WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today announced his nominations to the U.S. service academies, consisting of 30 individuals from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and offered the following statement:

"A very rewarding aspect of being a United States Senator is the opportunity to nominate young men and women from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky to attend our nation's prestigious service academies. I commend each of these students for their dedication to the United States military, and wish them the best through the remainder of the selection process. I know the students chosen will proudly represent the state of Kentucky in the service academies" Sen. Paul said.

Early last year, the following members of Sen. Paul's Academy Nomination Advisory Board were appointed to assist in selecting the U.S. service academy nominees for 2012: retired Army Cols. Michael Colegrove and Bobby Freeman, retired Adjutant General of the Kentucky National Guard, Maj. Gen. Donald Storm, retired Marine Corps Col. Ron Ray, Army and Air Force Veteran Charley Costello, Air Force Veteran Dave Goldberg and Navy Blue and Gold Officer Dave Jarrett.

Sen. Paul nominated the following individuals to the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:

United States Military Academy

• Michaela Crutcher, Vine Grove
• Joel Estes, Ekron
• Christian Nguyen, Frankfort
• Jordan White, Owensboro
• Carl Agner, Florence
• Jonathan Litzinger, Germantown
• Caleb Moore, Elizabethtown
• Kenneth Padgett, Lakeside Park
• Cole Garriott, Villa Hills
• Catherin Claywell, Murray

United States Air Force Academy

• Michael Kelly, Fort Thomas
• Robert Olesen, Lexington
• Patrick Assed, Louisville
• Brendan Dooley, Hebron
• Cole Garriott, Villa Hills
• Carl Agner, Florence
• Ian Wilson, Kevil
• Ryan Keller, Alvaton
• Trevor Lively, Crestwood
• Bryon Thompson, Bonnieville

United States Naval Academy

• Cole Garriott, Villa Hills
• Kenneth Padgett, Lakeside Park
• Alexander Yson, Prospect
• Christopher Naber, Louisville
• Douglas Rush, Lexington
• Benjamin Sykes, Louisville
• Zachary Haacke, Florence
• Kelsey Pendleton, Burlington
• Nathaniel Bond, Louisville
• Robert Rainer, Rineyville

United States Merchant Marine Academy

• Michael Kelly, Fort Thomas
• John Stader, Pewee Valley
• Jonathan Litzinger, Germantown
• Trevor Lively, Crestwood
• Quincy Page, Walton
• Benjamin Sykes, Louisville
• Kelsey Pendleton, Burlington
• Brendan Dooley, Hebron
• Johnathan Caudill, Owenton
• Nathaniel Sudkamp, Frankfort

###