Jason Bluhm grew up overseas and served in the Navy for eight years as a Nuclear Electronics Technician. After completing the Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) boot camps at Williams College and MIT, he continued his pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the College of Charleston. Jason plans to attend law school with a keen interest in patent law for software and AI. When he’s not in the classroom, he spends his time excelling on the pickleball courts and walking his dogs on the beach.

Tennessee native Megan Byrd enlisted in the Marine Corps right after high school. In the Marine Corps, Megan served as an Air Traffic Controller until she left in 2020 and attended WSP for Humanities and STEM through Texas A&M. After completing WSP, she attended the University of Tennessee - Knoxville to pursue a dual-degree program in Biology (BCMB - Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology) and Neuroscience, attaining both degrees in 2024. Her interest in research grew while working with Raman Spectroscopy in the UTK Sharma lab, leading to her interest in REVU. During her time in REVU, she was placed in the Spudich lab, which focused on analyzing how HIV affects the brain. This experience expanded her knowledge of human research and gave her more skills in the clinical side of research. Megan’s goal is to enter a D.O. or M.D./Ph.D. program and pursue a career in the surgical field of medicine. When not engaged in academics or research, Megan loves to read, listen to podcasts, sing, dance, and explore.

Scotty Pham Hong was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After an existential crisis in high school, Scotty enlisted in the United States Army for five years as a Preventive Medicine Specialist. After completing his service, Scotty enrolled in East Los Angeles College for two years, where he graduated with an Associate in Math. During community college, Scotty attended the Warrior-Scholar Project Humanities Program at UCI in August 2023. As a transfer student, Scotty is attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for Computer Science and Engineering. As a REVU fellow, he works in Dr. Ian Abraham’s Intelligent Autonomy Lab, where he helped develop simulations and training policies to teach robots to perform multiple movements. Using principles of Reinforcement Learning, Scotty’s project involved training robots to learn independently. Scotty hopes to pursue his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as well as continue research so that he can work in the technology and business fields after graduation.

Breuna Bolton, an Army veteran originally from Reno, NV, now residing in Montgomery, AL, served at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. Currently, she is pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology at Alabama State University, with an expected graduation in Fall 2025. She is engaged in impactful research through the summer program with REVU in collaboration with Yale University and the West Haven Veterans Affairs Hospital, focusing on issues such as homelessness, veterans’ health, cancer, and mental health to enhance healthcare for veterans. Post-graduation, she plans to pursue a Master’s in Clinical Social Work, aiming to become a licensed clinical social worker. Her primary goal is to revolutionize the mental healthcare field by launching her own practice and advocating for vulnerable populations.

Cameron was raised in New Hampshire by parents who both served in the New Hampshire Army National Guard, making military service a natural path for him after high school. In 2017, after graduating from high school, he chose to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. Continuing a family legacy as a third-generation military service member, he served for five years as an Electronic Warfare Avionics Technician in Tucson, Arizona. During his service, Cameron completed two deployments to the Middle East.

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Following his separation from the military in 2022, Cameron transitioned to full-time academia, driven by a deep passion for computers and technology. As a first-generation college student, he is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering at New York University. At NYU, Cameron leads two student organizations: one focused on supporting military students and another aimed at launching a student-led research group focused on innovation in integrated circuits (ICs), including central processing units (CPUs).

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Cameron’s long-term goals include entering a career that allows him to tackle complex engineering challenges involving both hardware and software. He is also exploring graduate school options and aspires to work for a company dedicated to sustainability, green energy, healthcare, or educational technology.

Angelo is a California Central Valley native and a veteran of the Air National Guard. In-service experiences and life in an agriculturally rich, but environmentally challenged region, shape his academic pursuits. He is a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Science at Clovis Community College, with plans to transfer to a four-year institution to study Environmental Engineering. His academic focus reflects his commitment to addressing environmental and socioeconomic issues he witnessed in the Central Valley.

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During summer of 2024, Angelo participated in the REVU program at Yale University, working in Dr. Jenn Coughlan's Ecology & Evolutionary Biology lab. His research contributed to a genome-wide association study on Mimulus guttatus wildflowers, focusing on ultraviolet pigmentation patterns. This experience allowed Angelo to apply his interdisciplinary background to biological research, while developing skills in data collection, ImageJ image analysis, and statistical interpretation using R.

