Three ROTC grads receive commission from Obama

Three NAU and ROTC graduates received their commissions in the U.S. armed forces from President Obama last week after receiving them a week earlier in Flagstaff.

Kelly Alford, Carlton Griffin and Matthew Palandech received their commissions from Obama during commencement ceremonies May 13 at Arizona State University. The three were among 15 ROTC graduates who received their commissions May 8 in NAU's Cline Library.

In addition to Alford, Griffin and Palandech, the newly commissioned officers are Sterling Boom, Dylan Curtis, Louis Fay, Dare O’Ravitz, Nina Proctor, Daniel Quinlan, Piper Reeve, Blake Roberts, Christopher Sproul, Jonathan Walker, Kayleigh Wallace and Aaron Dunn.

All but Palandech are commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. Palandech is an officer in the Air Force.

“It is an absolute honor to be commissioned by our commander in chief, President Barack Obama,” said Lt. Col. John Nelson, professor of military science.

Griffin and Alford graduated from the ROTC program with honors and were high on the national Order of Merit List. Griffin was 13th out of over 5,000 cadets nationwide and 2LT Alford was 406th. Both were in the top 20th percentile of the list and are considered distinguished graduates.

“These two fine young men have worked tremendously hard, both academically and militarily,” Nelson said. “To begin their promising military careers by being sworn into office by the president is a fitting reward for their years of dedicated work with the Lumberjack Battalion.”

Griffin's first duty assignment is with the 173rd Infantry Battalion in Vicenza, Italy. Alford's first duty assignment is with the 18th Military Police in Germany. Palandech will be headed to flight school.