Embry-Riddle Army ROTC Cadets Achieve National Distinction

Cadet Hunter Williams and Cadet Christopher Decorte, pictured, distinguished themselves within the top tier of the national Order of Merit List. (Photo provided by Lt. Col. Jerome Reitano)

Oct 10, 2025, 9:30 AM

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Eagle Battalion has earned national recognition with an exceptional performance in the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s annual Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) selections.

Cadet Hunter Williams.Out of 37 eligible cadets, 13 were selected, or 35%. This was the highest rate in the 6th Brigade, which averaged 15.5% across 39 universities, said Lt. Col. Jerome Reitano, professor of Military Science.

Cadet Hunter Williams and Cadet Christopher Decorte distinguished themselves within the top tier of the national Order of Merit List (OML), which is the Army’s standardized system for ranking senior cadets nationwide. Williams ranked No. 9 nationally, while Decorte ranked No. 30 nationally.

The other 11 Embry-Riddle cadets selected include: Joseph Collins; Harley Funderburk; Clayton Hinkley; Lawrence Jordan; Justin Smith; Benjamin Spengler; Sterling Stein; Brendan Conneely; Barrett Cutshall; Evan Vaughan; and Karalyn Vaneerden.

“This level of performance reflects the dedication and discipline of our cadets,” said Capt. Kyle Butler, assistant professor of Military Science. It is a testament to their hard work and to the standard of excellence the Eagle Battalion continues to uphold.”

The Order of Merit List is primarily based on leadership evaluations, academic performance and results from Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. Supplemental points are awarded for athletics, extracurricular involvement and employment, but the foundation of the rankings rests on demonstrated leadership ability and academic excellence.

“The Order of Merit List represents years of consistent performance,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Compton, Military Science instructor. “Balancing academics, leadership responsibilities and training requirements is no small task. Our cadets have proven themselves ready to lead at the next level.”

With this year’s results, Embry-Riddle not only outperformed its peers across the 6th Brigade but also solidified its reputation as one of the premier Army ROTC programs in the nation, said Reitano. The Eagle Battalion’s success reflects both the university’s commitment to academic excellence and its mission to develop leaders of character for service to the nation.