Rear Admiral Sumner Shapiro Scholarship Program

Gunnar Balma graduated from the Helix Charter School in La Mesa, California in the spring 2025. He served as the school’s National Honor Society vice president, the founder and president of the Bouldering and Climbing Club, and he competed in swimming, water polo, and wrestling at the varsity level. He is now attending the University of Southern California, majoring in mechanical engineering, and would like to pursue a career supporting the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Sponsor: Captain Cameron Balma, USN, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center 

Jonathan Bolander graduated from the Redeemer Classical School in Keezletown, Virginia in the spring 2025.  During high school, he was a five-sport varsity athlete, a member of the school’s Prefect Council, a four-year varsity scholar awardee, a student church leader, and he played in the school band. He is now attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Sponsor: Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Bolander, USMC (Retired)

Austin Martin is a junior at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) cadet. He is pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering. He is the founder and president of the AFROTC Endurance Club, a member and leader of the AFROTC Honor Guard, and an undergraduate research assistant in the school’s Space Systems Design Laboratory, where he assists with structural engineering and integration tasks supporting CubeSat development. Upon graduation and commissioning into the U.S. Space Force, he intends to pursue a career as a space intelligence officer.

Sponsor: CWO3 Gregory Martin, USN, Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI)

Michael Himes is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania and a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) midshipman. He is pursuing a degree in computer and information science, with a concentration in artificial intelligence. Michael holds a seat on the Penn Engineering Council and serves as a ministry team leader in the Christian Union. He is currently the Command Master Chief for his NROTC battalion. Upon graduation and commissioning, he intends to serve in the Naval Special Warfare community.

Sponsor: Rear Admiral Joshua Himes, USN, Deputy Director of Operations, NSA 

Ciara Loughran is a senior at Princeton University majoring in molecular biology and minoring in Spanish and global health/health policy. She is a resident advisor, captain of the school’s NCAA Division 1 women’s rugby team, and a researcher in the Mallarino Lab, where her work informs the knowledge of mammal genetics. She intends to pursue a career in medicine with a residency in the military.

Sponsor: Captain Stephen Loughran, USNR (Retired)

Intelligence Specialist First Class James McCravy is serving at the Theater Special Operations Command - Pacific. In that capacity, he provides human intelligence (HUMINT) and counterintelligence operations support to all special forces component commands throughout the Indo-Pacific theater. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in intelligence analysis at American Military University. Upon graduation, he intends to pursue a Master of Science and Technology Intelligence degree with a focus on information and influence intelligence. He aspires to a commission through the Intelligence Warrant Officer Program and specialize in the HUMINT career field.

Intelligence Specialist First Class Rachel Shields recently completed Operational Intelligence “C” School and the Senior Enlisted Maritime Intelligence Analysis Course at the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) in Virginia Beach. Prior to her training, she served as an IS “A” School and Imagery “C” School instructor at IWTC and was named the command’s FY23 Sailor of the Year. She is now serving on the USS New York (LPD-21) as an Independent Duty Intelligence Specialist. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Studies at American Military University and intends to apply for Officer Candidate School upon completion of her degree