{"id":47,"date":"2022-06-29T08:20:50","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T12:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/physics\/?page_id=47"},"modified":"2025-06-16T14:24:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T18:24:47","slug":"graduates","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.citadel.edu\/physics\/graduates\/","title":{"rendered":"Physics Graduates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alumni- We love getting updates! Let us know what you are up to. Dr. Hank Yochum, hyochum@citadel.edu, or call 843-953-6953. Please join our LinkedIn Group, Physics at The Citadel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022<\/strong>
Luke Eafano
Evan Fish
Josefino Lubang
Alexander Stensland
<\/td>		2021<\/strong>
Matthew Dittrich
Erin Garber
Kaeley Johnston
Samuel Poulin
Troy Ray
Ryan Salter
Brandon Shively
Benjamin Walker<\/td>		2020<\/strong>
David Clark
Landon Madden
James Quimby
Joshua Roides<\/td>		2019<\/strong>
Kevin A. Bosshart
Dylan T. Bunn
Alexis M. Edwards
Montana L. Harvill
Austin B. Jowers
Caleb J. Sapp<\/td><\/tr>
2018<\/strong>
Timothy J. Behnke
Edward M. Cooke
Christopher R. Keane
Brian T. Lentz
Stuart A. Morton
Alexander C. Nagel
Brady A. Thompson
Jared W. Turnage
Santiago Vega <\/td>		2017
<\/strong>Timothy J. Burke
Carly M. Cannon
Samuel R. Duncan
Ryan P. Fallon
Hayden D. Fry
Angelica L. McNerny<\/td>		2016<\/strong>
Beija W. Canova
Dominique C. Haydon
Dylan K. Green
Leo J. Grucella
David A. Kelly
Craig A. MacMillan
Walker S. Mook
Joseph F. Pinto
Taylor M. Scott
John E. Wilson
Chen-Cheng Wu <\/td>		2015<\/strong>
Dylan T. Bunn
Marc J. Eteve
Justin C. Gould
Navy OC Shane Haydon
Joseph L. Littlejohn
Navy OC Samuel Long
Mark E. Maurice
Joseph J. McCall
Pierce H. Norlin
Levi G. Southerton <\/td><\/tr>
2014<\/strong>
Navy OC Curtis E. Allen
Ryan J. Boodee
Ilya D. Fedarovich
Cody N. Walker
Eric Samayoa <\/td>		 2013<\/strong>
Benjamin D. Hall
John C. Holl
Tyler R. Lewis
Daniel K. Pittman
Djordan L. Porter <\/td>		 2012<\/strong>
Evan M. Aguirre
Eric S. Berman
Trevor H. Currin
Nathan M. Figlewski
Matthew G. Janikula
Kurt L. Lichtenstein
Matthew R. May <\/td>		 2011<\/strong>
Andrew C. Carnes
Erik T. Pratt
Michael J. Rowland <\/td><\/tr>
2010<\/strong>
Kyrie E. Arrigo
Joshua M. Bergeron
Justin M. Chuma
Phillip C. Westbrook
Kei-Tai Yu <\/td>		2009<\/strong>
Brennin S. Colegrove
Navy OC Jonathan A. Culbert
Thomas F. Gade, Jr.
Alexander O. Rogers
Stephanie L. Woodrow <\/td>		2008<\/strong>
Navy OC Corey R. Caswell
Joseph H. Diliberto (originally Class of 2002)
Joseph W. Miller
Jason M. Sutton <\/td>		2007<\/strong>
Miguel A. Benitez (Deceased)
Jason H. Chuma
Eric D. Graham
William L. Harrell
Nawapong Unsuree <\/td><\/tr>
2006<\/strong>
Angela M. Ellenwood
Navy OC Jason C. Mattix
Nicholas J. Van Dyke
<\/td>		2005<\/strong>
Navy OC Matthew T. Berry
Ryan L. Birkelbach
John W. Dennis III
Jonathan P. Goerk
Pisut Muangsamai
Benjamin R. Weiss
Caleb R. Wells
Kevin J. Young <\/td>		2004<\/strong>
Bart C. Coursey
Ricardo S. C. Flores, Jr.
