ETSU ROTC cadets to get commissions in special ceremony

Officials at East Tennessee State University invite the community to celebrate the commissioning of cadets in the Army ROTC Program at ETSU, an elite group ranked No. 1 in Tennessee.  

The 1 p.m. ceremony is in the Brown Hall auditorium, located on the university’s main campus along Stout and Sherrod Drive near University School, on Friday, May 3. 

This year’s guest speaker is Tennessee native James “Jamie” Burk, a brigadier general and the 27th chief of the Army Nurse Corps Command Surgeon. A decorated veteran with service as an emergency nurse, he assumed his current post in July 2023.  

On May 3, the following ETSU cadets will earn their commission as second lieutenants:  

Zackary Browning, who served as an operations officer and logistics officer in the Buccaneer Battalion. He earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental health and is receiving his commission in the Chemical Corps branch.    

Andrew Dugger, who served as a supply officer and operations officer in the Buccaneer Battalion. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is receiving his commission in the Military Police branch.     

Cheyenne Elliott, who served as a nurse in the Buccaneer Battalion. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is receiving her commission in the Nursing branch.     

Malerei Hensley, who served as an S1 and public affairs officer in the Buccaneer Battalion. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is receiving her commission in the Chemical Corps branch.    

Elizabeth Kelley, who served as alpha company executive officer and medical officer in the Buccaneer Battalion. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is receiving her commission in the Nursing branch.     

Christian Morgan, who served as Alpha Company commander and command sergeant major in the Buccaneer Battalion. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is receiving his commission in the Medical Service branch. 

Victoria Ventre, who served as command sergeant major in the Buccaneer Battalion. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is receiving her commission in the Signal branch.     

ETSU’s Army ROTC unit was first assigned to what was then East Tennessee State College in the 1950s. The group has since commissioned more than 1,500 second lieutenants. To learn more about ROTC at ETSU, visit etsu.edu/cbat/rotc.   

The university has a long and established history of helping veterans and has secured the respected Military Friendly designation for more than a decade.    

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.