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.
| 2022 Luke Eafano Evan Fish Josefino Lubang Alexander Stensland | 2021 Matthew Dittrich Erin Garber Kaeley Johnston Samuel Poulin Troy Ray Ryan Salter Brandon Shively Benjamin Walker | 2020 David Clark Landon Madden James Quimby Joshua Roides | 2019 Kevin A. Bosshart Dylan T. Bunn Alexis M. Edwards Montana L. Harvill Austin B. Jowers Caleb J. Sapp |
| 2018 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 | 2017 Timothy J. Burke Carly M. Cannon Samuel R. Duncan Ryan P. Fallon Hayden D. Fry Angelica L. McNerny | 2016 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 | 2015 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 |
| 2014 Navy OC Curtis E. Allen Ryan J. Boodee Ilya D. Fedarovich Cody N. Walker Eric Samayoa | 2013 Benjamin D. Hall John C. Holl Tyler R. Lewis Daniel K. Pittman Djordan L. Porter | 2012 Evan M. Aguirre Eric S. Berman Trevor H. Currin Nathan M. Figlewski Matthew G. Janikula Kurt L. Lichtenstein Matthew R. May | 2011 Andrew C. Carnes Erik T. Pratt Michael J. Rowland |
| 2010 Kyrie E. Arrigo Joshua M. Bergeron Justin M. Chuma Phillip C. Westbrook Kei-Tai Yu | 2009 Brennin S. Colegrove Navy OC Jonathan A. Culbert Thomas F. Gade, Jr. Alexander O. Rogers Stephanie L. Woodrow | 2008 Navy OC Corey R. Caswell Joseph H. Diliberto (originally Class of 2002) Joseph W. Miller Jason M. Sutton | 2007 Miguel A. Benitez (Deceased) Jason H. Chuma Eric D. Graham William L. Harrell Nawapong Unsuree |
| 2006 Angela M. Ellenwood Navy OC Jason C. Mattix Nicholas J. Van Dyke | 2005 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 | 2004 Bart C. Coursey Ricardo S. C. Flores, Jr. Alex S. Lee Stephen A. Meadows Aaron P. Sand | 2003 Robert S. Glas Robert J. Heaton Joseph P. Niemiec Brandon C. Race |
| 2001 Andrew S. Dzara Reginald H. Rice | 2000 Kyle E. Rayle (Deceased) Christopher I. Stoddard (Deceased) | 1999 Frank J. DiBonaventuro Matthew T. Freniere Sammie E. Sanders, Jr. Paul A. Yount | 1998 Hector I. Caban, Jr. Justin M. Cappelman Jeremy D. Geaslin Christopher A. Lovelace John B. T. Pratt Gregory E. Sutton |
| 1997 Jonathan M. Songer Brien S. Woosley | 1996 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 | 1995 David R. Armbruster Chad W. Bearden Benjamin H. Brown Robert P. Cooper Philip D. Cushman Marine Sgt. Gilbert O. Garcia Charles T. Hubbard | 1994 Christopher S. Faust Timothy P. Harrenstein Robert K. Lark James S. Wilson |
| 1993 Martin L. Boyce Daniel D. Brown Andrew D. Gignilliat Jack R. Knox | 1992 Dean R. Evans Scott A. Foreman S. Camm Garrett Michael A. Gish (Deceased) James T. Hundley | 1991 Bradley S. Arnold Leroy E. Calhoun III William H. Long III O. Gerald Robertson Edward J. Semones Benjamin N. Taylor | 1990 Jeffrey A. Garrett Michael D. Moore |
| 1977 David N. Griffiths Douglas A. Gross George D. Mosho James B. Near M. Elliot Rickenbacker Louis J. Riva Marc G. Saunders |
Brief updates from physics graduates-
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’s 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’s 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.
– Matthew Janikula, 12′
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.
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.
-Ryan L. Birkelbach 05′
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.
-Brennin Colegrove, 09′
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 “V” 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 “Wheel of Time” series comprised of 11 volumes and also a prequel, “New Spring.” The “Wheel of Time” 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’s publisher. Mr. Rigney was also known for helping to keep the “Conan the Barbarian” 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’Neal and published by Forge, these include: “The Fallon Blood,” “The Fallon Pride,” and “The Fallon Legacy.” Mr. Rigney died at 58 in 2007.
-James Oliver Rigney, Jr. 74′
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.
-Dr. John Palms, 58′