Fall 2012 Commissioning at PVAMU
Prairie View, Tex. (NNS) – Rear Admiral Kelvin Dixon, Reserve Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command visited the Prairie View A&M Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Unit, Dec 14-15. RDML Dixon was the guest speaker for the Houston Consortium NROTC Unit’s fall commissioning ceremony.
During his visit to the Campus, RDML Dixon visited with Midshipmen, NROTC staff, Dr. Danny Kelley, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and with University President, Dr. George C. Wright.
"If you have the knowledge and skills and the ultimate sense of conviction and the determination to accept nothing less than success and if you inspire others to want to work towards your ideal – perhaps then you too are a leader.” RDML Dixon told the audience. "You are getting paid to think, not follow! Be an innovator and strategic thinker. It will pay off."
RDML Dixon is a 1981 graduate of Prairie View A&M University and earned his commission through the NROTC program. He is the third and most recent graduate of the Prairie View NROTC program to become a Flag Officer.
The Prairie View A&M University NROTC Unit is one of two units that make up the NROTC Houston Consortium. The other Unit is the Rice University NROTC Unit that includes students from Rice University, University of Houston, Houston Baptist University, and Texas Southern University. An NROTC consortium is formed when two or more host units are located geographically close to one another. NROTC courses and professional instruction are held on both campuses, however the Units share resources, as the Navy and Marine Corps deem appropriate, in order to maximize available funds and promote program consistency.
Captain Will Fitzgerald, the Commanding Officer of the Houston NROTC Consortium, reminded everyone of the significance of RDML Dixon’s visit, “First and foremost, it is special for Admiral Dixon to be here today because not too long ago – in 1981 – he was in the exact same position as our commissionees here today – possibly literally, because he is a Prairie View A&M NROTC Unit alumnus.”
Having RDML Dixon as the guest speaker added to the significance of an already special day for the six commissionees. Ensign Kanisha Holiday shared her views on the visit. “Admiral Dixon coming back to where is all started for him and speaking for our commissioning, brings the value of hard work and dedication full circle.” Ensign Efrain Castillo added “I am very thankful Admiral Dixon’s visit and also encouraged that I can reach remarkable heights as well by being dedicated to success.”
The NROTC program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. The Prairie View A&M NROTC Unit was established in 1970 and the Rice University Unit was established in 1941. In 1993 the two Units formed the Houston NROTC Consortium. The NROTC scholarship program fills a vital need in preparing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technical Navy and Marine Corps.
