Christian Dionisio, a 2020 graduate of Verona High School, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point on Saturday, May 25, and was commissioned as second lieutenant in the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. Dionisio graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in American politics. His family attended the graduation ceremony, as did Col.(ret.) Joseph A. Simonelli Jr., a 1983 graduate of VHS and also a West Point alumni.
At West Point, Dionisio held a series of different leadership positions within the Corps of Cadets and did extensive undergraduate political science research. He had opportunities to publish his work in academic journals, present his findings in national political science conferences, and collaborate with the office of Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) on a Capstone policymaking project in 2023. He had internships with the Department of Defense, Department of State, the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, and the Peace & Dialogue Leadership Initiative.
He also conducted original high-level political science research on cash bail reform legislation that was awarded the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress’ James R. Moffett Award as well as the West Point Department of Social Sciences Colonel George K. Osborn III Award. Dionisio is the co-author of a chapter in “Last Person in the Room: Vice Presidential Influence on National Security Decision Making,” a forthcoming book on the vice president’s historical role in national security policy decision-making. He recently published his reflections on his class’ commitment to service.
As a West Point graduate, Dionisio must now complete a minimum of five years active duty in the U.S. Army and three years in the U.S. Army reserves. He will start as an infantry officer for the first four years and then transition to military intelligence work. Dionisio will attend the Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course (IBOLC) at Ft. Moore, Georgia, before attending Ranger School and Air Assault School in the next year. His
first duty station will be Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.
What outstanding accomplishments for this Verona grad. I cannot wait to see where his commitment and dedication to excellence will take him in his career. Congratulations to Christian and his family!!