Published on May 16, 2023 by Kameron Brown  
Air Force ROTC Commissioning Ceremony

Six cadets were appointed as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force during the spring commissioning ceremony for the U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment 012 on May 8 in Reid Chapel. The detachment, located on Samford’s campus, trains cadets from colleges and universities throughout the Birmingham area.

Of the six cadets, four were Samford graduates.

  • Brayden Banner ’23 was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and will begin his career in pilot training as he attends flight school at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Banner graduated from Howard College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in Engineering Physics.
  • Jake Moultrie ’23 was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and will begin his career at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Moultrie graduated from Howard College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in Computer Science.
  • Carson Roberts ’23 was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and will begin his career at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina as an aircraft maintenance officer. Roberts graduated from the School of Health Professions with a degree in health science.
  • Evan Wagner ’23 was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and will begin his career in San Antonio, Texas in drone pilot school. Wagner graduated from Howard College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in Political Science.

In addition to the four Samford graduates, the detachment commissioned Alexis Cardwell, a graduate of the University of Montevallo; and, Shelby Sullivan, a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Lieutenant Colonel Josh Payne, commander of ROTC Detachment 012, provided remarks during the event, citing the importance of the work they have done and the work they will do.

“It is meaningful to celebrate the commissioning of these officers as it culminates at least four years of hard work and dedication in pursuit of this goal,” said Payne, “Each of these young adults decided at one point that this was what they wanted to do and have worked diligently over the last four years sacrificing sleep and social calendars to pursue. More importantly, the authority that these officers will be granted upon commissioning is not something to be taken lightly. The things that will be asked of them and the responsibilities that will be placed upon them will quite likely be significant and have implications for the security of our nation.”

Payne remarked on the significance of this moment, both personally and professionally, as the new officers begin their careers.

“It has been the highlight of my career to spend the last three years pouring into the next generation of Air Force officers. I am approaching what is likely my last assignment in the Air Force as they are just beginning their first assignment. I’ve enjoyed the privilege of getting to know each of them over the last three years and passing along my experiences and lessons learned over the last 17 years of my career. That is one of the things that makes our military what it is, the mentorship and development of the generation that will replace us. I am excited to see all that they will accomplish during their careers, and I am confident that they will represent themselves, their universities, and Detachment 012 admirably.”

To learn more about joining U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment 012, visit Samford Air Force ROTC.
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.