Friday, Mar 07, 2025 • Cristal Gonzalez : contact

During the 45th Military Science Hall of Honor ceremony last weekend, the Cadet Corps Alumni Council inducted two new members to The University of Texas at Arlington’s Military Science Hall of Honor.

Honoring the discipline, leadership and achievements gained through participation or support of the cadets in UTA’s Army ROTC, the Hall of Honor now pays tribute to 123 former cadets.

Jean Anne Panton Deakyne and Steven Kennedy were honored for their significant contributions and service to ROTC and career achievements in both their military and civilian lives.

“Through the Cadet Corps Alumni Council (CCAC) and the Hall of Honor, we have an opportunity to mentor, counsel and highlight displays of leadership for the current set of cadets,” said Kenneth Smith (’76), CCAC’s vice president of finance. “We want to honor the ROTC cadets that came before us and give back to the cadets that will come after us—and perhaps inspire them to do the same things.”

Deakyne, an Arlington native, served as a UTA Corps executive officer in 1997-98. She was a member of the Color Guard and Carlisle Cannons and was UTA’s student body president in 1998.

She served in the U.S. Army for 13 years and received the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Superior Unit Award and the Outstanding Volunteer Award for her service. In the last five years of her military career, she returned to UTA as an assistant professor of military science and an executive officer in UTA’s Department of Military Science.

Kennedy, from Dallas, was recognized for his distinguished career and service in ROTC, the Active Army and later in business. He was a member of the ROTC’s nationally acclaimed precision drill team, the Sam Houston Rifles, holding positions as songbird, squad leader and guidon bearer. In 1967, just nine hours shy of completing his degree in history, he was commissioned to the U.S. Army, where he served two deployments in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot.

After a review of his records in 2021, with assistance from his son-in-law and the Department of History, Kennedy was awarded his degree. His civilian career spanned more than 25 years at Southwest Airlines, initially joining the company as one of its first telecommunications professionals. He retired in 2007.

Located in College Hall, the Hall of Honor serves as a visual reminder for cadets of the future to continue the proud traditions of the Corps and see the significance their training can have on their military and civilian careers.

Distinguished members of the Hall of Honor include two Medal of Honor recipients, a NASA astronaut, state legislators, judges, an Olympic gold medalist and former university presidents.

“Military science and ROTC have been an integral part of developing leaders, the campus and the city of Arlington,” Smith said. “That is why the Hall of Honor recognizes those outstanding individuals.”

For the induction ceremony, one of the newly revived Carlisle Cannons fired three honorary volleys at UTA for the first time since the student government passed a resolution to return a cannon to campus in 2023.