WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadet Garret Longstaff of Ocean City, Class of 2025, has been announced a Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
West Point has earned 15 Goldwater Scholarships since competing in 2018.
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics in the United States, seeks to identify and support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields.
Longstaff is a chemical engineering major from Ocean City. He is an active member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the Parachute Team. Longstaff is passionate about pioneering high-functioning nanomaterials poised to revolutionize medical and energy storage technologies.
Guided by a profound interest in material science and bioengineering, he conducts research under the mentorship of Col. F. John Burpo, within West Point’s Department of Chemistry and Life Science, and Col. Kit Parker at Harvard University. He hopes to create life-saving medical devices and enhance the efficiency of sensory mechanisms and energy storage solutions. With a steadfast commitment to advancing the boundaries of scientific exploration, he envisions a future where his contributions will redefine the standards of healthcare and sustainable energy practices. Longstaff aims to pursue a doctorate of medicine and of philosophy in bioengineering and ultimately become an aeromedical evacuations officer in the U.S. Army.
“This opportunity will allow me to continue exploring the unknown and connect with mentors and peers of similar scientific interests,” Longstaff said. “Being a part of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation will enhance my preparation to become a research professional and an Army officer.”
About West Point
The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal service academy located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America’s first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and nation. For information, go to www.westpoint.edu.