Alex S. Lee
Stephen A. Meadows
Aaron P. Sand <\/td>		2003<\/strong>
Robert S. Glas
Robert J. Heaton
Joseph P. Niemiec
Brandon C. Race <\/td><\/tr>
2001<\/strong>
Andrew S. Dzara
Reginald H. Rice <\/td>		2000<\/strong>
Kyle E. Rayle (Deceased)
Christopher I. Stoddard (Deceased) <\/td>		1999<\/strong>
Frank J. DiBonaventuro
Matthew T. Freniere
Sammie E. Sanders, Jr.
Paul A. Yount<\/td>		1998<\/strong>
Hector I. Caban, Jr.
Justin M. Cappelman
Jeremy D. Geaslin
Christopher A. Lovelace
John B. T. Pratt
Gregory E. Sutton <\/td><\/tr>
1997<\/strong>
Jonathan M. Songer
Brien S. Woosley <\/td>		1996<\/strong>
Patrick W. Boyce
Emmette G. Cox
Robert F. Crofoot
Jeffrey E. DeGroft, Sr.
Jeffrey C. Graham (Deceased)
Jonathan M. Groenke
Timothy A. Kamb
David F. Reese
Jason K. Willman
Robert M. Zucker <\/td>		1995<\/strong>
David R. Armbruster
Chad W. Bearden
Benjamin H. Brown
Robert P. Cooper
Philip D. Cushman
Marine Sgt. Gilbert O. Garcia
Charles T. Hubbard
K. Brian Kelly
Russell Shin<\/td>		1994<\/strong>
Christopher S. Faust
Timothy P. Harrenstein
Robert K. Lark
James S. Wilson <\/td><\/tr>
1993<\/strong>
Martin L. Boyce
Daniel D. Brown
Andrew D. Gignilliat
Jack R. Knox <\/td>		1992<\/strong>
Dean R. Evans
Scott A. Foreman
S. Camm Garrett
Michael A. Gish (Deceased)
James T. Hundley <\/td>		1991<\/strong>
Bradley S. Arnold
Leroy E. Calhoun III
William H. Long III
O. Gerald Robertson
Edward J. Semones
Benjamin N. Taylor <\/td>		1990<\/strong>
Jeffrey A. Garrett
Michael D. Moore <\/td><\/tr>
1977<\/strong>
David N. Griffiths
Douglas A. Gross
George D. Mosho
James B. Near
M. Elliot Rickenbacker
Louis J. Riva
Marc G. Saunders <\/td>		<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Brief updates from physics graduates-<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After graduation Matt served as the Laboratory Manager for The Citadel Physics Department for a brief period prior to becoming a Staff Scientist for Booz Allen Hamilton, a technology and defense consulting firm. He works in the Engineering Services Division for the Navy\/Marine Engineering Team. This division specializes in Aviation Command and Control (C2) systems providing real-time support to Navy\/Marine units in the Middle East Area of Operations. Matt\u2019s job is to provide engineering level support to all of the systems that the Booz Allen Hamilton team produces and fields. He contributes by developing new engineering solutions to support evolving mission needs. Matt\u2019s physics degree has proven itself useful more times than he can count. It helped him in performing RF interference analyses, troubleshooting radar malfunctions in a theater thousands of miles away from his office, calculating things like center of gravity, forces on mobile systems, air flow in shelters, and waste heat loss on high voltage systems. Matt extends his appreciation to everyone in the Physics Department for their encouragement and support as he completed his degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Matthew Janikula, 12\u2032<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon graduating Lieutenant Commander Birkelbach was commissioned into the U.S. Navy, where he serves as a Surface Warfare Officer. His most recent sea tours included Materiel Officer at Commander, Destroyer Squadron Two Eight, and Chief Engineer on USS Mahan, a guided missile destroyer. Ashore, he served as a personnel exchange officer with the German Navy, in Kiel, Germany. He is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, earning a Masters of Science Degree in Systems Engineering Analysis, a hybrid program combining elements of systems engineering and operations research.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Physics Department at The Citadel prepared Lt. Cdr. Birkelbach to understand, maintain, and employ complex naval engineering and combat systems. Additionally, the critical thinking and analytical problem solving skills developed in the program allow him to meet and surpass challenges, both technical and leadership in nature. Lt. Cdr. Birkelbach is currently a campaign analyst at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Arlington, Virginia.