Introducing the 2024 Olmsted Foundation Field Study Team! This year’s team will be conducting their Field Study on peace and conflict in the Philippines this upcoming May. Follow them on our Facebook or Instagram to keep up with their adventures.
The Field Study is funded by the Olmsted Foundation and the Norwich University Peace and War Center. The Olmsted Foundation was founded in 1959 with the objective of providing foreign experience in conflict to junior officers within the United States Military. The team is accompanied by Dr. Travis Morris, the director of the Peace and War Center.
10 Cadets including Grey Cavallaro, Wil Bazant, Analyse Hughes, Sophia Righthouse, Matthew Reinfurt, Maggie Lim, Greyson Merola, John Shaffer, Joshua Fernandez, and Mackenzie Ross have been selected to be apart of this amazing experience.
The team includes 6 Juniors and 4 Sophomores from various majors and ROTC branches. They will all be commissioning as officers in the U.S. armed services upon graduation.
The team has been working very hard the past two months on their research on the Philippines!
Team Profiles
WIL BAZANT is a Junior at Norwich University from Rumson, New Jersey. He is majoring in Criminal Justice. He is commissioning into the Marine Corps upon his graduation through the Platoon Leadership Course program, through which he is also charged with training candidates. Will is employed as a Police Officer in rural Vermont and is a member of the fraternal circle of the Norwich Artillery Battery. This year, he will serve as the Operations Officer for the Olmsted 2024 Field Study.
JOHNATHAN CAVALLARO is a Junior at Norwich University from Magnolia, Texas majoring in Management with a concentration in leadership. He is contracted and will be commissioned into the US Army upon graduation. Johnathan is a Battalion Command Sergeant Major in the Corps of Cadets, a member of Norwich Ranger Company and Norwich Emergency Medical Services. This year Johnathan is serving as the Olmsted Team Leader for the 2024 Field Study.
JOSHUA FERNANDEZ is a Sophomore at Norwich University from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Majoring in International Studies. Currently a Midshipmen with the Naval Battalion and a 4- year National Marine-Corp Scholarship, he plans on commissioning into the Marine Corps upon graduation. He is a member of the Government Student Leadership Academy on campus and a Discipline Corporal on Campus in charge of enforcing standards and regulations. He will serve as one of the two Logistics Officers for the Olmsted 2024 Field Study.
ANALYSE HUGHES is a Junior at Norwich University from Kansas City, Missouri. She is majoring in Studies in War and Peace with minors in Information Warfare, Intelligence and Crime Analysis, Transnational Crime, and Chinese. Currently a cadet in Army ROTC, she aspires to contract into a 3-Letter Agency or Think Tank in Military Analysis. Analyse is a Squad Leader for a Cadet Training Company and an intern with the Foundation for Defense of Democracy's Center for Military and Political Power. This year, she will be serving as one of the Communications Officers for the Olmsted 2024 Field Study.
MAGGIE LIM is a Junior at Norwich University from Jinhae, South Korea. She is majoring in International Studies with a minor is Chinese and Political Science. Currently, a Midshipman in Naval ROTC, she aspires to commission into the US Navy as either a Surface Warfare or Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer. Maggie is a Platoon Sergeant for a Cadet Training Company and an active member of the Legacy March Committee at Norwich. This year, she will be serving as one of the Communications OfficersfortheOlmsted2024FieldStudy.
GREYSON MEROLA is a Sophomore at Norwich University from Killingworth, Connecticut. He is majoring in Criminal Justice with minors in Spanish as well as Intelligence and Crime analysis. Contracted with the Army, he hopes to become a military intelligence officer upon graduation and pursue a career in federal law enforcement. Greyson is a captain of the varsity wrestling team, an officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a member of the Honors Program. This year, he will be the Team Analyst for the Olmsted 2024 Field Study.
MATTHEW REINFURT is a Junior at Norwich University, majoring in Computer Security and Information Assurance with a minor in Information Warfare. Currently, under contract with Army ROTC, he aspires to be commissioned as a Cyber Warfare Officer. At Norwich, he is a Cyber Leadership Development Program member, gaining Department of Defense-focused cyber-related experiences. He will serve as one of the two Logistics Officers for the Olmsted 2024 Field Study.
SOPHIA RIGHTHOUSE is a Junior at Norwich University from San Diego, California. Majoring in Political Science and English and minoring in Leadership, she is commissioning into the Army upon graduation and strives to branch Intelligence. Sophia is a writing coach and mentor for Norwich’s Center for Academic Achievement and a founding member of the Cheerleading and Dance Club. Further more, she holds the position of Public Affairs Officer in the Corps of Cadets and a Fellow with the Humanities Initiative. This year, she will serve as the Administrative Officer for the Olmsted2024FieldStudy.
MACKENZIE ROSS is a Sophomore at Norwich University from Stamford, Connecticut. Majoring in nursing, she hopes to become a mental health nurse in the United States Air Force. Mackenzie is a humanitarian worker, and one of her works is volunteering for the American Heart Association’s blood drive. In the Corps of Cadets, she is a company runner for Echo company. This year, she will serve as the Medical and Security Officer for the Olmsted 2024 Field Study.
JOHN SHAFFER is a Sophomore at Norwich University from Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. John is Majoring in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Leadership, currently a Cadet with Air Force Detachment 867 and a 3- year National In College Scholarship Program Recipient, he plans on commissioning into the Air Force upon graduation as a Special Tactics Officer. On campus, he is a member of the Men’s Rugby team and a Personnel Corporal in charge of accountability, awards, and housing. He will serve as the Finance Officer for the Olmsted 2024 Field Study.
Past Olmsted Experiences
For a look back at the 2023 Olmsted Field Excursion to the country of Georgia, view our two recap posts:
For a look back at the 2022 Olmsted Field Excursion to the country of Kyrgyzstan, view the trip video: