USAF, USSF and ENJJPT cadets learn career field selections

Photo above: Cadet Conor William Deans, the first Citadel set to commission into the United States Space Force, is congratulated by Col. Matthew Morand, USSF, in Jenkins Hall on campus Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021

When seniors prepare to accept military commissions just before graduation this May, there will be one cadet headed in a direction no Citadel cadet has gone before. Cadet Conor Deans will be going to Vandenberg Space Force Base for training as a new U.S. Space Force (USSF) officer.

“I am really excited that I was selected for the U.S. Space Force,” said Deans, who is majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Cyber Security and attends The Citadel on a U.S. Air Force (USAF) contract. He was told that, after his initial training at Vandenberg, he’ll be segmented to a section that maneuvers and controls satellites, or builds and launches space systems.

Deans, an Honors Program cadet, heard the good news from the head of the USAF/USSF ROTC Detachment 765 at The Citadel, Col. Matthew Morand. Morand, ’95, transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force in January, and was sworn in on campus.

“I called my family last night,” Deans said. Deans, who is from St. Cloud, Minnesota, grew up in a military family. His father is a career National Guard officer. “My parents were happy. My dad made a couple ‘space cadet’ jokes. My mom was pretty happy for me too.”

The USSF was created to protect and grow America’s technology and capabilities in space when the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019. It is the first new military service in more than 70 years.

Cadet Eafano selected for elite Euro-NATO pilot program; 23 other seniors USAF bound

Among the 25 seniors in the USAF/USSF ROTC unit at The Citadel receiving confirmation of their career-field selections this week is Cadet Luke Eafano. Eafano, a Physics major from Lawrenceville, Georgia, has earned a spot with the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program. He also attends The Citadel on a USAF contract. Eafano has earned gold stars and Dean’s List academic accolades throughout his time as a cadet, is a Summerall Guard, holds the Capt. Ryan Hall Leadership Sword and was on the tennis team.

ENJJPT is the world’s only multi-nationally manned and managed flying training program chartered to produce combat pilots for NATO. Also known as the 80th Flying Training Wing, the ENNJPT trains 50% of all Air Force fighter pilots.

Class of 2022 full roster of selections

Cyberspace Operations Officer	BAINUM	ERRETT
Pilot	BEAL	JASON
Pilot	CHRISTMAS	KATHRYN
Acquisition Manager	DANINGER	AARON
Space Operations Officer – USSF	DEANS	CONOR
Combat System Officer (CSO)	DEMARRE	ROBERT
Security Forces	DURESKY	JACOB
Pilot – ENJJPT	EAFANO	LUKE
Civil Engineer	ERVIN	CHASE
Nuclear & Missile Operations	FISH	EVAN
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)	FOLSOM	BRETT
Combat System Officer (CSO)	HALL	TARYN
Intelligence	HORVATH	MATTHEW
Pilot	JEFFCOAT	JAMES
Logistics Readiness	JOHNSON	LANE
Aircraft Maintenance	JONES	JOSHUA
Nuclear & Missile Operations	KARAM	DOUGLAS
Contracting	KING	JARETT
Nuclear & Missile Operations	MARTIN	HARRISON
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)	MCALLISTER	TREVOR
Security Forces	PARCELL	COLTON
Pilot	SCHAINBLATT	JOSIAH
Developmental/Electrical Engineer	SCHWARTZ	JACK
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)	TEEMS	HUNTER
Nuclear & Missile Operations	YOUNG	ZACHARY
Nuclear & Missile Operations	YTEM	JOSEPH BRANDON