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Looking ahead, Angelo aims to complete his bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering and pursue graduate studies that integrate his interests in environmental science, engineering, and economics. His goal is to develop innovative solutions to global environmental challenges while creating opportunities for underserved communities. He is actively involved in engineering and veteran support initiatives at his college. Currently working to establish a chapter of Student Veterans of America on campus, he also serves as the secretary of his college's 'Engineering Renaissance' Club, winners of the international MATE ROV competition. In his free time, he is an avid film photographer.

Driven by his experiences in the military and his deep connection to the Central Valley, Angelo is committed to leveraging technology and policy to create a more sustainable and equitable future.

Carley Leedy, a Pennsylvania native, developed an early fascination with patterns and predictive analytics, leading her to serve as an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army. During her six-year military career, she honed her skills in using predictive analytics to support intelligence operations, directly impacting life-saving outcomes. After completing her service, Carley enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on psychology and data analytics in preparation for a master’s in industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology. She also participated in the 2022 Warrior-Scholar online cohort to strengthen her academic foundation. In her sophomore year, Carley became a REVU fellow, working with Professor Ilker Yildirim in Yale’s Cognitive & Neural Computation Laboratory (CNCL). Her research focuses on inattentional blindness, using computational modeling and behavioral experiments to explore how unnoticed stimuli inform human perception and planning. Carley continues her research at CNCL and aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of human behavior and its strategic applications in real-world contexts.

Trinh Phan was born and raised in Vietnam and immigrated to the US in 2016. Trinh joined the US Army while pursuing her Associate's Degree at Orange Coast College. She is currently serving in the U.S. Army Reserve as OR Specialist. During the summer of 2022, Trinh participated in the Warrior Scholar Project STEM Course at MIT and Humanity Course at Harvard University. Currently, Trinh is a rising senior at the University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, and minoring in Biomedical Research. During REVU 2023, Trinh worked at Lee Lab at Yale School of Medicine, with the aim of building a library of antigens that bind to the T cell receptors on both tumor cells and healthy cells which leads to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) when treated by immune blockage inhibitors. Trinh's goal is to continue serving the military community by becoming a military surgical oncologist or trauma surgeon to serve the service members, veterans, and their beloveds. In the last few years, Trinh founded an organization to demonstrate science experiments to children in an underserved community in Santa Ana and provide free tutoring services for the kids of undocumented families. She also spends time volunteering at a Hospice service and a free clinic while still playing the role model for the junior enlisted at her unit - 921st Field Hospital and taking care of her 5-year-old son. During her spare time, Trinh loves doing DIY projects, painting, baking, cooking, gardening, and taking care of the stray cats in her neighborhood.

Christopher, a Southern California native, enlisted in the Coast Guard immediately after high school. During his six years in the service, Christopher specialized as an Avionics Electrical Technician and helicopter flight mechanic, conducting search and rescue operations in the Gulf Coast. After leaving the military, Christopher enrolled in an engineering program at Houston Community College for two years and is currently a mechanical engineering transfer student at the University of Virginia. As a REVU fellow, he works in Dr. Ian Abraham's Intelligent Autonomy Lab helping to develop agile autonomous drone platforms that perform vision-based search and exploration. Christopher aims to continue engineering research and one day help advance the aerospace technologies he worked with during his time in the military.

Vincenzo comes from the state of Arizona. On the precipice of graduating from Greenway High School, he was unsure of his journey in college and didn't want to use four years to study a subject he wasn't passionate about. With a desire to serve instilled from his grandfather's service as Navy Corpsman in World War II, he elected to join the Air Force. He served on active duty as a C-130 loadmaster for nine years and went wherever the plane went, leading him to see the world, its beauty, and its challenges. While serving, Vincenzo chose to return to school, which started with his first course in physics. He realized his career as a loadmaster, his flight manual, and the aircraft he had traveled the world in were embodiments of physics and mechanical engineering. Every principle and equation led to him doing what he loved‚ flying. Looking to take his knowledge to the next academic level he joined Warrior Scholar Projects 2021 MIT cohort. This experience gave him the confidence to apply to New York University, where he matriculated to study physics and mechanical engineering while also serving in the reserves as an HC-130J Rescue Loadmaster. Vincenzo was looking to pursue research and development in nuclear fusion in the future and was looking for an experience to cut his teeth as a scientist; REVU was a perfect fit. Currently, Vinnie is researching Quantum Optics at Yale University under Jack Harris's Lab Group. His lab is a mix of electrical and mechanical engineering, experimental physics, and theory. Vincenzo hopes to take the skills he learns as a researcher at REVU and continue his journey with science and engineering to help achieve nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy source to address one of the challenges he saw in the world while serving.

