Specialist Silas O. Oyewale (left) is presented with the Michael D. Romain Memorial Scholarship by a Field Support Manager. The annual scholarship honors a former General Dynamics employee, Mike Romain, who died in 2008 while supporting WIN-T during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Specialist Silas O. Oyewale has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Michael D. Romain Memorial Scholarship. A General Dynamics field engineer, Mike Romain died in 2008 while deployed to support the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division with Warfighter Information Network Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 1 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. An annual scholarship was established in his name to remember his sacrifice and honor his lifetime of service to the U.S. Army and the Signal Corps.
"I Promise to Build on His Legacy"
The 2017 scholarship award-winner, Army Specialist Silas O. Oyewale, is currently enrolled at Liberty University where he is working on completing his Master’s in Cyber Security. SPC Oyewale is a Finance Specialist assigned to Bravo Det., 15 Financial Management Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1 Cavalry Division, in Fort Hood, Texas.
"Being cognizant of the unique sacrifice of Michael D. Romain, I am really humbled to be found worthy to receive this scholarship. I promise to build on his legacy by not quitting on my academic pursuit when it gets even tougher. Extend my pleasantry to your colleagues who made it possible. Once again, thank you a lot.” - U.S. Army Specialist Silas O. Oyewale
Specialist Oyewale returned earlier this year from a deployment supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. His efforts and bravery abroad are well-recognized and his actions are parallel to that of General Dynamics’ own Michael Romain.
More About the Michael D. Romain Memorial Scholarship
The annual $1,000 scholarship is awarded to one competitively selected and deserving enlisted Signal Corps Solider who is actively pursuing a college degree at an accredited college or university.
Candidates must complete a comprehensive scholarship application and meet specific criteria including, being a current active-duty signal MOS soldier in the grade E-5 and below and assigned or attached to a Fort Hood, Texas unit. Candidates also must meet academic requirements and submit letters of recommendation along with an essay on an assigned topic.
The recipient is selected from applicants by the selection committee of the Fort Hood Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). The funds are provided by General Dynamics Mission Systems and are administered by the AUSA and AUSA Corporate Members Scholarship Program and the Central Texas – Fort Hood Chapter of the AUSA.
More About Mike Romain
As are all our deployed engineers at General Dynamics, Mike was a true American hero who will long be remembered for his dedication to ensuring the critical communication systems our warfighters rely on worked when they were needed most — a selfless determination he demonstrated through his voluntary decision to serve multiple tours of duty.
His legacy of service to his country will live on in those he touched, both directly and indirectly, from his time in uniform as a Communications Electronic Technician with the U.S. Army, to the soldiers he supported on the battlefield, to his coworkers at Ft. Hood and across General Dynamics, to the citizens of our nation.
Michael D. Romain
July 22, 1960 - December 1, 2008
Past Recipients
2009 – SSG Walter Perez
2010 – SP4 Kari L. Anglin
2011 – SGT Brindell
2012 – SPC Shawn Hirsch
2014 – SGT James Larry IV
2016 –Henry L. Munoz & Alyssa Williams
2017 – SPC Silas O. Oyewale
Last updated: 7/18/2017
