WVU Army ROTC to commission 8 second lieutenants

The WVU Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion will commission eight cadets at 10 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 18) in the Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room. (WVU Photo)

The West Virginia University Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion commissioned eight cadets as second lieutenants during the annual Fall Commissioning Ceremony in December 2025.

Story by John Dowling, Recruiting Operations Officer WVU Army ROTC
Photos by WVU Army ROTC

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Col. Robert Kincaid, chief of the joint staff for the West Virginia National Guard, will be the keynote speaker. 

Lt. Col. Eron Hilty, WVU professor of military science, and Master Sgt. William O’Neal, senior military science instructor, will present the cadets for commissioning.

Those commissioning from WVU include the following:

Devin Booth from Weirton, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in computer science. He commissions as a military intelligence officer but will be detailed as an armor officer for his first tour. He served in the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet while completing his degree. 

Landon Burns from Bridgeport, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife and fisheries resources. He will assess into the West Virginia Army National Guard as a field artillery officer with B Battery, 1-201st Field Artillery Battalion. He served in the West Virginia Army National Guard while completing his degree.

Andrew Helbig from Oakland, Maryland, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in general business. He will assess onto active duty as a signal corps officer after completing an initial detail assignment in the infantry. 

Ethan Knepp from Altoona, Pennsylvania, graduates with a Master of Science in Coaching and Sport Education. He will assess into the West Virginia Army National Guard as a corps of engineer officer with the 821st Engineer Company in Summersville.

Bryce Mattox from Richmond, Virginia, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He will assess onto active duty as a military police officer. He served with the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet while completing his degree.

Hunter Ringeisen from Morgantown, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He will assess into the West Virginia Army National Guard as a signal corps officer with the 1092nd Engineer Battalion. He served with the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet while completing his degree. 

Those commissioning from other institutions include the following:

Thomas Furgason from Rivesville, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Fairmont State University. He will assess onto active duty in the Corps of Engineers. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate and served in the West Virginia Army National Guard while completing his degree. 

Samuel Hamilton from Bowie, Maryland, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Waynesburg University. He commissions into the Army Reserve in the logistics branch. 

Watch the event on the Mountaineer Battalion Facebook page. 

This year’s class includes five Distinguished Military Graduates who ranked among the top 20% of cadets nationwide determined by the National Order of Merit list.

Read more at WVUToday.

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