Kenneth, a child of a military family, lived in various states and countries before his family settled down in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He enlisted in the Army in 2006 as a medical laboratory technician and later transitioned to a Special Operations Medic, serving fourteen years of active duty. After transitioning, Kenneth began attending community college, eventually discovering the Warrior-Scholar Project and completing the MIT STEM boot camp in 2022. Kenneth will continue his academic pursuits at Princeton University, where he will study Philosophy while meeting his pre-medical school requirements. Kenneth’s goal is to obtain his medical and juris doctor degrees, where he will utilize his unique military experiences to advocate for veterans and disenfranchised communities in healthcare.

James is from CT and enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Healthcare Specialist in 2018. During his time in emergency medicine, especially with COVID-19 patients, James developed a passion for philosophy and laboratory medicine and hopes to pursue a career that can make challenging diagnoses a little bit easier for others. Currently, James is president of 3 student organizations, as well as the Veterans Assistant on campus through the VA.  He also writes for his University's marketing team and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences newsletter to celebrate the exceptional achievements of his peers, and often tutors other students.  Outside of studying Medical Laboratory Science and Philosophy, James is passionate about helping others gain access to rightfully earned resources in order to break biased social structures to improve socioeconomic standing.  Ultimately, he hopes to help other people find their own way through unique challenges.

Ashley served in the U.S. Army as a surgical technologist assisting physicians during surgery on wounded warriors, veterans, and their families. Though she valued her work in healthcare, Ashley discovered her true passion when attending community college and participating in a campus-wide Earth Week campaign. Determined to achieve her educational goals, she separated from the military after eight years of service. Ashley is now a rising fourth year at the University of Virginia, majoring in Environmental Science with a specialization in Environmental and Biological Conservation. Her commitment to improving planetary environmental health led her to join the REVU program in the summer of 2023 and work in Professor Jenn Coughlan's lab. There, she researched reproductive isolation and speciation within a complex and diverse group of wildflowers along the Pacific Northwest. Ashley's ultimate goal is safeguarding ecosystems and communities affected by climate change through policy and educational reform. Her drive to create positive change and protect the environment for future generations sets her apart as a true advocate for a sustainable world.

Christopher grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and enlisted in the Army in 2015. He served as a 35G Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst. After leaving the military, Christopher returned home and enrolled at the University of Minnesota to study neuroscience, with a minor in public health. During the summer of 2023, he worked in Dr. Serena Spudich's lab where he investigated the long-term impacts of HIV on different regions of the brain. He also shadowed Dr. Spudich's clinical rounds in the hospital's neurology department.

Andrew hails from Huntsville, Alabama. He served in the US Navy for 6 years on the Virginia class submarine the USS New Hampshire. During this time he worked as a reactor operator, electronics technician, and scuba diver. After leaving the service he returned to school at the University of Colorado Boulder where he is currently studying Math and Physics. Upon finishing his degree, he plans to pursue a PhD in Astrophysics. He hopes to one day work as a professor where he may share his passion for learning and discovery with others.

Upon graduating from Peabody Magnet High School in Alexandria, Louisiana, Jessica enlisted in the United States Army and served for six years as a 68S Preventive Medicine Specialist. After separation, she participated in The Warrior Scholars Project at Texas A&M and is now confidently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Maryland at College Park. Her research in the Yale University's Muñoz Lab focused on discovering the evolutionary trade-offs of faster feeding methods in Salamanders. With the background and skills that she developed during REVU she plans to pursue additional research regarding both the declining bat populations across the U.S., and salamander research in the Dominican Republic. Jessica’s goal is to continue to expand her horizons while actively opening doors for others to follow by remaining an inquisitive learner and sharing her gifts as an inspirational poet.

