Author: Donnie Sewell

ASMSA students Nina Thomas and Kenny Ventress knew the 2019-20 academic year would be unlike any other they had experienced. They just didn’t how different it would be.

Thomas of Hot Springs and Ventress of Benton originally were members of the Class of 2020, but both were accepted into the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for the 2019-20 academic year. CBYX allows students to spend a full year living with a German host family and attending a German school. They would spend the next year in Germany and return to ASMSA for their senior year as a member of the Class of 2021.

Three student teams from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts earned recognition in the annual Congressional App Challenge sponsored by Fourth Congressional District U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman.

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual event in which middle and high school students across the country design and code their own original apps. The winning team from each congressional district is honored at an event in Washington, D.C., where they present their apps to attendees.

A group of Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students assisted in painting a mural at the Northwoods Trail System in Hot Springs.

ASMSA seniors Lillian Hickman of Omaha, Madison Mainer of Ozark, Takoya Marks of Prescott and Miranda Merideth of Wynne as well as art instructor Brad Wreyford helped paint a mural on a City of Hot Springs pumphouse facility along the trail. The mural was officially unveiled on Nov. 13 during the second annual Güdrun Mountain Bike Festival at the Northwoods trails.

The mural is one of 12 being created statewide under the ARKanvas Initiative of OZ Art. ARKanvas is a partnership of OZ Art, The Unexpected and JustKids. In addition to Hot Springs, the initiative is creating public artworks in Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fort Smith, Conway, Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Stuttgart.

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Internationally known artist Camille Walala designed the Northwoods mural. Walala is a multidisciplinary artist working across the fields of art, architecture, textile art and graphic design, and is a perpetual purveyor of positivity, expressed through vibrant color and bold patterns.

The Northwoods Trail System mural was painted by a team of artists following her design. The artists were in constant communication with Walala via FaceTime and other means as they applied the paint, according to a City of Hot Springs press release.

Wreyford said Mary Zunick, cultural affairs manager for Visit Hot Springs and one of the driving forces behind the just-concluded Arts & The Park Festival, told him about the project. The students did about an hour and a half of work on the project. It was a great opportunity for the students to participate in a community project, Wreyford said.

“The students really enjoyed the experience. It was simple and straightforward involvement and engagement in the community, which is important,” he said.

The four students who participated are each participating in the Fine Art and Design capstone program at ASMSA. The program consists of two sequential semesters of visual art, emphasizing the development and pursuit of a student’s individual studio experience. The first semester introduces students to the structure and discipline required to develop a self-directed body of work through a progression of techniques and concepts. Students build an individual portfolio for exhibition and competition during the second semester.

Fields of research include painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, 2D design, 3D design, digital design, digital fabrication, architecture, functional design/furniture/ graphic design, photography and documentary film. The capstone culminates with an exhibition where each student presents their portfolio in a gallery setting. Their work is judged by industry professionals, according to the quality of work and the ability to articulate the intent/concept of their work.

The theme of the ARKanvas Initiative is Unite, a tribute to being united through shared outdoor and art experiences across Arkansas. A virtual experience will be launched at www.ARKanvas.com and @OAArtNWA on Instagram and will feature videos of the art, artists and communities.

Thirteen Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts seniors have been selected as QuestBridge National College Match Finalists.

QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that connects exceptional low-income youth with leading institutions of higher education. QuestBridge works with top universities across the country to offer four-year, full scholarships to deserving students who may otherwise be unable to afford to attend those institutions.

Dr. Whitney Holden, a life sciences specialist at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, has received the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools Innovative STEM Teacher Award.

The award was announced during the organization’s virtual professional conference on Nov. 7. Holden was one of three finalists for the inaugural Innovative Teacher Award. The 2020 NCSSS Innovative STEM Teacher Award celebrates a teacher who works at institutional member schools. The teacher should advance the mission of the member school and STEM education. Each institutional member may nominate only one teacher.

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy received the NCSSS Innovative STEM Student Program Award for the IMSA STEM League. The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky earned the NCSS Innovative Partnership Award for its Cloudbridge Nature Preserve research abroad program.

