This Veterans Day, the USF College of Engineering is proud to spotlight four exceptional graduate students who have served our nation in the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Their military experience has shaped not only their technical expertise but also their approach to leadership, collaboration, and innovation. From environmental research to nuclear engineering to RF electronics, these veterans are applying the same dedication they brought to military service toward advancing knowledge and solving critical challenges. We are honored to have them as part of our engineering community and grateful for their continued commitment to service.
Read their bios below, then click on the Q&A to learn more about their experiences as graduate engineering students at USF.
Daniel Delgado
Daniel Delgado's engineering journey began in the United States Navy, where he served as a Machinist's Mate Nuclear aboard the USS Topeka SSN 754 from 2006 to 2012. The nuclear navy taught him more than technical skills; it instilled a meticulous approach to problem-solving and systems thinking. "The Navy demands a level of situational awareness, but being part of the nuclear navy requires being meticulous in all operations," Daniel said. "I learned how to approach challenges, think about an entire system when working on any piece of equipment, how the system interacted with other systems, and how to consider and minimize what could go wrong."
His experience with reactor, electrical, and mechanical theory aboard a nuclear submarine sparked an unexpected passion: environmental and public health stewardship. That fascination with biology and chemistry led Daniel to environmental engineering and eventually to USF's PhD program, where he joined the first cohort of fellows in an NSF National Research Traineeship in January 2019.
During a field trip to Belize that summer, Daniel identified a critical environmental challenge: nutrient pollution from saltwater flushing toilets threatening coral restoration sites. He began collaborating with a local entrepreneur installing onsite wastewater treatment systems and gained support from marine scientists alarmed by macroalgae growth near toilet discharge areas. When COVID-19 halted international travel for two years, Daniel adapted - setting up laboratory experiments at USF to replicate the Belizean systems. His persistence paid off. Daniel completed his master's thesis, published his research on interdisciplinary field experiences, and continues this work on high-salinity onsite wastewater treatment systems for his doctoral studies.
Daniel's journey from nuclear submarine operations to protecting coral reef ecosystems demonstrates how veteran students apply military precision and adaptability to solving complex environmental challenges. We're grateful for his service and proud of his contributions to USF Engineering research.
Omolulu Makinde
Omololu Makinde is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army assigned as Deputy Combatant Command Representative to U.S. Special Operations Command with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency - but he's also a doctoral candidate in USF's Mechanical Engineering Department. He successfully defended his dissertation on "Neutron Spectra in Mixed Field Radiation," and will graduate with his PhD in December 2025.
Omololu鈥檚 research addresses a critical national security challenge: developing more accurate methods to characterize radiation fields containing both neutrons and gamma radiation. His work integrates machine learning, high-performance computing, materials characterization, and nuclear engineering - conducted through collaborations with USF's Nanotechnology Research and Education Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Idaho National Laboratory. Supported by the USF Sloan Scholars program and a grant from the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, his research will enhance operational and medical readiness in responding to nuclear threats and improve survival outcomes after radiological exposure.
His academic achievements have earned recognition beyond the classroom. In August 2025, Omololu received a Best Presentation award at the Denver X-Ray Conference in Rockville, MD - one of several professional conferences where he has shared his research. Before joining USF, he earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and his Master of Engineering in Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Omololu鈥檚 journey exemplifies how veteran students bring mission-focused expertise and dedication to advancing research that serves both the academic community and national security. We're honored to have him as part of USF Engineering and grateful for his continued service to our country.
Roberto Montero
Roberto Delgado's path to USF Engineering began in the United States Air Force, where he specialized in RF electronics and calibration diagnostics, advancing to staff sergeant. During his military service, he also dedicated over 600 hours to the honor guard, performing ceremonial funerals for fallen service members. He pursued knowledge relentlessly, completing advanced calibration diagnostics training until he had exhausted what the military could teach him about RF electronics - prompting his decision to transition to civilian life.
The road to USF wasn't straightforward. After initially being rejected from the electrical engineering program, Roberto remained determined. He worked as a laboratory manager at Micro Precision Calibration in Tampa while earning his associate's degree, eventually gaining acceptance to USF's electrical engineering program, where he added an entrepreneurship minor to complement his technical training.
At USF, Roberto brought his military leadership experience to the IEEE-HKN honor society, serving as chapter president and revitalizing the organization to create opportunities for fellow students. His unique combination of RF electronics expertise, project management skills, and entrepreneurial mindset led to a career opportunity with an IoT company in the Tampa Bay area.
Roberto's journey reflects the dedication, resilience, and leadership that veteran students contribute to the USF Engineering community. We're grateful for his service and proud to feature his story.
SEAN ALEMAN
Sean Aleman's path to biomedical engineering research began with seven years of service in the United States Air Force as a Biomedical Equipment Technician. From 2006 to 2013, he worked at bases in Alaska and Texas, installing, inspecting, and repairing biomedical equipment valued at over $32 million while supporting more than 106,000 patients. His responsibilities extended beyond technical work鈥攈e served as team leader on Medical Equipment Repair Center trips across five states, managed hazardous materials programs, and even identified faulty defibrillator paddles that led to a worldwide recall.
The meticulous attention to detail and systems thinking he developed maintaining medical equipment in military hospitals now drives his doctoral research at USF. As a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering, Sean is working to miniaturize Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy (DCS), an optical imaging method that measures blood flow in tissues for real-time clinical monitoring. His research integrates machine learning, advanced mathematics, and cutting-edge medical imaging techniques鈥攕kills built on a foundation that includes bachelor's degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, plus an Air Force associate degree in Biomedical Equipment Repair.
Sean's military background taught him more than technical expertise鈥攊t instilled a commitment to service that continues today. He teaches and coaches 50+ students weekly in the USF Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club, serves as a teaching assistant mentoring biomedical engineering design students, and has published multiple peer-reviewed papers advancing medical imaging technology. From managing millions of dollars in diagnostic equipment for the Air Force to developing technologies that could transform patient care, Sean exemplifies how veteran students bring precision, leadership, and mission focus to engineering research.