After growing up in Minneapolis, MN, Terren enlisted in the US Navy in January 2013. Terren spent over 8 years s a nuclear mechanic in charge of monitoring and maintaining the chemistry and radiological aspects of submarine nuclear reactors. He currently attends Brown University and is majoring in Engineering. Terren worked in Dr. Jack Harris' lab studying optomechanics in the membrane-in-the-middle project. Passionate about helping others, Terren spends his time volunteering to help first-graders in reading and writing, as well as helping other veterans with the transition from military to academic service. Terren hopes to connect people across cultures and inspire others to pursue a STEM career.

Austin was born and raised in Miami, FL and served four years in the Marine Corps as a Cyber Network Operator. After his enlistment, he spent three years studying at Orange Coast College and then transferred to Stanford University where he majors in Computer Science. During REVU 2022, Austin developed an interface for human-robot intent prediction (i.e., coded a face-following robotic arm) in Professor Ian Abraham’s Intelligent Autonomy Lab. He is interested in exploring robotic prosthetics moving forward. Above all else, Austin loves to eat an absurd amount of food with friends & family and then burn it all off by practicing Muay Thai or being walked by his dog.

Catherine Escobar is originally from El Salvador, where she lived until the age of 17. Catherine virtually attended the Warrior Scholar Project's first all-women cohort at Yale University. Following WSP, Catherine decided to return to college after working in mass vaccination/testing sites as a healthcare specialist during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Catherine became a medic in the New York National Guard, it was the first time her family's last name was in an American Uniform, and now she is proud to say that her last name is at an American Ivy League school. Catherine is working towards obtaining a Computer Science bachelor's degree at Columbia University in the city of New York.

David grew up in Southern California and enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating high
school. He spent six years in the Marine Corps Reserve before joining the Army to become a
Special Forces Soldier. During his time as a Medic, David had the opportunity to treat patients in both the deployed and hospital setting. He is currently teaching limited resource and austere medicine courses, where he found a passion for research and education. David is studying health science at Campbell University with a minor in psychology. During the REVU program, David worked in the Caplan Lab on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and studied how a specific protein affects the disease progression. David’s ultimate goal is to continue serving his community through education and medicine by becoming an Emergency Medicine or Critical Care physician. His hobbies include spending time with his wife and two daughters, endurance sports, and enjoying good food with friends.

Originally from California, Taylor joined the military as a pararescueman in Portland, Oregon in 2012. After six years on active orders, Taylor became a reservist and began civilian work as a flight paramedic in Papua New Guinea. While traveling the world and treating patients, he spent his free time exploring new areas of interest and engaging in self-study. He ultimately discovered an interest in human cognitive sciences and decided to return to school and fully immerse into education. Two years later, he moved to Connecticut to study neuroscience at Wesleyan. As a 2022 fellow, Taylor worked in the Spudich lab. He conducted neuropsychological tests, shadowed patient care, and found evidence of cognitive decreases in people living with HIV. After graduation he plans to continue studying cognitive science and patient care. Outside of school, Taylor can be found playing board games or traveling around in his big yellow van.

Daisy is currently a sophomore at Williams College and is majoring in biology. She serves in the US Air Force reserves and has worked in Aerospace Maintenance during her tenure in the US Air Force. This summer, Daisy studied Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Dr. Paul Turner's lab. Daisy's goal is to utilize her disciplined academic focus and jovial creativity to learn under the guidance of experts in the field and support their mission. She is a special programs coordinator for Bioneers' Native Youth Leadership Program which works with native and non-native youth across the country. The program focuses on supporting indigenous-led cultural programming, cross-cultural communications, and the use of technology to bridge intergenerational cultural gaps.