NCSSS is a consortium of approximately 100 member high schools, many “ranked” among the best in the country, along with 55 affiliate members (including colleges, universities, summer programs, foundations and corporations) located in 32 states that share the goals of transforming mathematics, science and technology education.

“I’m very honored by this recognition,” Holden said in a video on Twitter after receiving the award. “I love what I do. I also couldn’t do it alone. I want to take this time this school provides a fantastic environment that really encourages innovation in so many ways. Our students are tremendous. They are always willing to try new things and go the extra mile. My colleagues always bring their A game, particularly ASMSA’s Dr. (Patrycja) Krakowiak who I work with closely and the many teachers who are enrolled in our biology outreach program.”

Krakowiak is also a life science specialist at ASMSA.

The teacher selected to receive the award was expected to demonstrate how they implemented STEM-infused strategies and innovation in their classroom that connects STEMs to real-world careers that could be replicated by other institutional member schools.

Holden teaches residential students at ASMSA as well as students and educators virtually across Arkansas. At ASMSA, she teaches an independent capstone research class that develops well-rounded, scientifically literate students by focusing on statistical analysis and peer-reviewed literature.

She also serves as co-director with Krakowiak for the Advanced Biology Plus program and the Arkansas Summer Research Institute. In Advanced Biology Plus, Holden provides curriculum and training for Arkansas educators who are teaching Advanced Placement Biology and their students. Schools participating in the program have seen a larger number of their students who take the AP Biology exam receive a passing score — from 10 percent when the program began to 40 percent. The program accounted for one in eight Arkansas students who took the AP Biology exam last year.

The Arkansas Summer Research Institute allows underrepresented groups of students of STEM to learn technical skills while also focusing on essential professional skills such as networking, entrepreneurship and resume writing.  ASRI is funded by a grant from the Arkansas National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR).

ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice, who also serves on the national board of NCSSS, nominated Holden for the award.

“Dr. Holden is a sterling example of what is possible when faculty embrace the mission of ASMSA to ignite the potential of students and educators across our state,” Alderdice said. “In the classroom, in research, and in teacher empowerment, she leads the way for both her colleagues on campus as well as all who wish to inspire the next generation of STEM innovators.”

Holden said that being willing to learn as an educator is important when developing learning opportunities for students.

Through my work I have found the keys to building truly innovative experiences are mentorship, teamwork, respect and a willingness to challenge myself as well as my students,” Holden said in a video that was included in her nomination for the award.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics Sciences and the Arts’ Class of 2020 scored a composite 30.6 as a class. That tied the high-mark in school history set by the Class of 2017.

It was the fourth straight year that graduates had an average of at least a 30 on the national college admissions exam. It was the seventh year in a row that students scored at least a 29 average on the ACT as a graduating class. The Class of 2020 included 107 students.

The national composite average dropped a tenth of a point to 20.6 while the average composite score for Arkansas students taking the test was 19.

Students applying to ASMSA must initially take the ACT as parts of the admissions criteria. Students generally see an increase in their ACT scores during their time at ASMSA. The Class of 2020 had a composite average of 26.2 upon entering ASMSA.

“We are proud of the Class of 2020 for their commitment to success on the ACT as well as their growth on the exam during their time at ASMSA,” ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice said. “While the ACT is only a snapshot of students’ critical thinking and quantitative abilities, we recognize the role the exam plays in positioning students for college admission and scholarship programs and champion student efforts to improve scores in order to unlock opportunities.”

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible score. Students also receive scores in four individual testing areas, which are combined for the composite score. The individual testing areas are English, mathematics, reading and science.

The Class of 2020 scored well on each individual testing area. The average scores on each subject were:

• English: 31.7
• Mathematics: 29.1
• Reading: 32.8
• Science: 31.1

Stuart Flynn, dean of academic affairs at ASMSA, attributed a significant portion of the students’ success on the test to the students’ hometown school districts throughout Arkansas.

“The scores are an indicator that schools around the state are preparing students to be successful as they progress through their school careers. The advanced coursework that students experience at ASMSA creates learners who are able to handle any kind of assessment,” Flynn said.

