Hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement, Military Service Appreciation Weekend was held on campus May 2–3, 2025, to recognize and celebrate members of the Michigan Tech community who have served in the US Armed Forces.
The weekend featured presentations, open houses, a guided tour of the Keweenaw Research Center (KRC), and opportunities for connection over shared meals and activities. Alumni were also invited to contribute their personal reflections on military service, careers, and the lasting impact of a Michigan Tech education.
Below are highlights from those conversations. Each profile offers a deeper look at the careers and contributions of our alumni, and how Tech helped shape their path. Click through to read each full story.
Shawn Cantlin ’82
Shawn Cantlin graduated from Michigan Tech in 1982 with a degree in chemical engineering. Cantlin found his path through Army ROTC, was commissioned at graduation, and after advancing from brigade chemical officer to platoon leader, earned a master’s in nuclear engineering in 1988. His career then took him from designing nuclear weapons in the Army to serving as a nuclear expert for counter weapons of mass destruction in Washington, D.C. Cantlin retired from the Army in 2004 as a lieutenant colonel, and again from national security work in 2023.
David Gothard ’71
David Gothard ’71 earned his BS in Forestry from Michigan Tech and was commissioned into the US Air Force through ROTC. He flew B-52 bombers out of KI Sawyer Air Force Base and later held assignments at Wright-Patterson, Wurtsmith, and the Pentagon, where he served as lead project officer for the B-1 program and deputy program executive officer for fighters and bombers. Gothard retired as a colonel after working on the B-2 stealth bomber program and continued to support the Department of Defense as a contractor.
Brett Johnson ’82
Brett Johnson came to Michigan Tech to study geology and enroll in Army ROTC. Completing Ranger School prior to his senior year at Tech, Johnson graduated in 1982 with a BS in Geology, was commissioned into the Army as a transportation officer, and then trained as a Blackhawk flight crew member. Across more than 20 years of active duty, Johnson served in multiple operations around the world—including Panama, Somalia, and post-Hurricane Andrew relief in Miami. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2003 and later spent 13 years as an ROTC instructor at Western Michigan University.
Dr. Jerry Luoma ’65 ’67
Jerry Luoma ’65 ’67 grew up in Calumet and stayed close to home for college, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan Tech. Commissioned through Army ROTC, Luoma served in the Michigan National Guard and was deployed during the 1967 Detroit riot. He was later called to active duty, with deployments to Germany and Vietnam, where he commanded engineering units. After his service, Luoma returned to Tech as a math instructor but soon decided to pursue medicine. He completed his MD at the University of Michigan and returned to Calumet, where he spent 35 years as a family physician and medical director.
David Ouillette ’71 ’73
David Ouillette ’71 ’73 served in the US Air Force as a dental technician, with assignments that took him from Alaska to North Carolina. He enrolled at Michigan Tech eight years after enlisting and went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry. A lifelong learner, Ouillette later returned to Houghton to work for Michigan Tech, from where he retired in 2000.
David Schuster ’63
David Schuster ’63 earned his civil engineering degree from Michigan Tech before serving as a medical construction liaison officer in the US Air Force—including a year-long assignment in Vietnam. Recruited from the private sector to oversee the expansion of Ohio State University’s medical complex, Schuster transitioned to the Air Force Reserve and pursued an MBA. He later went to work for himself and ran his family’s petroleum business for 19 years while remaining active in both the Reserve and his community.