Kenny Thai was born and raised in Houston, Texas. After high school graduation, Kenny sought out a challenge and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served for five years as a flight equipment technician specializing in H-1 attack helicopter safety and survival equipment. Kenny then returned home to pursue medicine and is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Houston pursuing a degree in nutritional sciences. This summer, Kenny conducted research in Dr. Bluma Lesch’s genetics lab studying the role of bivalent chromatin on gene expression. Kenny is preparing his applications to medical school with the goal of helping to preserve the health of his community. During his free time, Kenny enjoys trying foods from various countries as a means of cultural exploration.

After graduating from high school, Will enlisted in the United States Navy as a Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator. Following ten years of active duty service, he separated from the Navy and went back to school with help from the Warrior-Scholar Project. He is currently studying Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Colorado-Boulder. During the summers, he continues to support the Warrior-Scholar Project so he can continue to help other veterans as they work towards their higher education goals. In his spare time, Will enjoys listening to music, reading books, jogging, and playing video games. Ultimately, he would like to find a way to share his love of astronomy with youth groups composed of people that are typically underrepresented in the sciences, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion within the field of Astronomy.

Daniel enlisted in the Army in 2012 and served as a rifleman in 2nd Ranger Battalion, as well as a Sniper in the 101st Airborne Division. After separating from the Army, he worked as an Animal Packer for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Daniel is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in geology at Highline Community College in Washington. He plans to attend graduate school after graduation. Daniel was a member of the varsity wrestling team and 2019 NJCAA National Championships participant and he is an avid mountain biker and rock climber.

DeLia Kennedy is currently working on her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology at Hampton University. Immediately after high school she joined the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk, VA where she served four years at sea as a personnel specialist. Her Navy experience was adventurous and very beneficial to her personally. DeLia holds associate degrees in Science and Social Science from Tidewater Community College. After graduation from Hampton University, DeLia is planning to attend medical school and pursue a career in the medical field and is particularly interested in pathology with an ultimate goal of becoming a forensic pathologist.

Frederick Cordova was born and raised in San Diego. He has served in the United States Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician where he gained the knowledge and expertise on the safe rendering of a variety of conventional and unconventional explosives. After a successful career in the Navy, Frederick is now attending Columbia University to study Computer Science with an emphasis on artificial intelligence. He is also an active member of Columbia's Military Veteran Organization and a first string member of Columbia's Rugby team.

Haris Gargovic was born in Skokie, Illinois where he resided until he was eighteen. After graduating early from Niles West High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer. While serving in the Marine Corps, Haris spent time stationed in North Carolina and Okinawa, Japan where he attended Coastal Carolina Community College and University of Maryland University College. After separating from the Marine Corps in 2018, Haris attended the Warrior-Scholar Project STEM program at Yale University. Haris attended Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois where he served as the Vice President of Student Veterans Club and Club Officer of Sustainability Club. Haris now attends Yale University.
 

Jared Fox is currently a student at El Camino College in Torrance, California. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran where he spent five years working as a ground electronics technician, specializing in microminiature repair. Jared attended the Warrior-Scholar Project STEM program at Yale University in 2016. He plans to transfer to a four-year institution in the fall of 2020 in pursuit of a degree in electrical engineering. After college, Jared plans to use his degree to pursue a job in research in the defense industry. During his free time, Jared enjoys learning about computer programming.

Compelled by the events of 9/11, Justin enlisted in the U.S. Army. After basic training, Justin had the opportunity to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. Justin completed the rigorous training, earning the coveted Green Beret. While in the military, Justin had the profound experience of medically treating the casualties of war. Having to solve problem sets in the domain of medicine gave Justin a great respect for science, humanity, and the ability to offer hope to people in hopeless situations. These new-found passions lead to Justin leaving the active duty military to pursue a degree as a Pre-Med Biology student. Justin currently attends Baylor University with plans to attend medical school in hopes of becoming a healer. As a healer, Justin plans to impact his community as a humanitarian leader by providing services that give people hope during times of hopelessness.

Teresa Carter is originally from Long Beach, California and currently resides in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Teresa is a twenty-six-year-old Marine Veteran. She attends Middle Tennessee State University and studies psychology/pre-medicine. Teresa is a student worker in the college’s chemistry department, the veteran's center, and the President of the college’s student veteran organization. She has a passion for helping fellow veterans with social and emotional issues. After college, Teresa plans to become a psychiatrist so she can continue assisting veterans and their families.