Alderdice said that ASMSA strives to be viewed as an extension of every school in the state. He said such scores are only possible with the combined preparation students received from their home institutions and continued study at ASMSA. All ASMSA classes are taught on the college level, and the school offers approximately 60 classes that allow students to earn college credit via a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Recent cohorts of graduates have completed an average of 50 hours of college credit through the ASMSA experience. While the ACT is designed to measure how prepared academically students are for the first year of college, it does not reflect ASMSA’s efforts to create confident learners who are able to handle college life and beyond.

“ASMSA is a college-bridge environment — it combines the academic rigor, research experience and opportunities to study abroad of college with the supervision, safety, support systems and structure of high school,” Alderdice said.

“There’s this idea of college readiness being measured by ACT score benchmarks, which predicts how likely a chance a student will have making a C or better in a college class, but there’s more to consider than academic capacity. Can the student live independently? Can they act autonomously and make appropriate decisions as a young adult?”

Jon Ruehle, Ph.D., a biology instructor at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts and a celebrated wildlife artist, died Saturday, Oct. 17, while in hospice care at CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs.

Ruehle, 71, joined the ASMSA faculty in August 2005. Among the courses he taught at ASMSA were microbiology, AP Environmental Science, aquatic biology, zoology, immunology, developmental biology, neurobiology and botany. He served as the adviser for the Biology and Zoology Club, affectionately known as the “BoZo Club.”

No memorial service or funeral is planned, but ASMSA will hold a celebration of Ruehle’s life to allow students, colleagues and alumni an opportunity to pay tribute to him. Details will be shared at a later time.

In his ASMSA website biography, this question is posed: Is Ruehle a scientist doing art, an artist doing science or someone doing both?

Ruehle’s bio answers the question precisely and with detail that his students and colleagues would come to expect over the course of his career at ASMSA. “Science and art merge in his scholarly studies of morphogenesis and the genetic regulation of development complimented by his fieldwork and depiction of wildlife in bronze sculpture.”

Ruehle received his Ph.D. in plant developmental genetics from the University of California at Davis while his sculptures are in hundreds of public and private collections worldwide, including the National Academy of Design in New York City and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyo. These two pursuits represent his fascination with how people understand their world.

Ruehle initially studied anthropology and the cross-cultural formation of personality at the University of California at Berkeley, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Genetics. From this, he intended to become an ethnobotanist studying indigenous health practices in South America until most graduate programs in the field shut down.

He returned to school following a successful career as an artist and completed his Ph.D. He taught at UC-Davis, St. Mary’s College of California, and the University of Central Arkansas in Conway before coming to ASMSA.

In cooperation with Dr. Lindsey Waddell, a chemistry and geoscience instructor at ASMSA, Ruehle founded the Research in the Park program in 2014. The program provides students an opportunity to conduct real-world research throughout Hot Springs National Park. Waddell and Ruehle established the program in an agreement with the National Park Service, creating an easier path for students to gain access to areas of HSNP for research.

The program was recognized in 2017 by the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior as the recipient of the national George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Youth Volunteer Service Group for its work with Hot Springs National Park. In 2019, the program received the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools Innovative Partnership of the Year Award.

Research in the Park was one of the first capstone courses that was developed to encourage  students to get a start on their research from the outset of their ASMSA experience. All students at the time were required to complete a Fundamentals in Research Methods, or FIRM, project, but most of them would not begin their project until the second semester of their junior year.

Ruehle said the 2017 recognition by the National Park Service and the continued agreement to allow student research each year in HSNP speaks to the quality of students involved in the program and the research they conducted.

Ruehle broke down his approach to educating motivated students in a teaching statement on his LinkedIn profile.

“For me, the central components of teaching are the absolute confidence in the ability of all of my students, the consistent and equitable demand that students work to reach their potential, and the application of practical and creative means for students to grow and demonstrate their achievements,” he wrote.

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Ruehle was a professional sculptor since 1974, when he sold his first pieces to Zantman Art Galleries in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. His works mostly focused on wildlife. For Ruehle, his sculptures provided an insight to how the animals actually live. Whether it’s a boar rubbing against a tree stump, a wolf on the hunt, a bear catching fish in a river, a sporting dog with a bird in its mouth or a bird in flight, his goal was to present that animal in a manner that showed them in their natural habitat, not in an idealized and artificial pose.

