NC State’s Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) program develops the leaders of tomorrow by preparing students to become officers in the United States Air Force or Space Force while earning their NC State degree.

On May 8, NC State Detachment 595, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Bergkamp, saw four Wolfpack Warriors become newly-commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force, at a ceremony that included their family, friends and mentors.

“All of us in Air Force ROTC Detachment 595 are proud to commission four outstanding cadets this spring,” Berkamp said. “AFROTC is a challenging program, and throughout their time in it, these cadets have consistently demonstrated the hard work, discipline and leadership we expect of future officers. Each embodies our core values, and we are confident they will excel as they enter rated career fields as pilots and combat systems operators. They are ready to lead and thrive as officers in the Air Force.”

The guest speaker for the spring 2026 commissioning ceremony was retired Colonel Eric Schmidt of the U.S. Air Force, an alumnus of the NC State ROTC program. 

Schmidt was the division chief of Military and Civil Aviation Integration at Headquarters Air Force, in the Operations Directorate, Pentagon. He led the six branches of this diverse, geographically separated organization with over 60 military, civilian and contract employees, establishing Air Force policies for military and civilian aviation access and integration into domestic and international airspace environments.

Schmidt retired from the Air Force at NC State in January, after a career that included group command, two squadron command tours (one deployed), five major command staff tours and in-residence senior and intermediate developmental education attendance.

“Be that team that comes in and does things that nobody thinks they’re going to do.”

Schmidt reminded the newly-minted second lieutenants of the story of the 2024 NC State men’s basketball team’s improbable run to the ACC Championship and NCAA Final Four, and charged them to follow a similar example. 

“Be that team that comes in and does things that nobody thinks they’re going to do,” he said. “Challenge yourself to learn every single day.”

Schmidt also spoke of the importance of appreciating everyone who has helped them get to this point in their careers, and those who will help them along the way. 

“Everything that you accomplish in life, whether it’s in your Air Force career or your personal life, someone’s helping you do that,” Schmidt said. “As an officer, you’re going to be put into positions where you’re going to have opportunities to remember and be thankful to people that are helping you achieve things. You’re also going to have opportunities to appreciate people that are doing things to help you. As an officer, that’s really important.”

The commissioned seniors, who will all begin their careers as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force, had their gold bars pinned on them by their families, friends and mentors. 

NC State and the Division of Academic and Student Affairs congratulate these new alumni on their accomplishments, and thank them for their upcoming service to the United States. 

Below is a list of the four commissioned officers, including their major at NC State, branch of service and first duty station.

Spring 2026 Air Force ROTC Commissioned Graduates

• Harper K. Verlin, Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, 11X Pilot, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
• Thomas L. Marshall, Business Administration, 11X Pilot, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma
• Hudson L. Long, Aerospace Engineering, 11X Pilot, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
• Sophia F. McCall, Criminology, 12X Combat Systems Officer, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida