Ready to Serve: Southern Miss Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets Commissioned as Second Lieutenants

Tue, 05/13/2025 - 09:00am | By: Ivonne Kawas

Ten Army and three Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) were commissioned as second lieutenants at a ceremony held May 10–marking the beginning of their military careers as they move on to lead and serve in the U.S. Army and Air Force.

Maj. Gen. Bobby M. Ginn Jr., adjutant general of Mississippi, served as the keynote speaker. Ginn, who earned a bachelor’s degree in health and human sciences from Southern Miss and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, offered the cadets advice and wisdom drawn from more than 34 years of military service.

Lt. Col. Juan J. Ortiz, director of the USM Department of Military Science, praised the Army cadets for their success as they embark on this new chapter.

“This year is especially meaningful to me because, 20 years ago, I stood where these cadets stand today–filled with the same sense of purpose,” said Ortiz. “I’m incredibly proud to celebrate the commissioning of 10 exceptional young leaders into the U.S. Army. Through hard work, resilience, and unwavering commitment to Army values, they’ve earned the privilege of leading America’s sons and daughters. Their futures are bright, and I look forward to all they will accomplish as officers in our Army.”

Lt. Col. Sheena Puleali'i, director of the Southern Miss Department of Aerospace Studies, commended Air Force cadets for their commitment to excellence throughout their college careers.

“This year’s Air Force ROTC cohort has excelled in a rigorous four-year program, often called ‘a four-year job interview,’ and they are well prepared to begin their service on active duty,” said Puleali'i. “They’ve demonstrated discipline and perseverance, consistently meeting the high standards of the program while balancing the demands of academic and campus life. I’m proud to have been part of their journey and excited to see what they accomplish next.”

2^nd Lt. Natalya Brownlee, a native of Sidon, Miss., graduated with a bachelor’s in health sciences (healthcare studies) with minors in aerospace studies and public health policy and administration, and on the nursing track, and commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a nurse.

“Pursuing AFROTC alongside nursing school has been a whirlwind of emotions, but it pushed me to grow beyond my comfort zone,” said Brownlee. “The most rewarding part of my AFROTC experience has been teaching and mentoring cadets and witnessing their growth as they continually challenged themselves each semester. In nursing, I cherished the camaraderie of my small clinical groups—learning, laughing, and supporting one another through the toughest lessons.”

Throughout her time at Southern Miss, Brownlee said she embraced various leadership and professional development opportunities.

“During my time in the program, I traveled to Taiwan through Project Global Officer to study Mandarin Chinese, participated in the You Can Fly program to learn aviation fundamentals, and attended professional development training at Travis Air Force Base, where I shadowed ICU nurses and observed flight nurses in action,” Brownlee added. “I also participated in our detachment’s 24-hour vigil at Veteran's Memorial Park and served as the cadet wing commander, where I worked to improve the detachment and build meaningful experiences that deepened my commitment to service.”

2^nd Lt. Cynthia Arenas, originally from Caracas, Venezuela, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences (biomedical sciences) with minors in chemistry and military science, and commissioned into the U.S. Army active duty as an adjutant general.

“Commissioning as a second lieutenant is both an honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly,” said Arenas. “As an immigrant from Caracas, this achievement reflects my determination, the opportunities this country has given me, and my commitment to give back through service.”

“The friendships, mentorship, and support I found here have been invaluable,” added Arenas. “Balancing ROTC and academics taught me discipline and resilience and deepened my passion for military medicine.”

“Southern Miss gave me more than an education; it gave me a home, a sense of purpose, and the confidence to take this next step and represent my journey and family with pride,” she further noted.

2^nd Lt. Daniel Laudadio, the child of two Army officers, graduated with a bachelor’s in business management from Southern Miss, and commissioned into the U.S. Army active duty as an aviation officer.

"I’ve dreamed of following in my parents’ footsteps and continuing our family’s tradition of service for as long as I can remember,” said Laudadio. “I’m proud to now have the opportunity to serve my country.”

“One of the highlights of my cadet experience was graduating from Air Assault School at Fort Campbell in January 2024,” Laudadio added. “During my time at Southern Miss, I had the honor of serving in leadership roles such as color guard commander and cadet battalion commander, where I helped lead and support the growth of our battalion.”

“As I commission into the Aviation Branch, my next goal is to graduate from Army flight school at Fort Novosel, Ala. I’m grateful for the strong community of peers and mentors in Southern Miss Army ROTC, whose support has shaped me into the leader I am today,” stated Laudadio.

Commissioning Cadets included the following:

ARMY

• 2^nd Cynthia I. Arenas–native of Ocean Springs, Miss., B.S. in Biological Sciences, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Adjutant General
• 2^nd Jillian F. Burton–native of Huntsville, Ala., B.S. in Nursing, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as a Nurse
• 2^nd Scottlan R. Hubbard–native of Mendenhall, Miss., B.S. in Business Management, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Military Police
• 2^nd Daniel M. Laudadio–native of Walnut, Miss., B.A. in Business Management, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Aviation Officer
• 2^nd Cameron M. Lawrence–native of Pascagoula, Miss., B.S. in Liberal Studies, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Military Intelligence
• 2^nd Nicholas C. Nail–native of Madison, Miss., B.S. in Political Science, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Adjutant General
• 2^nd Jake M. Rogers–native of Olive Branch, Miss., B.S. in Psychology, Commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Duty as Signal
• 2^nd Kenneth R. White–native of Moss Point, Miss., B.S. in Biological Sciences, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Quarter Master
• 2^nd Justus D. Willis–native of Meridian, Miss., B.A. in Criminal Justice, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Military Police
• 2^nd Elizabeth A. Wilson–native of Madison, Miss., B.S. in Kinesiology, Commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard as Adjutant General

AIR FORCE

• 2^nd Natalya Brownlee–native of Sidon, Miss., BSN degree, Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a Nurse
• 2^nd Jessica Crenshaw–native of Creola, Ala., B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics, Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer
• 2^nd Jeremy Jones–native of Canton, Miss., B.S. in Information Technology, Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a Nuclear and Missiles Operations Officer