“I sculpt as part of my academic training and intellectual interest,” Ruehle said in a 2014 edition of the school magazine Tangents, adding that he always does extensive field and background research on an animal before he used it in one of his sculptures. “All of the pieces I do are demonstrating some kind of behavior, and it’s not just to depict some kind of carousel animal. So many pieces that you see that are wildlife art you can almost see the stake stuck up through their belly that goes up and down on the carousel. They don’t look like anything out in the wild.

“Somebody said once, and I thought this was the ultimate compliment, my sculptures are the kinds of things the animals would give each other for birthdays and Christmas.”

Ruehle credited capturing that natural action along with his unique approach to creating the mold to be cast in bronze for the popularity of his artwork. He shared his approach to bronze casting with ASMSA students in a 3D sculpture class during previous school years. He was pleasantly surprised at how well students learned his method to produce their own sculptures.

“The kids at the end of 12 weeks were about where I was after 15 years of work,” he said. “These kids are amazing. I told them what to do, and they go, ‘O.K., get out of the way. We’re going to do it.’”

Ruehle’s work has been featured in galleries around the world. In 2000, he was selected by an international panel of museum directors and art dealers as one of the 50 most influential contemporary wildlife artists in the world.

At least two Texas governors own complete collections of his pieces.  Another was given to Walter Cronkite as a retirement present, he said. He has sold more than 2,000 pieces since the mid-70s, he said.

The University of Texas used a special edition of a longhorn bronze as gifts in recognition of major gifts to the school totaling at least $250,000. That inspired a program in which members of the ASMSA Founder’s Society received a limited edition bronze hog. Gifts of at least $50,000 earned donors membership into the society.

“The most heartfelt and impactful acknowledgments come from those who directly benefit from a donor’s generosity — ASMSA students,” said Vicki Hinz, who was serving as the director of institutional advancement at the time. “Dr. Ruehle’s teaching philosophy is inspiring and his desire to give back to the school and the students he loves by sharing his art of sculpting is an incredible gift.”

Ruehle provided bronzes of other statues for dignitaries and friends of the school who were recognized for their contributions to ASMSA including former Gov. Mike Beebe, who was given a wolf bronze, and Eric Jackson, former general manager of Oaklawn Racing and Gaming, who received a bronze stag.

As for the question posed in his biography of whether he was a teacher or an artist, Ruehle expounded on his answer in the 2014 Tangents article. He began drawing and painting at a very young age, and art was an early and constant influence on him throughout life, but he loved teaching as well.

“I’m a professional artist, and I’m a teacher by avocation. So I teach because I enjoy it. I sculpt because I have to,” he said.

The ASMSA Foundation is establishing an endowment honoring Ruehle that will support a new science award to be given to a graduating student each year. To make a gift to the memorial fund, visit https://asmsa.salsalabs.org/jonruehle.

In Japanese poet Miyazawa Kenji’s poem “Strong in the Rain,” the main character spends his life going wherever he is needed by his fellow human beings, always concerned more about their well-being than his own during difficult times.

The sentiment of selflessness and giving in the poem is the reason it was chosen to serve as the inspiration for masks produced by the city of Hanamaki, Iwate, Japan’s Office of International Relations. Each mask includes the title of the poem in English and Japanese. The design is also inspired by a mural in Hanamaki of another of Kenji’s literary works — “Night on the Milky Way Express.” The office cooperated with Koyata, a local fabric workshop, to produce the masks to be shared with its sister cities during a time of struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hot Springs is one of those sister cities, and the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts was fortunate enough to be included in the gift. ASMSA students taking a Japanese language course this semester each received one of the masks. Mary Zunick, cultural affairs manager for Visit Hot Springs, recently presented the masks to the students.

Zunick said the two cities have a long history of supporting each other during times of celebration. Deer dancers from Hanamaki helped Hot Springs celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Hot Springs National Park. Representatives from Hot Springs traveled to Hanamaki for its annual festival and other milestones  dating back to 1993 when the partnership was established.

