November 20, 2001
University Park, Pa. — The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) commissioning ceremony will be held Friday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall in Music Building at Penn State's University Park campus.

Colonel Steven Paladini, professor of aerospace studies and ROTC tri-service coordinator, will preside over the ceremony. John Cahir, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, will also speak.

Diane M. Disney, professor of management and Commonwealth College dean, will be the guest speaker and will swear in 25 students as new officers in the armed forces.

For seven years preceding her time at Penn State, Disney served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for civilian personnel policy. She oversaw the development and implementation of policies for managing the department’s workforce of nearly one million civil service and other employees. Disney has received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the Exceptional Public Service Award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service award. The student marshal is Josiah Montgomery of Bedford, Pa. The public is invited to attend.

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Contact:  Allison Kessler, Department of Public Information, at (814) 865-7517 or akessler@psu.edu.