Mercer Times

Nine members of Princeton's Class of 2024 were commissioned as officers in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force on May 28 during a ceremony led by Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, a Class of 1987 alumnus who was commissioned through Princeton's ROTC program over 30 years ago.

Gen. Cavoli, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of the U.S. European Command, delivered the commissioning address in the Faculty Room of Nassau Hall shortly after Princeton’s Commencement. He is also a recipient of Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson Award, the University’s highest undergraduate alumni honor.

Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber highlighted the historic significance of Nassau Hall, which General George Washington liberated from the British during the Battle of Princeton. Quoting historian Gordon S. Wood on Washington’s voluntary relinquishment of power to the Continental Congress in 1783 as “the greatest act of his life,” Eisgruber emphasized the importance of civilian leaders respecting military service and military officers adhering to principles of republican government.

“To preserve and extend the tradition that he began, we must have civilian leaders who respect military service, and we must have military officers who subscribe to the principles of republican government and share in the benefits of liberal learning,” Eisgruber said.

Eisgruber praised the new officers: “This University takes great pride in you and in what you have accomplished... We are proud of your learning. We are proud of your courage. We are proud of your commitment to our Constitution, to the United States Armed Forces, and to the intertwined traditions from which they emanate.”

The newly commissioned officers include:

- Lauren Kerry Besch (U.S. Army)

- Jordan Knight Bowman-Davis (U.S. Navy)

- Janis Wai Chen (U.S. Army)

- William George Cutinella (U.S. Air Force)

- William Ze’ev Goldberg (U.S. Army)

- Jonathan Li Lin (U.S. Army)

- Erik John Roll (U.S. Army)

- Delaney Marie Savidge (U.S. Air Force)

- Aidan Brooks Walsh (U.S. Marine Corps)

These graduates represented various majors such as chemistry, economics, engineering, history, linguistics, and politics and participated in activities like the Chinese Language Association and Outdoor Action leader roles.

In his address, Cavoli spoke about the weighty responsibility new officers assume: “You’re going to step into the ranks... You are going to get an insignia... But it is heavy... weighted with expectations... responsibility that you will open their eyes... weighted down by the Oath of Office.”

After taking their oath of office, each officer received their ranking pins and performed traditional Silver Dollar Salutes with family members pinning their ranks onto uniforms.

The ceremony included notable attendees such as retired Gen. Mark A Milley—a 1980 Princeton graduate who served as Chairman of Joint Chiefs—and Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste performed "America The Beautiful."

Princeton's Army ROTC Tiger Battalion is noted for being America’s longest continuously running ROTC program since its founding in 1919; its Navy ROTC program was re-established in 2014 after a long absence.