They also have been supportive of each other in times of crisis, she said. When evacuees from coastal areas fled Hurricane Katrina to Hot Springs, Hanamaki sent contributions to those in need. When the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami devastated the eastern coast of Japan in 2011, Hanamaki received thousands of evacuees who had lost everything. Hot Springs friends sent $25,000 to assist Hanamaki in caring for them.

“Now during a time of crisis, one that has impacted us in Arkansas on a much larger scale than Japan, they want to assist,” Zunick said. “Masks, which are a common sight in Japan, are worn anytime someone doesn't feel well and they want to protect those around them from possibly contracting what they have. These special masks sent by Hanamaki are decorated with artwork celebrating one of the writings of Miyazawa Kenji, who was from Hanamaki.”

Elizabeth Brown serves as ASMSA’s Japanese language instructor. ASMSA is the only public school in the state that provides local Japanese language instruction. Students from the school have participated in Sister City trips to Hanamaki, and ASMSA has a long-term educational exchange with Hanamaki Kita High School, with students from each school visiting their Sister School.

Brown said the city and the longstanding and deep relationship with the people of Hanamaki is profoundly important to the Hot Springs and ASMSA communities.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and it became clear that we would be unable to carry out our exchanges this year, my students and I were devastated,” Brown said. “I am so humbled by this gift from our friends in Hanamaki. The gesture reminds us that our relationship can weather even the strongest of the storms and that we must support and care for each other through hard times.

“Every time I wear my mask or see my students wearing theirs, I am reminded of the special bond between our communities and feel empowered to carry on.”

Brown’s students wrote essays about the poem, its meaning and the thoughtfulness of those who made the masks.

“Remaining ‘strong in the rain’ while simultaneously caring for others is critical during this time,” wrote junior Mika Brown. “A prime example of this is the masks from Hanamaki. This selfless act of the citizens of Hanamaki sending masks to its sister cities exemplifies the nature of Miyazawa’s poem. Despite also going through trying times, the people of Hanamaki were able to be compassionate and caring. Receiving the mask and learning about the poem honestly made my entire day.”

The Hanamaki Office of International Relations said it chose to use some of the funds originally given to the city for the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics that were to be held in Japan to help promote international relations.

“We are so grateful to be a part of this global community and feel that it is important to do what we can to help each other in times of need,” a statement from the office said. “While these masks may not be much, they are certainly sent with love, as we strive to keep alive Kenji’s dream of being strong in the rain. The sincerity and meaning behind this famed poem have helped us through many hardships, and this time, we’d like to share it with you.”

 

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recently recognized educators from across the state with the annual Teacher Impact Award.  

The Teacher Impact Award recognizes educators who helped shape and influence incoming students at ASMSA. Students nominated teachers who aided their growth both intellectually and emotionally. There were more than 100 teachers nominated for recognition. Every educator who was nominated received a certificate of recognition. A letter highlighting their recognition also was sent to each educator’s principal. 

A committee of ASMSA staff members read through the recommendations to give further recognition to five educators from different regions within the state. These stand-out teachers received an additional gift provided by the ASMSA Parents Association. 

Teaching is hard work, and often teachers don’t know how much they have positively influenced their students once they have graduated or moved on to further their education. The Teacher Impact Award allows a more immediate recognition of how educators helped shape their pupils.    

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The five teachers who were recognized as standouts in their regions are: 

In the Central Region, Dylan Glover, an engineering instructor at Cabot High School, was nominated by junior Levi Pile from Cabot. Pile wrote that “He was exactly what I needed. … He introduced me to my passion and helped me develop it.” 

Jessica Helams, a history teacher at Valley Springs High School, earned extra recognition for her outstanding leadership in the Northwest Region. Junior Alyx Allred from Harrison shared that “she always tries her best to support students in any way she can and encourage them to be the best they can be.” 

For the Southwest Region, Monty Whitley, a math teacher at Glen Rose High School, was chosen after being nominated by junior Bonnie Mieirs from Malvern. “He’s an interesting and patient teacher,” Mieirs said. “He definitely made remote learning a lot easier.” 

