A graduation ceremony for the fourth graduating class of the Delaware National Guard's Delaware Leadership Academy was held this afternoon, Sunday October 14, with 14 troops graduating; nine Soldiers from the Delaware Army Guard, and five Airmen from the Delaware Air Guard.
The ceremony was held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Headquarters, Delaware ANG, 2600 Spruance Drive, New Castle, Del. with 10 of the 14 troops present (four Soldiers could not attend due to training requirements for a future deployment).
This is the fourth graduating class of the DLA since 2009, and as of today the academy has 56 graduates.
Major. Gen. Frank Vavala, The Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Lloyd Massey, a DLA graduate and current instructor, made remarks.
This year's graduates:
From the Delaware Army National Guard: Capt. Linden L. Boyer III, Sgt. 1st Class Bernard Page Brooks II, Staff Sgt. John M. Brooks, Staff Sgt. Naomi C. Connelly, Sgt. 1st Class Mark P. DelVecchio, 1st Lt. Daniel J. MacLeish, 1st Lt. Noah S. Moss, Maj. Garland A. Pennington and Lt. Col. Frank A. Santore Jr.
From the Delaware Air National Guard: Maj. Maria E. Freeman, Lt. Col. Trevor J. Fulmer, Tech. Sgt. Olivia S. Short, Maj. Lewis K. Urrutia, Lt. Col. Steven T. Willey.
The first graduating class of the DLA was in 2009, when 20 troops completed an innovative year-long program designed to enhance the professional development of future Delaware National Guard leaders.
The Academy is intended to develop leaders capable of effectively handling joint local, state, and national level assignments, with course work focused on homeland security and homeland defense missions for the State of Delaware.
The DLA is a graduate-level educational program (accredited by the American Council on Education) for students from both the Delaware Air and Army National Guard, challenging Soldiers and Airmen on joint teams while facilitating unique personal exchanges.
Delaware National Guard members can apply this program toward a Master's degree at Wilmington University. The graduates can receive credit toward a Master of Science degree in Management with a concentration in Military Leadership or receive credit toward a degree in Homeland Security.
This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written.
- 30 -