Flaghoist Fall 2018.Pdf

Table of Contents Commanding Officer’s Letter 3 Battalion Commander’s Letter 4 Naval Science Staff Bios 5 Battalion Staff 10 Class Photos 11 New Student Orientation 16 Alumni Barbecue 17 9/11 Ceremony 18 Run to Dallas 19 Navy and Marine Corps Ball 20 Change of Command 21 Commissioning 22 Alumni Corner 23 Commanding Officer’s Letter The Fall 2018 semester is quickly coming to an end. Although this semester has flown by, it has also been an extremely important semester for future students of OU NROTC. This semester we have witnessed two extremely important events that will have im- pacts for many years to come. First, our annual Alumni reunion saw the highest participation that has been seen in recent years. It was amazing to see this large turnout and more im- portantly their engagement with our current students. Two weeks later the University an- nounced a very significant and generous donation to the ROTC programs at the University of Oklahoma from Jim and Miriam Mulva. Portions of this donation will support a full renovation of the Armory that is planned from May 2019 to June 2020. This generous donation will im- prove all the spaces in the Armory while maintaining the history of the building which will enhance the education and training of students for years to come. Along with the staff spending time planning for the Armory renovation and our tem- porary move during construction, the battalion remained extremely busy which is normal for the Fall semester. We are completing the Fall semester with 51 total students, including 23 Freshman. During this semester, the battalion continued to support Game Day during football games, where the students continue to be praised for their professionalism and welcom- ing attitude. Students also volunteered at Veteran’s events, were represented at the Oklaho- ma Military Hall of Fame banquet and participated in many other events this fall. In addition to all our other events, the unit continued the Run to Dallas and delivery of the game ball to the Red River Rivalry. This year’s event was also filmed for a short promo during the pre-game ceremony at the Cotton Bowl and a slightly longer documentary that was provided to the unit by BeSpoke Sports Marketing through the support of Navy Federal Credit Union. In addition to this, tickets to the game were also provided to some of the students. Most significantly, the flag football game with the University of Texas NROTC resulted in the trophy returning to Norman after a 12-0 shutout. It has been another remarkable semester for the battalion. The unit continues to en- joy a reputation of excellence throughout the campus. It remains my honor to serve with this amazing team of students and staff and I look forward to a rewarding spring semester. BOOMER SOONER!!! Battalion Commander’s Letter Given the opportunity to be the Battalion Commander of the University of Okla- homa NROTC Unit has been an incredible honor and privilege. Being in charge of an organization with such a distinguished history and reputation is truly humbling and I believe that we continued its tradition of excellence. I have been fortunate to have expo- sure to such a quality active Duty Staff and with that I received mentor-ship that will be carried with me through leadership endeavors well into the future. When I first came aboard this command as a freshman, I did not have much knowledge of what it meant to be a Battalion Commander or the specific traits and abili- ties one would need to possess to do the job effectively. Now being in the position, the things I found to be a necessity when in charge of the Unit is the reliance and trust that you have to have in the people you’re leading. As Battalion Commander there is far too much that needs to be accomplished to keep the unit operating which requires your abil- ity to task and then know and trust that the task will be completed. Trusting your people, I believe aids in their trust towards you and throughout my time as Battalion Command- er this was something that I really wanted to foster in my own development as a future Naval Officer. Having this opportunity more than allowed me to accomplish this. This semester has presented the Battalion, the Midshipman staff, and myself with many challenges. But one of the best things about this organization and being Battalion commander is that I get to work through and overcome these challenges with the abso- lute best group of people that a BNCO could ask for. Having your friends by your side, looking to carry out your vision for the Battalion truly makes this experience something special. The people that I’ve gotten to work with is what has made this experience most memorable. MIDN 1/C Matthew Lauck, USNR Battalion Commander OU NROTC Naval Science Staff Captain Lyle Hall is a native of Cement, Oklahoma. