By Sherry DiBari
Juan Brambila’s years of hard work came together in one unforgettable weekend. He was commissioned as a naval officer and graduated from Ƶ the next day with a degree in mechanical engineering. The road to this monumental weekend included 12-hour commutes, little sleep and the perseverance needed to achieve one’s future potential.
Juan is a Navy Mustang, an officer who begins as an enlisted sailor, learning the U.S. Navy from the ground up before earning a commission. The term refers to the wild mustang horse, reflecting grit, resilience and leadership shaped by hands-on experience.
His journey didn’t follow the typical path to college. Raised by a single mother, Juan and his three siblings moved frequently before settling in Simsbury, Connecticut, when he was in fifth grade. From an early age, he worked on farms, cleaned stables, landscaped and removed snow to help support his family.
“These experiences instilled perseverance, self-determination and resilience,” he said.
Juan dreamed of attending college, becoming a commissioned officer and pursuing naval aviation. However, his high school workload and sports left little time for academics, and his GPA was too low for officer programs.
So, just one month after high school graduation, he joined the Navy as an enlisted sailor.
Recruiters introduced him to the Seaman to Admiral–21 (STA-21) Program, which enables enlisted sailors to earn a college degree and commission as officers, while on active duty. The program is highly competitive, with fewer than 100 selected each year, and only a handful are chosen for the pilot track toward naval aviation.
For Juan, earning acceptance into STA-21 became his primary goal. He worked in aviation maintenance, earning the rating of Aviation Maintenance Administrationman, while stationed on the USS George Washington and at the Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic. He took college courses, logged flight hours and built a competitive STA-21 application.
After two STA-21 rejections, he earned an associate degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, won numerous awards and secured recommendations.
His third application to STA-21, in October 2022, was successful.
Ƶ’s mechanical engineering program made the most sense, especially since he, his wife Frances — also a student at the time — and their two daughters had already made a second home in Hampton Roads.
“Ƶ was at the top of the list due to its proximity and strong engineering program,” he said.
Balancing full-time classes, full-time work and family was a challenge. Days began before 4 a.m. with Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps physical training, followed by classes, childcare and late-night studying.
“On average, my wife and I worked on assignments and studied between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.,” he said.
His Navy training helped him balance competing priorities.
“Managing a department and division of sailors equipped me with the tools to organize tasks, motivate others and remain accountable, both professionally and personally,” he said.
Juan credits Ƶ’s close-knit engineering community for both support and demanding instruction. His advisor, Kristin Eden, offered guidance and encouragement, while Ashish Tamhane, Ph.D., a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, challenged him to be at his best.
“Dr. Tamhane has a unique ability to read his students and present material in a way that is understandable, cumulative and challenging,” Juan said. “Although his teaching style was demanding and not always popular, it pushed me beyond my limits.”
When their third child was born, Frances and the children moved to New Jersey to be near family, while Juan finished his senior year. He commuted 12 hours each weekend to see them.
He graduated from Ƶ in Fall 2025 with a 3.78 GPA.
“I never imagined I would graduate with this kind of academic record,” he said. “It reinforced that past performance doesn’t define future potential.”
He will report to the Naval Aviation Training Command in Pensacola, Florida, to continue flight training as a commissioned officer. He plans to pursue a master’s degree, while advancing as a naval aviator, aiming to balance career growth with being a present husband and father.
“One lesson I truly put to the test at Ƶ was that there are no fixed limits on what someone can achieve,” he said. “With determination and perseverance, people are capable of far more than they often believe.”