As officers and midshipmen in the NC State Naval ROTC (NROTC) program, alongside family, friends and Division of Academic and Student Affairs leaders, gathered to honor members of the Wolfpack battalion for their hard work this school year, the program also began an annual tradition of honoring an NROTC alum who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the United States.

The annual awards ceremony, held April 22 in Reynolds Coliseum, saw the first official awarding of the Lieutenant Commander Eric A. Cranford Naval ROTC Scholarship, given this year to Sean O’Connor, third-year student studying aerospace engineering. 

“It’s very special,” O’Connor said. “It’s something to think about when I’m going forward in my career, and trying to live out the same values that he did, trying to serve wherever I can and give back to my community. I’m trying to be close to the man that he was.” 

“It’s something to think about when I’m going forward in my career, and trying to live out the same values that he did.”

Eric Cranford graduated from NC State in 1992 with degrees in political science and economics, and was commissioned from the NROTC program. He completed flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas and Pensacola, Florida, and later flew two tours in the Persian Gulf as a helicopter pilot. 

Cranford, a native of Drexel, North Carolina, was last assigned to the Pentagon, as a knowledge analyst in the Naval Command Post, and was eventually promoted to Lieutenant Commander.  He was also working towards an MBA from the University of Maryland. Cranford tragically perished at the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

“Eric’s presence extends beyond those who knew him personally.”

The memorial scholarship serves as a way to continue to honor Cranford’s memory at his alma mater, and continue to provide an example of his legacy and leadership. His younger brother, Brad Cranford, spoke at the awards ceremony. 

“Eric’s presence extends beyond those who knew him personally,” Brad Cranford said. “It lives on through this scholarship and through each student who steps forward to carry his name into their own future. Every recipient becomes part of the ongoing story of who Eric was, not just how he died. His legacy continues to grow, not as something frozen in the past, but as a living influence shaping new leaders, new thinkers and new acts of courage.”

The scholarship will be awarded from a $50,000 endowment created by Greg Duffy, a retired Air Force major and Brad Cranford’s former next-door neighbor. 

When Brad Cranford shared the story of his brother, Duffy, who also formerly taught in UNC-Chapel Hill’s Air Force ROTC program, wanted to find a permanent way to honor Eric Cranford’s memory at NC State. 

“I think it’s great to memorialize him for what he stood for,” Duffy said. “That’s what it’s about. There are a lot of folks who have gone before us who have served in the military. Eric is one of them, so it’s an honor to be able to remember him, remember the things he did and remember what he stood for.”

The scholarship will be awarded annually to undergraduate students in the Naval ROTC program, with priority given to rising fourth-year students, to assist with the costs of their education and potential leadership development opportunities. 

“Doing things we can do to help them have a good experience through their Naval ROTC time while they’re at NC State is very useful,” Duffy said. “Doing it in a way that also commemorates someone who’s gone before them and helps them think about why they’re doing what they’re doing is very special.” 

Brad Cranford described his older brother as a quiet leader, but someone who always stepped in when he was needed. 

“May each of us strive to live in a way that strengthens the legacy of courage, character and service that Eric embodied.”

He shared a favorite quote in Eric Cranford’s journal from former United States President Andrew Jackson, “One man with courage makes a majority.”

“May each of us strive to live in a way that strengthens the legacy of courage, character and service that Eric embodied,” Brad Cranford said to the gathered midshipmen. “His legacy continues through every life touched by this scholarship.”

Honoring Hard Work

In addition to the Eric Cranford Scholarship, the NROTC program also presented several additional awards to midshipmen who distinguished themselves throughout the 2025-2026 school year. 

Lieutenant Zac Tilley, a Naval Science instructor, explained that the Triangle’s NROTC Battalion is made up of three different schools – NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke – and that, especially with presenting the first Cranford scholarship, this was the first year NC State held its own separate awards ceremony. 

“We’re preparing these young people to go into harm’s way and carry out the nation’s business.”

“The fact that we can carry on Lieutenant Commander Cranford’s legacy and his sacrifice, I think, speaks highly to the midshipmen and the entire active duty staff that what we’re doing here is important,” Tilley said. “We’re preparing these young people to go into harm’s way and carry out the nation’s business. This is just something that brings the gravity of the situation publicly and to the personal aspect with his family being there. Eric isn’t with us anymore, but his family still recognizes the importance of the mission of what we do today, and still wants to continue to support future officers in the Marine Corps and the Navy.”

Other awards presented came from organizations such as the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, Reserve Organization of America, American Legion, Order of the Purple Heart, American Veterans, Naval Submarine League, Military Officers Association of America and more. 

“It’s incredible,” Tilley said. “All these midshipmen have majors that are so different from military science. Military science is more of a minor for them. So all of these midshipmen are highly motivated, highly capable and highly skilled at what they do. They’re going to lead the fleet. They’re going to leave here as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps, and they may be going into harm’s way to defend this country. So it’s important that we get them all together at least once a year and congratulate them, celebrate them and recognize them for their hard work.” 

2026 NC State Naval ROTC Award Winners

Lieutenant Commander Eric A. Cranford Scholarship: Sean O’Connor

Patriot Award: Natalie Wilhelm 

War of 1812 Award: Bryan Gambel

Sons of the American Revolution Award: Hunter Proctor

Daughters of the American Revolution Award: Brynn Elliott

Reserve Organization of America Medal: Zein Oweis (gold), Sophia Beasley (silver)

American Legion Honors Award: Emily Anderson, Nathan Ballou, Isabella Atkins, Ryan McGrath

Military Order of the Purple Heart: Jed Rose

American Veterans Award: Kenneth Cates

Naval Submarine League Outstanding Achievement Award: Jireh Gibson

Military Officers Association of America ROTC Award: Sean O’Connor

Ensign Worth Bagley Leadership Award: Andrew Adler

National Sojourner Award: Page Snider

Scottish Rite Award: Sean Hood

CNO Distinguished Graduate: Everett Miller

This post was originally published in DASA.