From White Hall High School in the Southeastern Region, Zachary Winfield was nominated by multiple incoming students, but it was sophomore Talana Small’s recounting of geometry class that won him additional recognition. Small from White Hall said, “I wanted to succeed in his class. [Mr. Winfield] taught me to really work hard for what I want.”   

In the Northeastern Region, The Academies at Jonesboro High School biology teacher Jessica Nadzam stood out for junior Sheridan Dethrow from Jonesboro. “Mrs. Nadzam was an amazing biology teacher. She showed me that there is a whole realm of possibilities within biology that I have never known before,” Dethrow wrote. 

“ASMSA greatly appreciates our partnerships with schools around the state,” said Charlie Feick, director of admissions at ASMSA. “A student’s educational foundation is laid long before they arrive on the ASMSA campus. It is because of the dedication of their previous teachers that students are prepared to thrive at ASMSA.   

“Reading the students’ nominations each year reminds us of all the good in the world. The students’ descriptions of their former teachers’ impacts highlight how all teachers strive to give their students the very best preparation possible for their lives after high school. The Teacher Impact Award allows us to thank educators that helped each of our current ASMSA students get to where they are today.” 

U.S. Navy Commander Dominic DiMaggio, Ph.D., will be the featured speaker in the inaugural Association for Alumni and Friends of ASMSA (AAFA) Alumni Presentation Series at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The Alumni Presentation Series will feature alumni of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts speaking about their experience at ASMSA as well as their post-ASMSA academic and professional careers. The event will be broadcast live on ASMSA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/armathsciarts.

DiMaggio is an alumnus of the Class of 2000. He currently serves as a meteorology and oceanography officer in the U.S. Navy, where he is responsible for collecting and interpreting environmental data, writing oceanographic and atmospheric forecasts, and incorporating the data into military operations.

He has served tours aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, at the Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Center, the Fleet Weather Center Strike Detachment and the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command. He currently serves as the Senior Meteorology and Oceanography Officer at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

The AAFA is comprised of all graduates, attendees, past faculty and staff of ASMSA. Its mission is to serve as a resource for current ASMSA students, providing mentorship and support as they develop academically and professionally; to grow and strengthen the alumni network to provide the same guidance and support to alumni from all classes; and to collaborate with ASMSA administration to further the ongoing development of the school itself.

“Connecting alumni to current students is part of the core mission of the Association for Alumni and Friends of ASMSA,” said Amy Stvartak, an alumna of the Class of 2011 and an AAFA executive team member. “The Alumni Presentation Series is a great way for students to learn about ‘life after ASMSA’ and the broad spectrum of opportunities that await them. The committee is pleased to kick off this year’s series with Commander Dominic DiMaggio (’00).”

After graduating from ASMSA, DiMaggio attended the University of Arkansas, majoring in physics with minors in math and music. He developed a love for international travel during a semester abroad in Rome, Italy. His combined passion for science and travel led him to join the Navy in 2003. His first assignment was teaching math, physics and nuclear engineering to sailors training to operate nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.

In 2008, DiMaggio transferred to the Naval Oceanography community and served as an oceanography and acoustics adviser to naval forces searching for and engaging with enemy submarines. He then attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master of Science degree in meteorology and physical oceanography and a doctorate in physical oceanography.

During graduate school, he participated in a number of field experiments in the Pacific and Artic Oceans. His research included computational modeling and observations to characterize the effects of climate change on the temperature, salinity and acoustic properties of the Arctic Ocean.

As the Senior Meteorology and Oceanography Officer in the Indo-Pacific Command, he is responsible for meteorology and oceanography support for all military operations in the Indo-Pacific region. He has been selected to take command of a to-be-determined Naval Oceanography facility in 2022.

DiMaggio’s military career has offered him the opportunity to work in four oceans; eight countries; nine U.S. states and territories; on floating sea-ice in the Arctic; aboard Navy frigates, destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers and ice breakers; civilian research ships; and military aircraft, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet and MH-60 Seahawk.

DiMaggio grew up in Lake Village alongside his four siblings, three of whom also graduated from ASMSA.