Category Archives: Aerospace Studies

Brigadier General Visits Aerospace Studies ROTC Cadets

United States Air Force Brigadier General Roy-Alan Agustin

United States Air Force Brigadier General Roy-Alan Agustin

Brigadier General (Brig. Gen.) Roy-Alan Agustin of the United States Air Force came to San José State University (SJSU) to speak with the cadets of Aerospace Studies Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) about his experience with the Air Force.

Brig. Gen. Agustin is the Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He is a civil engineer graduate of Santa Clara University and earned his commission through the ROTC program at SJSU. Click here to read more about Brig. Gen. Agustin.

The general’s session began with a commissioning oath to former cadet and now 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt.) Stephen Rose who was then pinned with the bars of Lieutenant Rank by his parents.

Brig. Gen. Agustin commissioning 2nd Lt. Rose during the general's visit to speak with ROTC cadets.

Brig. Gen. Agustin commissioning 2nd Lt. Rose during the general’s visit to speak with ROTC cadets.

2nd Lt. Stephen Rose gets his bars of Lieutenant Rank by his parents after being sworn in by Brig. Gen. Agustin.

2nd Lt. Stephen Rose gets his bars of Lieutenant Rank by his parents after being sworn in by Brig. Gen. Agustin.

Brig. Gen. Agustin attributed the many examples of his success in the Air Force from cadet to one star general to the education he received as a college student and the skills gained while in SJSU ROTC program. He said that ROTC built a foundation which prepared him to be ready when asked to take command. “I was ready for it. You don’t want to be asked and not ready for it. Confidence is needed and ROTC training will prepare you,” said Brig. Gen. Agustin.

SJSU ROTC cadets listen to Brig. Gen. Agustin during his visit to SJSU.

SJSU ROTC cadets listen to Brig. Gen. Agustin during his visit to SJSU.

Brig. Gen. Agustin gave advice to the cadets about building their character, confidence and leadership while going through ROTC training. He said that being a collaborative leader and wanting to make a difference helps bring a team together. Staying humble, optimistic and practicing empathy to know what his airmen crew are going through helps creates a stable work environment that oftentimes can be stressful.

The general’s session was followed by a military traditional form of recognition called challenge coins. These coins are given in recognition of hard work and excellence an individual has displayed. Brig. Gen. Agustin presented each awardee with a coin.

2nd Lt. Tessa Land received recognition for increasing cadet recruits throughout Northern California and increasing the amount of high school scholarship program numbers.

Cadet Nathan Simon received recognition for maintaining a 4.0 GPA as an engineering student at Stanford University.

Cadet John Kenney received recognition for high academic achievements while leading the precision drill team and exemplifying service before self by organizing, leading and attending ROTC events on his own personal time.

Cadet Jordan Garza received recognition as a leader and mentor exceeding the standard as a cadet wing commander and professional role model.

Brig. Gen. Agustin was humbled to be back at SJSU after many years. He expressed his gratitude to SJSU Interim President Sue Martin and College of Applied Sciences and Arts Dean Mary Schutten for taking their time to attend his brief visit. Both Interim President Martin and Dean Schutten were just as pleased to meet Brig. Gen. Agustin as it is very rare that a general visits a campus to speak with cadets.

From left to right: Dean Mary Schutten, Brig. Gen. Agustin, and Interim President Sue Martin.

From left to right: Dean Mary Schutten, Brig. Gen. Agustin, and Interim President Sue Martin.

The general’s visit ended with cadets marching towards the flag pole to conduct “Retreat” where they stand in formation and salute as the flag is lowered.

AFROTC alum lands job with Whiting-Turner

Bryan Evangelista, front row left, who graduated from SJSU in Dec. 2014 with a engineering degree and was an Air Force ROTC cadet, has been working with the Whiting-Turner contracting group at Stanford University on a infrastructure upgrade.

Bryan Evangelista, front row left, who graduated from SJSU in Dec. 2014 with a engineering degree and was an Air Force ROTC cadet, has been working with the Whiting-Turner contracting group at Stanford University on a infrastructure upgrade.

