Ten Niagara University Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army during ceremonies held May 16, 2025, on the Niagara University campus. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David J. Conboy was the guest speaker for the event.
Maj. Gen. Conboy retired in 2017 as the U.S. Army Reserve Command Deputy Commanding General (Operations). In this capacity, he oversaw the 16 Army reserve operational and functional commands located in the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Germany, including over 150,000 soldiers and civilians. He is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations for his service, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, and the Silver DeFleury Medal.
Maj. Gen. Conboy's civilian position is with the Buffalo District U.S Army Corps of Engineers as the chief of the Engineer and Construction Division. He deployed to Iraq as a civilian to oversee the reconstruction of the oil infrastructure throughout Southern Iraq.
Following the administration of the Oath of Office for each cadet, they were pinned by select family and/or friends and received their first salute from a former or current enlisted service member of their choosing.
The new second lieutenants are:
- Azhane Bridges from Buffalo, N.Y.
- Aden C. Buchholz from Horseheads, N.Y.
- Luc Buth from Lewiston, N.Y.
- Brian Garber from Pittsford, N.Y.
- Lauren Hrusa from Colden, N.Y.
- Malachi Jetty from Pittsford, N.Y.
- Lila Maddux from Golden, Colo.
- Emma McElwain from Hamlin, N.Y.
- Briana Miller from Tonawanda, N.Y.
- James Whittaker from Marcy, N.Y.
Army ROTC is a leadership development program designed to augment the college learning experience. Its primary goals are to identify, instruct, and commission young men and women for service as officers in the Active Duty Army, the United States Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. Intermediate goals include providing students with the leadership skills necessary to organize and effectively run the Purple Eagle Battalion, clubs on campus, or student government.
Niagara University’s ROTC program regularly ranks in the top 10% of all Army ROTC programs in the United States. The Purple Eagle Battalion’s rise to excellence culminated in 2004, when it was the top-ranked program in the nation.
To learn more about Niagara University’s ROTC program, please visit http://rotc.niagara.edu.