Air Force pilot holds his own solo graduation ceremony during first-ever campus visit

Air Force Capt. Justin Medlen stood proudly on the field at Williams Stadium, the celebratory melody of “Pomp and Circumstance” filling his ears, warming his heart, and touching his spirit with a sense of accomplishment. He had been through five combat deployments while working toward his degree through Liberty University Online Programs and now the hard work had paid off and he was the proud recipient of a Master of Arts in Worship Studies – Worship Techniques.

“I was elated when I received word on March 14 that I’d gotten my degree, but within about an hour, I was heartbroken when I learned that the Department of Defense (DoD) had stopped travel and leave until the Monday after Commencement (as originally scheduled in May),” Medlen said. “I knew that unless that was lifted, I would be unable to attend.”

But thanks to a bit of providence, Medlen was able to make his first visit to Liberty’s campus on March 22 en route from Colorado to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.

“I was able to adjust my course between leaving training in Colorado and my new training in New Jersey. I got to stop by and at least see the facilities and do a prayer walk through Liberty’s campus.”

(Liberty announced on March 31 that Commencement has been postponed to Sept. 11-12.)

It was during his detour that Medlen held the brief, solo graduation ceremony, standing where Liberty’s graduates would stand and hearing the time-honored theme that would usher them into the world of being proud LU alumni.

“It’s silly,” he said, “but, I went to the field and played Pomp and Circumstance on my iPhone.”

Medlen feels blessed to have received his master’s degree online with Liberty.

“I’m very grateful to have had that outlet of Christian support and fellowship through the class discussion boards over the course of three years, always pointing me back to the learning and getting in the Word,” he said. “I am also so grateful to the online engagement team for putting the Convocations online. Every time the Worship Collective or Sounds of Liberty led us in worship, I was blessed.”

Much of the master’s program involved building a theological basis but it still required interaction and, as a worship techniques student, Medlen sometimes had to be resourceful to complete his classwork while on active duty.

“My choral conducting course was hilarious,” he said. “I was in Las Vegas involved in a military exercise but I was able to find a local college and sit in to conduct during their choral rehearsals. I also did music conducting of YouTube videos, recorded myself conducting, and submitted those online.”

He said that a portion of his degree was aimed at getting students involved with the leadership of their local church. However, he was not home much of the time.

“I was deployed at the time, but I was able to lead worship in a church in the desert for five months to put into practice what they were teaching in class.”

As a pilot who has flown over 180 combat missions, Captain Medlen celebrated a milestone in his military aviation career, hitting his 1,000th combat hour in the air by flying a mission in honor of his alma mater.

“The flag that I flew during that mission was for Liberty and the School of Music,” he said. “The tradition is that we send the flag back to our supporters as a show of great respect.”

He sent the flag and a certificate marking the occasion to Dr. Rodney Whaley, assistant professor and instructional mentor at the Center for Music & Worship.

“Capt. Medlen has virtually always been deployed while taking his coursework,” Whaley said. “However, his work has always been flawless and he had unusual insight into Scripture and worship principles. He is just one of those guys who rises to the top, and I am sure the same can be said of his military career.”

Military service is nothing new to the Medlen family. Since the Revolutionary War, at least one member from every generation has served in the armed forces.

Medlen is currently training to be an Air Force Air Mobility Liaison Officer to an Army Special Forces and 2^nd Infantry unit, and upon completion of that program this summer he will then be serving in Korea.

However, Medlen says he may get the chance to visit his alma mater again.

“I’m coming back to the U.S. for a six-week training course and that first week of the class lines up with the new Sept. 11 date for graduation. So, there is a possibility I will be able to attend!”

Medlen treasured his experience as an online student and believes the School of Music faculty have left a lifelong impression.

“I am thankful for the fellowship and the wonderful leadership they’ve provided to thousands of students and for the joy of music and worship that they left in so many hearts.”