Photo By Capt. Gary Grantham | Former Army Reserve NCO of the Year, Captain Carlo Deldonno, completed his doctorate...... read more read more
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NORFOLK, Va. — Former Army Reserve 1st Lt. Carlo Deldonno, once named the Army Reserve’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, celebrated two major milestones this week: earning his doctorate in medicine and being promoted to captain in the U.S. Army’s active component.
Deldonno, who enlisted in 2015 and won the NCO of the Year title in 2017 while serving with the 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support), was pinned by his mother and girlfriend during a joint-service commissioning ceremony at Old Dominion University’s Virginia Health Sciences Campus on May 15. The event included graduates from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
His transition from the Reserve to active duty marks a new chapter in a career defined by perseverance. Deldonno credited the Army Reserve for providing leadership training, structure and financial support through programs like the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which helped fund his medical education.
"The Reserve gave me the discipline to balance military service and medical school while strengthening my leadership skills," Deldonno said. "The experience I gained as an Army Reserve Soldier and NCO made my medical school application stand out — it showed I could handle pressure, mentor others and adapt to challenges."
Dr. Ronald W. Flenner, the keynote speaker, praised the graduates’ dedication. "These young officers embody what it means to serve this (medical) field," Flenner said. "Sacrifice and commitment to something greater than yourself is a hallmark of being a doctor or a physician assistant."
Deldonno will begin his active-duty service as a resident at Walter Reed and bring his expertise and leadership to the Army’s healthcare system. His story, he said, is a testament to the opportunities that the Army Reserve can provide- for anyone willing to put in the work.
"It can all be pretty challenging, like airborne and air assault, but the Army taught me that it’s all achievable to anyone willing to accept the challenge.”
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2025 08:46 |
| Story ID: | 498756 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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