Lt. Donovan on duty during a recent tour in Iraq.

Lieutenant Luke T. Donovan to Deliver Engineering and Applied Science Commencement Speech

May 4, 2009 -UW architectural engineering graduate, and U.S. Air Force First Lieutenant Luke T. Donovan, will deliver the College of Engineering and Applied Science commencement speech at graduation ceremonies on May 9. The College graduation ceremony will be held in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium on the UW campus beginning at 1:30 p.m.

“I am nearly speechless toward accepting the privilege to speak at commencement, but am thrilled to be able to spend just a few minutes sharing my story of UW engineering and AF experiences,” says Donovan.

First Lieutenant Donovan is assigned to the 341st Missile Wing, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base Montana. Lieutenant Donovan was born in Westminster, Colorado in 1983. He received his B.S. from UW in architectural engineering in 2005. As a UW freshman he received the AFROTC Commanders Leadership Scholarship. While an undergraduate at UW he was a member of the President’s Senior Class Ambassadors, Mortar Board, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Upon graduation and commissioning in 2005, he was among the top 15 percent of his AFROTC peers earning him a “Blue Chip” appointment. Following his commission, Lieutenant Donovan received orders to Malmstrom Air Force Base. During this tour Lieutenant Donovan served as the Chief of Construction Management, Chief of Maintenance Engineering and officer in charge of two engineering teams deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed in 2007 he served as the lead structural Engineer for the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron. RED HORSE is the primary heavy construction unit for the Air Force and Donovan was the officer in charge (OIC) for a 15 man team, working as a designer, on site superintendent and site commander during that deployment. In 2008 he served as the Squadron Deputy and Engineering Flight Chief 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. He has received multiple home station and garrison awards culminating as the 341st Mission Support Group Company Grade Officer of the Year for 2008.

Following his graduate school attendance Penn State University, studying architectural engineering, Donovan anticipates a move to Dayton, Ohio where he will be part of the Air Force Civil Engineer and Services School faculty. Faculty members teach all the initial training courses for new Air Force Civil Engineering officers. In addition, he will teach architectural and structural specific courses to multiple military services and ranks.

Luke Donovan and fiancée Naomi Haines, photo by Ryan Wagenhauser.

Recently engaged to Naomi Haines of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Donovan and his Haines are planning a wedding for June 2010. Haines is also a military officer and loves the outdoors as much as Donovan. They were engaged on April 5th, Palm Sunday, overlooking Yellowstone National Park from atop Lone Peak at Big Sky Ski Area in Montana.

“The theme of my speech is based on the Biblical parable of building a house on the sand or on the rock,” says Donovan. “I strive to stand firm in my faith, engineering professionalism and military leadership on a daily basis. My time at the University of Wyoming expanded the spiritual, technical and ethical foundation I needed to succeed. The University of Wyoming is truly a foundation for success.”

Donovan is a first generation UW graduate, and shares his pride in supporting UW in any way possible. Parents, students, and friends are welcome to join us for commencement exercises on May 9. Congratulations to all graduating seniors!