College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies

Texas A&M University At Galveston Commissions Eight Cadets Into Naval Service

The May 2025 graduating class featured the largest number of commissioned officers in several years.

On May 9, eight cadets from Texas A&M University at Galveston were commissioned into the US Navy and Navy Reserves. They received their diplomas from the university later that day. 

The ceremony included singing of the national anthem and a welcome from Rear Admiral Michael E. Fossum, chief operating officer of the Galveston Campus, vice president of Texas A&M University and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, who commissioned as an officer in the US Air Force upon his own graduation from Texas A&M University in May of 1980. Attendees then listened to guest speakers Capt. Carmelita S. Fleming, director of the Strategic Sealift Officer Force and Capt. Micah D. Murphy, the Military Sealift Command Pacific commander. The commissioning students then took their oaths of office and received their first salutes. 

“The NROTC/SSMP unit is proud to commission 8 officers into the Naval Service,” said Jack Clark ’19, Assistant Officer in Charge of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and Strategic Sealift Midshipman Program. “Four of which will commission into the Navy Reserve and fulfill their obligation to sail on merchant ships in the U.S. Fleet supporting commerce and national security (Ensigns Rose, Witt, Deichl and Patton).” 

Clark continued. “The remaining will commission into active duty and begin their training pipeline before reporting to their first command. Ensigns Kwon and Johansen will serve as Division Officers aboard Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG), and Ensigns Berres and Salas will go to Nuclear Power School before reporting to their Submarines. Best of luck as they start their careers at sea!”

Each of these now-former students will go on to defend freedom around the world, after swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States even at great personal risk. Fair winds and following seas to the new ensigns!