Five operations research students have been selected as recipients of the prestigious Omar N. Bradley Research Fellowship in Mathematics, earning half of the 10 fellowships awarded nationwide this year.

Awarded annually by the Omar N. Bradley Foundation, the Omar Bradley Fellowships support active and reserve-duty military officers engaged in advanced study in the mathematical sciences. Recipients are selected for their ability to conduct rigorous research with the potential to address complex military challenges and improve decision-making.

This year’s recognition continues a strong trajectory for the program. Four students received Omar Bradley Fellowships last year, reinforcing the program’s growing reputation for preparing military leaders to apply advanced analytics to real-world problems.

The fellowships honor Gen. Omar N. Bradley, who taught mathematics at the United States Military Academy and maintained a lifelong passion for the discipline. Each year, the foundation awards 10 fellowships to officers demonstrating analytical excellence and the potential for meaningful impact.

For Brandon McConnell, military liaison for the College of Engineering, the achievement reflects both student excellence and program strength.

“Securing these fellowships is a profound honor for our program,” McConnell said. “Nationwide, only 10 active duty and reserve military officers are selected for this highly competitive award each year. To have NC State scholars earn exactly half of these coveted fellowships is extraordinary.”

He said the recognition highlights the program’s mission.

“It speaks directly to our program’s ability to attract exceptional military leaders and equip them with the analytical, strategic-thinking skills necessary to serve our nation, precisely the kind of future leaders General Bradley envisioned,” he said.

McConnell added that the fellowship rewards more than technical ability.

“The Bradley Fellowship isn’t just looking for brilliant mathematicians, they are looking for visionary problem-solvers,” he said. “At its core, the fellowship values analytic rigor applied to real-world challenges.”

Maria Mayorga, director of the operations research program, said the milestone reflects the strength of both the students and the program.

“I believe that it is unprecedented to have five students from the same institution receive the award,” Mayorga said. “The OR Program has consistently benefited from the active or reserve duty officers who choose our program to continue their education.”

She said the recognition highlights the program’s academic environment.

“The award highlights that these students are receiving a high quality education, exceptional mentoring, and are engaged in cutting edge research in the mathematical sciences,” she said.

Mayorga also emphasized the broader relevance of the students’ work.

“In the age of AI, there may be a tendency to move away from fundamentals, but the work done by these students highlights the need for systems thinking, mechanistic modeling, and integration of machine learning and AI to address high-stakes, highly uncertain problems,” she said.

The five recipients are Ryan Andersen, Camryn Deames, Matthew Gleason, Teresa Groton and John Kearby. Their research spans topics aimed at improving decision-making in complex environments.

Ryan Andersen

Andersen examines unmanned aerial vehicles and their role in large-scale combat operations.

“I enjoyed long analysis projects because of the depth of knowledge one could gain and share with others to enhance their understanding of the problem at hand and the analysis process,” Andersen said.

“My current project with unmanned aerial vehicles connects to real-world military challenges as the Army continues to enhance its capabilities more attuned to large scale combat operations,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of community.

“No personal achievement is earned by a single person, but rather the award or achievement is recognition of a team that supports the fellow awardee,” he said. “Here at NC State, I am grateful for my Wolfpack.”

Camryn Deames

Deames focuses on strengthening the connection between mathematical modeling and decision-making.

“My mom was a CPA, and I grew up seeing how numbers drive real decisions,” Deames said. “In the Air Force, I found that operations research does the same at a strategic level.”

She emphasized the importance of trust in analytical tools.

“Decision makers need to feel confident in the math and modeling to make data-driven decisions,” she said. “As operations research analysts, it’s our job to bridge that gap.”

Matthew Gleason

Gleason’s research focuses on risk assessment in airborne operations.

“My project addresses issues I’ve personally experienced as an Army officer,” Gleason said. “A core requirement of an officer’s duty is the effective assessment and communication of risk to those making decisions.”

“My research specifically links risk factors to personnel assignments to improve the generation of manifests for airborne operations,” he said.

Teresa Groton

Groton applies operations research to complex societal and military-related challenges.

“I want to use my degree in operations research to be a practical problem solver and provide solutions for emerging challenges in our increasingly complex world,” Groton said.

“My current research centers around access to healthy food, which is not military-specific but certainly affects service members and the communities they are a part of,” she said.

John Kearby

Kearby studies human-machine teaming and future military force structures.

“My research looks at how many robots a Soldier can effectively supervise and where the control lines should be drawn to balance autonomy against authority and mission success,” Kearby said.

“The Army is making force structure decisions that will determine what these new formations look like and whether we need 10,000 or 50,000 Soldiers to operate 100,000 robots,” he said. “I am trying to help shape those design decisions with my work.”

Looking Ahead

Together, the recipients’ work highlights the role of operations research in addressing uncertainty, logistics and resource constraints.

“Operations Research helps bring structure to military problems,” Deames said. “Accomplishing the mission requires decisions that involve uncertainty, complex logistics and resource constraints.”

Kearby emphasized the importance of structured decision-making.

“In complex and chaotic environments, a framework for decision-making is invaluable, especially when lives are on the line and decisions carry real strategic weight,” he said.

For the recipients, the Omar Bradley Fellowships represent both recognition and responsibility.

“Personally, it’s humbling to be associated with General Bradley’s legacy of leadership and passion for mathematics,” Deames said.

Looking ahead, Mayorga said the program hopes to continue building strong partnerships.

“We hope that this will encourage our military partners to continue to send students our way,” she said.