6 Saint Leo University ROTC Cadets Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in U.S. Army

It is fitting that during National Military Service Appreciation Month, Saint Leo University celebrated its latest members of the military. On Tuesday, May 6, six Saint Leo Army ROTC cadets were sworn in and commissioned as second lieutenants during a ceremony at the Marion Bowman Activities Center. 

The guest speaker for the commissioning ceremony was Colonel Peter Tan, who retired from the U.S. Army after 36 years of service.  Now, he serves as the civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, president and CEO of TANARM, and partner at Academic Innovation Partners. A board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he is active in the Tampa Bay area community, serving in leadership positions on many boards. These include chairman of the Board of Trustees for HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital; director for the Association of the U.S. Army Suncoast Chapter; and chief advisor for Next Point. He is the past president of the Military Officers Association of America Citrus Chapter and past director of the Association of Army Dentistry. 

Throughout his Army career, Tan held critical leadership and clinical assignments, including serving as commander of the 7301st Medical Training Support Battalion, commander of the 185th Dental Company (Area Support) and task force commander for Operation T-FIT, senior dental staff officer at the Pentagon, and Dental Corps chief (DIMA). He served in key operational assignments at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Europe Regional Dental Command, Pacific Regional Dental Command, and multiple combat support hospitals. 

He is the recipient of many awards including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with one Silver and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star. 

Tan offered his heartfelt thanks to those being commissioned noting, “They will serve with the less than 1% who choose to serve this nation. Thank you for choosing to say ‘yes.’”

In his speech, Tan shared 10 tips with the Saint Leo cadets who would graduate the next day.

His advice included: 
“Successful leaders surround themselves with successful people,” he said. “We can’t all do it by ourselves.”

“Learn from the best, the most experienced, and the most talented so you can become better. Make known that you want to learn and understand and implement better. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Don’t be afraid to seek answers. Seek to be a better version of yourself.”

“We’ve all been given a gift to become officers of the United States. This skillset is unique. Your experience will be invaluable for future generations.” 

“Thank God for your parents, your teachers, and mentors. . .for the support you have received, all the guidance you will collect in the future, and all the wisdom you will develop in your career to teach others. You are leaders of the future.”

“Know that all of us in uniform are brothers and sisters in arms.” 

Tan led the cadets in saying their oath of office, and then they were pinned with their gold bars, indicating they are second lieutenants, by their families and the commissioning officers, followed by their first salutes as officers. 

The newly commissioned second lieutenants and graduates of Saint Leo are: 

Derwing Edouard
Signal Corps, National Guard
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Jerry Edouard
Signal Corps, Active Duty
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Mary Henley
Military Intelligence Corps, Army Reserve
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security

Michael Libassi
Corps of Engineers, Army Reserve
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security

Jeremy Negroni
Signal Corps, Branch Detail Armor, Active Duty
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Kyle Schmidt
Air Defense Artillery, Active Duty
Bachelor of Arts in History