Rear Adm. Mark Darrah congratulates graduates of a Naval Air Systems Command/Naval Postgraduate School master’s degree program Oct. 9. The program offers military officers and civilians an opportunity to earn degrees in systems engineering (MSSE) or engineering systems (MSES), or a certificate as a lead systems integrator (LSI). (U.S. Navy photo)
Patuxent River, MD — Fifty five Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) employees and officers were recognized for completing a two-year master’s degree in systems engineering, or a one-year certificate in lead systems integration (LSI) via the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) at a graduation ceremony in the north engineering center Oct. 9.
NAVAIR has partnered with NPS to provide professional education and development for NAVAIR military officers and civilians desiring to improve their expertise in systems engineering. In addition to Master of Science degrees in systems engineering (MSSE) or engineering systems (MSES), a Lead Systems Certificate program provides graduate-level courses to prepare senior active-duty military officers and civilians for positions as lead system integrators.
“Today we celebrate the amazing accomplishments of this graduating cohort, and we also call on them to take the next step and apply their knowledge in support of our warfighters,” said Rear Adm. Mark Darrah, then-assistant commander for Research and Engineering, NAVAIR. “Demand from the fleet is going up in these uncertain times. Our workforce is changing, and you’ll be guiding our new members as we go through some difficult times.
To earn MSSE or MSES degrees under the program, students complete a challenging 16-course curriculum including a capstone project designed to resolve actual engineering problems confronting NAVAIR. To earn an LSI certificate, students must complete a four-course, one-year program. Students continue to work full-time while in the program.
“This took a lot of patience and perseverance, but it was very worthwhile, “said MSSE graduate Mark Stevens, who works in the NAVAIR Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209) and is also a U.S. Air Force Reservist. “Combining these studies along with my Navy civilian and Air Force Reserve experiences has enabled me to establish higher goals for myself in identifying Navy engineering aspirations.”
Stevens was also one of five students and one faculty member who received the Wayne E. Meyer Award in recognition of the educational excellence and leadership they displayed during the cohort’s course of study. Other recipients were students Lauren McKay, Eric Rosenberg, Gregory Walsh and Eric Williams and NPS professor Kristin Giammarco.
“Thank you for what you’ve done, and thank you to the families who supported you during your studies,” said Darrah. “I could not be more proud of this group, and I look forward to working with you.
Other graduates in the cohort were:
(MSSE) — Nicholas Albrecht, Shane Brockway, Juan Cabungcal, Justin Fox, Wesley Johnston, David Kaniss, Kou Kong, Steven Kroll, Christopher Laing, Rick Leung, Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Lloyd, Keith Mastran, Lt. Jose Pabon, Jason Powell, Gregory Pryor, Nathaniel Quijano, Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Rogers, Greg Sauve, Christopher Szymendera, James Tims, Kimberly Tomasino, John Tonello
(MSES) — Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Canniff, Neal Marrs, Stephen Shellhammer
(LSI) — Cmdr. Ryan Aaron, Christina Allee, Ferguson Ayers, Richard Carrano, Cmdr. Josh Ditmar, Jackie Dvorak, Silvia Faulstich, Cmdr. Anthony Fortescue, Lissette Fortuno, Matt Funk, Lt. Cmdr. Brian Hall, Lance Hernandez, Eric Johnsen, Tracey Johnston, Clifford Kangas, Robert Keeney, Janet Marks, Vinh Nuyen, Pat Roesch, Joseph Schmidt, Bob Steinbach, Capt. Thomas Tennant, Michelle Vaughn, William Wren, James Young