Bryan Evangelista, a San José State University civil engineering graduate (’14) and Air Force ROTC cadet who was commissioned in Dec. 2014, has been interning with Whiting-Turner since summer 2014. Lt. Col. Douglas Lomsdalen, the chair of Aerospace Studies in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, helped him work with his schedule to allow him to intern with Whiting-Turner, where he was assigned to the Stanford Building Conversion and Piping Team in Palo Alto.

Evangelista has been hired on as a full-time employee with the company in January and he will continue his work with the company until he enters active duty as an Air Force Civil Engineer at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina later this year.

His team worked on converting legacy steam systems to hot water systems in mechanical rooms across the private university’s campus. The team was identified as the Whiting-Turner team of the quarter for the fourth quarter of 2014.

According to a newsletter from Whiting-Turner, the team worked in 42 different mechanical rooms at once and installed 20 miles of underground pipe.

Air Force ROTC students recognized for achievements

On Nov. 22, two San José State University Students and Air Force ROTC Cadets were recognized during the Air Force Association (AFA) – Tennessee Ernie Ford Chapter 361’s 34th Annual Awards Banquet. Gavril Torrijos, a Meteorology major received, the AFA Cadet Community Service Award for his numerous hours contributed to various community service activities such as Habitat for Humanity and local area clean-up efforts.  Additionally, Torrijos has a passion for music and teaching. He volunteered his time to prepare high school marching bands for competitions.

Stephen Rose, an Aerospace Engineering major, was awarded the AFA Outstanding Cadet Award. The award is given to the cadet who demonstrates the highest level of maturity, intellect and academic achievement. Rose is an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was recognized last semester for his scholastic, community and engineering endeavors by the Society of American Military Engineers.

In addition, on Dec. 4, the Silicon Valley Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Chapter awarded two scholarships to deserving cadets enrolled in the Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) program at San Jose State University.  The scholarships, presented to SJSU students Henry Salazar and Steven Wong, totaled $1,000 for use towards tuition, books or other college expenses.  Bob Moorhead, chapter president, and Bob Landgraf presented the awards during the AFROTC Detachment 045 Fall Dining-Out.  The Fall Dining-Out is the Cadet Wing’s formal event of the school year where more than 175 cadets, friends and family celebrate their achievements of the semester.  The guest speaker, Colonel Matthew Lupone, Commander, Defense Contract Management Agency in Sunnyvale, spoke to the Cadet Wing about leadership characteristics they should possess to be effective on active duty.

SJSU push-ups raise money for vets

San José State University’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 045 will host a fundraiser event for “The Boot Campaign.” Participants will raise money by doing push ups for the charity that supports wounded, disabled and killed in action veterans and service members on May 17, from 1-3 p.m. on the lawn near the SJSU Associated Student House.

During the event, which coincides with Armed Forces Day, teams across the United States will complete as many pushups as they can in 90 seconds. The local team has already raised $9,105, according to their online website. Donations are still being accepted and interested participants can still join their team by visiting: http://www.crowdrise.com/detachment045.

SJSU Air Force ‘Warriors’ take home trophy

In March, cadets from Air Force ROTC Detachment 045 participated in the Warrior Challenge and went home champions against their rivals at Fresno State University in a fierce competition at Spartan Stadium. The cadets competed in events such as football, soccer, ultimate Frisbee and capture the flag.

Cadet Wing Commander Monica Tran, left, and Lt. Col. Douglas Lomsdalen pose with a trophy from the 2014 Warrior Challenge.

Cadet Wing Commander Monica Tran, left, and Lt. Col. Douglas Lomsdalen pose with a trophy from the 2014 Warrior Challenge.

Since 1996, the San José State University cadets have competed in the Northern California Warrior Challenge against students from California State University, Sacramento, University of California, Berkley and Fresno, according to a newsletter from the cadets.

Cadet Wing Commander Monica Tran was pleased she and her teammates were able to bring the trophy home after losing it last year to Fresno.

“I think it’s every Wing Commander’s dream to bring home the WC trophy,” she said in an Air Force newsletter after the event, “mainly because every Cadet Wing commander wants the opportunity to leave behind their legacy. With our victory, I feel extremely proud to be a Det 045 Warrior.”

The SJSU AFROTC team, which is part of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, took first place in soccer and Frisbee, with a spring relay as the tie breaker with Fresno, which took first place in football and capture the flag.