Students with hands raised taking their oath to join the marines and the navy.

On June 10th, 2022, 9 Navy option and 6 Marine option Beaver Battalion midshipmen were commissioned into Navy and Marine Corps as Ensigns and 2nd Lieutenants. The event was held outside at the OSU Student Experience Center Plaza at 11:00 AM. It was also streamed live on Facebook and can still be viewded there. 

The guest speaker this year was Vice Admiral (VADM) Michael Devany NOAA (RET.), the father of one of the recently commissioned officers this past Friday. 

VADM Devany started his career as a Surface Warfare Officer. He then transitioned to the NOAA Commissioned Officers Corps where he served and commanded on multiple NOAA research vessels. He is a former NOAA diver and holds a US Coast Guard Masters Ocean License. Not only that, but he is the second officer in history to achieve VADM in the NOAA Officers Corps. Before retiring, he served as the NOAA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Operations and Chief Operating Officer. After retirement, VADM Devany co-founded the Oceans 360 group and is an acknowledged subject matter expert who supports a range of clients focused on marine operations, resource conservation, and ocean-related scientific and technical domains. It was an honor to have him as a guest speaker at the Beaver Battalion’s commissioning ceremony. 

The NROTC Program was established to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically; and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty, and the core values of honor, courage, and commitment in order to commission college graduates as naval officers. The program enables qualified young men and women to attain a college education leading to a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps and offers scholarship and non-scholarship opportunities for future Navy and Marine Corps officers.

Oregon States’ NROTC program is a leading commissioning source.  We were one of the first units to commission women officers to serve on submarines.  We commission Navy officers in all unrestricted line communities, including naval aviation, submarines, surface warfare, and naval special warfare.  Marine option students commission in aviation, ground combat, and logistics.