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Sci- ence degree and received his commission through the NROTC program. Captain Hall most recently commanded USS VICKS- BURG (CG 69) from May 2013 through July 2016, a 37- month command tour. He led VICKSBURG through her maintenance and training cycles as well as an operational deployment as Standing NATO Maritime Group Two flagship from December 2014 to July 2015. Captain Hall also commanded USS TAYLOR (FFG 50) from December 2009 through May 2011, leading the ship during her operational deployment to the Sixth Fleet Area of Operations in support of Sixth Fleet Theater Security Coop- eration requirements. Additionally, he served as the Deputy Commanding Officer Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 24 from June through September 2011. CAPT Lyle D. Hall, USN Captain Hall’s initial afloat assignment included tours as Main Propulsion Assistant, Dam- age Control Assistant, and Combat Information Officer on USS FAHRION (FFG 22). Additional afloat tours have included Amphibious Operations Officer (N31) at COMPHIBRON 6, Combat Sys- tems Officer on USS KAUFFMAN (FFG 59), and Combat Systems Officer (N6) at COMDESRON 28. He also served afloat as Executive Officer on USS OSCAR AUSTIN (DDG 79). Ashore, he earned a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1999. Additionally, he graduated from the inaugural class of the Joint Ad- vanced Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2005 where he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy. He has completed two Joint assignments ashore as a Senior Strategic Policy Analyst at US Joint Forces Command in the J5 (Strategy and Policy) Directorate and as the Branch Chief for Lessons Learned at US Special Oper- ations Command. CAPT Hall assumed command of the NROTC Unit at the University of Oklahoma in July 2016. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various campaign and unit awards. Naval Science Staff Commander Maureen “Moe” Studniarz is a native of Middletown, Ohio and graduated from Oldenburg Acad- emy in 1993. She attended Long Island University, South- ampton, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology in 1997. After working as crew on various sailboats for a year, CDR Studniarz was commis- sioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1999 through Officer Candidate School as a Meteorology and Oceanography Officer (METOC). In 2003, she lateral transferred to the unrestricted line community as a student Naval Aviator. CDR Studniarz reported to Naval Air Station Pen- sacola, FL for aviation indoctrination and completed Naval Executive Officer Flight Training in the T-34C Mentor and the TH-57B/C. She CDR Maureen Studniarz, USN received her wings of gold in August 2003. She then reported to Fleet Replacement Squadron (HSL-41) in September 2003 where she learned to fly the SH-60B Seahawk. In 2004, she reported to her first fleet squadron, the “Scorpions” of HSL-49 at Naval Air Station North Island. While as- signed to HSL-49, CDR Studniarz completed two WESTPAC deployments and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In 2007, CDR Studniarz transferred to The Citadel NROTC Unit where she taught Naval Science classes and became the Senior Naval Instructor. In 2009, she transferred to OPNAV to become the Protocol Officer for the Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Gary Roughead. In 2011, CDR Studniarz transferred to HSL-46, the Grandmasters, to begin her De- partment Head tour. Shortly after reporting, she was selected to be an Individual Aug- mentee and became the Executive Officer for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Uruzgan in Afghanistan. While part of the PRT, she also served as the Female Engage- ment Team (FET) OIC. She returned to HSL-46 in November 2012 to become the Squad- ron’s Operations Officer and oversaw the completion of the Squadron’s transition from SH-60B’s to MH-60R’s. She transferred from HSM-46 and reported to the Pentagon in June 2013 where she was an Action Officer for the Navy Business Operations Office. In June 2016, CDR Studniarz transferred to the NROTC Unit at the University of Oklahoma to be the Executive Officer. CDR Studniarz's personal decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal (Individual Action), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), the Ar- my Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards). Naval Science Staff Lieutenant Wesley McDaniel is a native of Lubbock, Texas and attended Lubbock Christian University, where he graduated with a Bache- lor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2011.

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