(University of Maryland Global Campus Asia)
Okinawa–April 19
YOMITAN, OKINAWA, JAPAN – The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) will hold its Okinawa commencement on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Yomitan Cultural Center, celebrating more than 190 graduates, including active-duty service members, veterans, military families, and local nationals. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.) and will be presided over by James Cronin, Vice President and Director of UMGC’s Asia Division.
Dr. Donald R. Schroeder will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Schroeder, a native of Covington, Kentucky, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1980 as a fire protection specialist. In 1985, he retrained into the education and training career field and subsequently held a variety of roles. A highlight of his career was serving as the Command Training and Functional Manager, first at Headquarters Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) in Washington, D.C., and later at Headquarters Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In 2000, Dr. Schroeder was selected for promotion to the Air Force’s highest enlisted rank, Chief Master Sergeant, and served in various senior enlisted roles during the subsequent years.
Following the ceremony, a post-commencement reception will be held at the same location, beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m. For more details, visit our website.
A leader in military education for over 75 years, UMGC offers flexible, career-focused programs tailored to service members worldwide.
For more information, visit asia.umgc.edu.
Tokyo–April 12
TOKYO, JAPAN – The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) will hold its Japan commencement on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, celebrating more than 170 graduates, including active-duty service members, veterans, military families, and local nationals. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. (doors open at 10:30 a.m.) and will be presided over by James Cronin, Vice President and Director of UMGC’s Asia Division.
Colonel Burt N. Okamoto, Commander of the 374th Mission Support Group at Yokota Air Base, Japan, will deliver the keynote address. Col. Okamoto leads 2,800 personnel across six (6) squadrons, overseeing $7 billion in assets that support combat operations and mission readiness for the 374th Airlift Wing, U.S. Forces Japan, and 5th Air Force. He has held key intelligence and leadership roles in multiple deployments, including Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
Following the ceremony, a post-commencement reception will be held at the same location, beginning at approximately 1 p.m. For more details, visit our website.
A leader in military education for over 75 years, UMGC offers flexible, career-focused programs tailored to service members worldwide.
For more information, visit asia.umgc.edu.
Korea–April 26
SEOUL, KOREA – The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) will hold its Korea commencement on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Dragon Hill Lodge, celebrating more than 60 graduates, including active-duty service members, veterans, and military families. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. (doors open at 10:30 a.m.) and will be presided over by James Cronin, Vice President and Director of UMGC’s Asia Division.
Brigadier General Roderick F. Laughman will deliver the keynote address. General Laughman graduated from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Political Science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Branch of the United States Army Reserve through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
He holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Additionally, he has earned Master of Arts degrees in Education and Educational Administration from Lindenwood University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
BG Laughman has served in a variety of command and staff positions. In 1998, he was assigned his first command, leading the 1008th Quartermaster Company in Wood River, Illinois, until 2001. His next command was as HHC Commander of the 648th Regional Support Group in St. Louis, Missouri, from 2001 to 2002. In 2002, he joined the 363rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD), becoming the commander in 2003 until mobilized in 2004 with the 648th RSG at Fort Riley, Kansas.
He served as the Assistant S-3 and Assistant S-4 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom until 2006. That same year, he was reassigned as the HHD Commander of the 648th RSG. In June of 2010, he was cross-leveled to LOGCAP and deployed to Afghanistan as a Logistical Support Officer, supporting the I and II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). Upon his return, he served as the S2/3 for the 648th RSG until September of 2012.
His next assignment was with United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, as a Joint Mobility Operations Officer. In June 2015, he took command of the 3/379th REGT (LOG SUP) in Barling, Arkansas, later becoming the Deputy Commander of the 1st Brigade (QM) under the 94th Training Division in December of 2016. In August 2018, he was assigned to the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC), serving as Chief of Transportation until attending Naval War College in February of 2019.
Upon earning his degree, he assumed command of the 206th RSG in June 2020 under the 412th Theater Engineer Command (TEC). BG Laughman then served as the Deputy Chief of Staff G4 at United States Army Reserve Command (USARC). Currently, he serves as the Deputy Commander for Sustainment for the Eighth Army.
Following the ceremony, a post-commencement reception will be held at the same location, beginning at approximately 12 p.m. For more details, visit the commencement section of our website.
A leader in military education for over 75 years, UMGC offers flexible, career-focused programs tailored to service members worldwide.
For more information, visit asia.umgc.edu.
Guam–May 10
TUMON BAY, GUAM – The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) will hold its Guam commencement on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, celebrating more than 50 graduates, including active-duty service members, veterans, and military families. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. (doors open at 10:30 a.m.) and will be presided over by Amanda C. Maguire, Associate Vice President and Deputy Director of UMGC’s Asia Division.
Dr. Terry L. Wettig will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Wettig serves as the Chief of Force Development, Education, and Training at Headquarters, Pacific Air Command. Located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, he oversees voluntary education and training for all military and civilian personnel across bases throughout the Pacific Theater.
Prior to this assignment, he served as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Alabama, where he oversaw and validated 69 Associate of Applied Science degree programs across all Air and Space Force specialties. Dr. Wettig was responsible for communicating degree program changes and developments with senior career field leaders and ensuring that CCAF policies were clearly transmitted to the student body.
A retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, Dr. Wettig spent most of his career in the Security Police field before serving his final two years at CCAF. During his 21-year career, he held assignments at Loring AFB, Maine; Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea; Kelly AFB, Texas; K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan; and Offutt AFB, Nebraska, where he served as the Superintendent of Training and Evaluation for the Strategic Air Command’s Elite Guard. He later became the Chief of Law Enforcement at Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Virginia.
Dr. Wettig also served as Chief of Task Force Safe Passage, responsible for relocating and repatriating nearly 8,000 Cuban nationals from the Republic of Panama to Cuba before his final assignment to CCAF.
Following the ceremony, a post-commencement reception will be held at the same location, beginning at approximately 12 p.m. For more details, visit our website.
A leader in military education for over 75 years, UMGC offers flexible, career-focused programs tailored to service members worldwide.
For more information, visit asia.umgc.edu.
