College to Celebrate 649 Graduates
The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will recognize 649 candidates for degrees and certificates during its 15th Winter Commencement on Jan. 16 at the La Plata Campus. A keynote address will be provided by Vice Adm. David Dunaway, commander, Naval Air Systems Command headquartered at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Dunaway is a 1982 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Dunaway also has a Master of Science in aviation systems management from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. His personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He has accrued more than 2,900 flight hours and 290 arrested carrier landings.
After receiving his wings in April 1984, Dunaway served as a graduate flight instructor then completed flight training in the F/A-18 Hornet. From 1986-89, Dunaway flew with the Vigilantes of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 aboard the carrier USS Midway (CV 41) homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. He was selected for Class 96 at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River.
Dunaways test assignments include: A-12 operational test director with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 5; F/A-18 branch head; deputy for Test and Evaluation at the F/A-18 Weapon System Support Activity; and F/A-18E/F operational test director with VX-9, where he flew more than 200 developmental test missions and was Test Pilot of the Year. His program management assignments include: F/A-18 Radar Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead for PMA-265, responsible for the development of the APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar; program manager for the Precision Strike Weapons program office (PMA-201); and deputy program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs.
From September 2007 to January 2009, Dunaway served as the commander of Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake and Point Mugu, Calif., and as NAVAIRs assistant commander for Test and Evaluation. His next flag assignment was as commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force in Norfolk, Va., where he served from January 2009 to August 2012. In September 2012, he assumed command of Naval Air Systems Command.
CSMs Nursing Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be at 10 a.m. with the Nursing Recognition Ceremony at 1 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the Physical Education (PE) Center on the La Plata Campus with a reception immediately following on the upper level of the PE Center. The Winter Commencement Ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the PE Center and tickets are required. Guests without tickets can view the ceremony from the Fine Arts (FA) Center which will carry a live streaming broadcast. A reception immediately following commencement will be in the Center for Business and Industry (BI), Chaney Enterprises Conference Room BI-113.
In the event of inclement weather, a decision will be announced and posted at http://www.csmd.edu if commencement activities will be held on the following day, Jan. 17. Graduates and guests may also call the inclement weather hotline at 301-369-1999 or 800-650-4023.
The safety of CSM students, guests and employees is of utmost importance. CSM will be conducting a bag check at the winter commencement, and all individuals may be subject to a bag check before entry. CSM Public Safety officials encourage guests to leave large secondary bags, diaper bags and backpacks in their vehicles or at home as these will be subject to the bag check process at the door.
For information on CSMs winter commencement, visit www.csmd.edu/commencement.