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Ryan L. Birkelbach 05\u2032<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduation, Brennin received his commission into the US NAVY and entered Naval Pilot Training. He completed ground school at Pensacola FL and Primary Flight Training in the T-34C Turbo-Mentor at Corpus Christi, TX. Following Primary, he was assigned to VT-21 in Kingsville, TX to fly the T-45C Goshawk. There he completed Advanced Flight training and initial carrier qualifications. Then he transitioned to the F\/A-18 Hornet and completed a combat tour with the Mighty Shrikes of VFA-94 out of NAS Lemoore, CA. LT Colegrove now flies as an instructor pilot in the E\/A-18G Growler. His degree in physics has postured him well for understanding the physics of flight and mastering the skills necessary for operating state-of-the-art high-performance jet fighter aircraft. He plans to continue his career in the Navy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Brennin Colegrove, 09\u2032<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Rigney had a distinguished career in writing as an American author of epic fantasy. Graduating from The Citadel in 1974 with a degree in Physics, Mr. Rigney worked initially for the US Navy in Charleston as a Nuclear Engineer. Prior to attending The Citadel, he served two tours in Vietnam (1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with \u201cV\u201d and oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. Following his time as a nuclear engineer, he began writing in 1977 and became a prolific author writing under the pseudonym Robert Jordan. He wrote the \u201cWheel of Time\u201d series comprised of 11 volumes and also a prequel, \u201cNew Spring.\u201d The \u201cWheel of Time\u201d books have often been compared to the work of J. R. R. Tolkien in terms of their ability to exert a magnetic hold on readers. Translated into more than 20 languages, the books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, according to Mr. Rigney\u2019s publisher. Mr. Rigney was also known for helping to keep the \u201cConan the Barbarian\u201d series alive. He wrote and had published three books in this series. His other books include three historical novels written under the pseudonym Reagan O\u2019Neal and published by Forge, these include: \u201cThe Fallon Blood,\u201d \u201cThe Fallon Pride,\u201d and \u201cThe Fallon Legacy.\u201d Mr. Rigney died at 58 in 2007.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

-James Oliver Rigney, Jr. 74\u2032<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Palms had a distinguished career in academia, national security, business and volunteerism. Graduating from The Citadel in 1958 with a degree in Physics and as a distinguished Air Force ROTC cadet, he enjoyed a tremendously successful career in the United States Air Force and later in Academia. He was a Professor of Physics at Emory University where he also served as Physics Department Chairman and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Vice President of Academic Affairs. During this period he also served on the boards of major commercial and government affiliated corporations including 20 years on the board of the Institute for Defense Analyses (ten as Chairman). He served as President of Georgia State University and as President of the University of South Carolina. He is currently the Distinguished President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of South Carolina.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Dr. John Palms, 58\u2032<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alumni- We love getting updates! Let us know what you are up to. Dr. Hank Yochum, hyochum@citadel.edu, or call 843-953-6953. Please join our LinkedIn Group, Physics at The Citadel. 2022Luke EafanoEvan FishJosefino LubangAlexander Stensland 2021Matthew DittrichErin GarberKaeley JohnstonSamuel PoulinTroy RayRyan SalterBrandon ShivelyBenjamin Walker 2020David ClarkLandon MaddenJames QuimbyJoshua Roides 2019Kevin A. BosshartDylan T. BunnAlexis M. EdwardsMontana […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":15,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-47","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nPhysics Graduates - Department of Physics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We love to know where physics graduates are today! 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