Five Rose-Hulman Army ROTC cadets recently joined student teams from across the country at the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Ignite 2026 Kickoff, held at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Boston. The event marked the start of a year-long collaboration that challenges engineering students to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems encountered by U.S. Special Operations Forces.

Representing Rose-Hulman were senior cadets Matt Neville and Cobi Harris, both civil engineering majors, and Lifu Zhang, a computer science major. Joining them were junior cadets Collin Rogers, a mechanical engineering major, and Josh Willeke, a NanoEngineering major. The team participated alongside counterparts from more than 20 universities in tackling complex engineering challenges—ranging from optical systems to field technology—under the guidance of military experts and MIT Lincoln Laboratory researchers.

“This program gives our cadets an opportunity to apply their engineering knowledge to real problems that have national impact,” said LTC James Antonides, Professor of Military Science for the Wabash Battalion, which includes Rose-Hulman. “The professionalism and problem-solving skills they demonstrated impressed everyone from MIT Lincoln Laboratory leadership to the senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Special Operations Command. They truly knocked it out of the park.” 

The SOCOM Ignite program connects the Department of Defense’s most advanced operational needs with the ingenuity of student engineers. Through this partnership, cadets and their faculty mentors contribute ideas and prototype solutions that can shape future technologies for defense and humanitarian missions alike.

Rose-Hulman 2007 civil engineering alumnus Rich Franko, a U.S. Army Special Forces Veteran and Alumni Advisory Board Member, helped coordinate the institute’s participation in the program. Franko said he was proud of the way the cadets represented the college.

“Matt, Cobi, Lifu, Collin, and Josh carried themselves with poise and professionalism,” Franko said. “Rose-Hulman is now an even more deeply respected institution among the best in the nation because of how these cadets performed.”

Franko also noted that the event helped open doors for future collaborations between Rose-Hulman and the SOCOM Ignite program, including potential senior design projects and research partnerships.

One standout during the event was Josh Willeke, whose expertise in optical engineering earned praise from mentors and recruiters.

“His technical energy really empowered the team to excel,” Franko said. “He caught the attention of multiple research and development organizations interested in his skills.”

Antonides added that the experience will benefit not only this year’s cadets but also future students who take on similar projects through SOCOM Ignite. “The groundwork laid by this group sets the stage for continued participation,” he said. “It’s a perfect example of how leadership, engineering, and innovation intersect here at Rose-Hulman.”