have the option to pursue a career in the Space Force if their passion is to serve our nation in space operations.”
In addition to Lt. Gagnon, the following Clarkson graduates were commissioned as well. 2Lt. William Bruce (Chem Eng, ’20), 2Lt. Alice Cochran (Civ Eng and Hist, ’20), 2Lt. Tyler Eddy (Elec Eng, ’20), 2Lt. Emily Fearnside (Chem, ’20), 2Lt. James Meeker (CS, ’20), 2Lt. Jesse Peterson (Aero Eng, ’20), 2Lt. Matthew Ress (Aero Eng, ’20), 2Lt. Alissa Satterfield (Mech Eng, ’20), 2Lt. Cullen Scheer (Aero Eng, ’20), and 2Lt. Jack Tremblay (Elec Eng, ’20). 2Lt. Brian Noeker, a SUNY Potsdam Political Science major, was also commissioned during the ceremony.
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