Staff Sergeant TJ Lobraico, Jr. Award in Homeland Security Graduate Studies
Sergeant TJ Lobraico, Jr.
About the Award
This award, named in honor of Western Connecticut State University student TJ Lobraico, Jr., in 2024, is given to the graduating student who has maintained the highest academic standing in the Master’s degree program in Homeland Security and meets the qualities of integrity and public service epitomized by SSgt. Lobraico.TJ, a 2008 New Fairfield High School graduate, attended Western Connecticut State University as a JLA major and aspired to continue his public service as a police officer. As an airman, TJ followed the family legacy of military service that began with his grandparents and continued with his parents, Todd and Linda.
SSgt. TJ Lobraico, Jr, USAF, was killed in action in September 2013 while serving active duty in Afghanistan with the United States Air Force. During a night foot patrol, TJ interrupted an enemy IED team and prevented an ambush that would have cost American service member lives. In the ensuing firefight between enemy forces, TJ was killed in action by small arms fire. He became the first killed-in-action casualty from Stewart Air Base since the Vietnam War.
List of Award Winners:
Cohort 1 winner: Lisa Palazzi
Lisa Palazzi was part of the first cohort of the Homeland Security Master’s program at WCSU from 2022 to 2024. A native of New Jersey, Lisa lives in Metro Atlanta, Georgia, where she works as a firefighter-EMT. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Pace University while balancing her time as a volunteer firefighter and a full-time job at a dog training facility specializing in behavioral training. After graduating, Lisa launched her career in contract firefighting, which took her to locations as remote as Antarctica. During her time at WCSU, she continued to advance her firefighting expertise, earning six additional certifications in various specialties in 2023. When she’s not pursuing academic excellence, Lisa enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with friends, but she is often distracted by any animal that crosses her path.”
Cohort 2 winner: Mike Westcott
Mike Westcott is a dedicated law enforcement professional and recipient of the JLA Graduate Student Prize, the Staff Sergeant TJ Lobraico, Jr. Award. A proud member of Cohort II, he graduated in 2025. Mike began his career with the Connecticut State Police in 2018, first serving as a state trooper and now as a Detective. He is currently assigned to the Bureau of Special Investigations and serves as an ATF Task Force Officer, where he works alongside federal, state, and local agencies to combat illegal firearms trafficking, manufacturing, and violent crime. His expertise includes case analysis, undercover operations, and executing high-risk search and arrest warrants.
Before becoming a detective, Mike began his law enforcement career as a Patrol Trooper at Troop G in Bridgeport, where he handled both short- and long-term investigations, ensuring public safety and supporting his community.
Mike’s leadership extends beyond law enforcement. As a former Infantry Assaultman and Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps, he served as a Sergeant overseeing eight posts and 16 Marines at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, during 2014 and 2015. His primary responsibility was safeguarding embassy personnel as ISIS advanced through Iraq. He also trained alongside the Jordanian military, enhancing diplomatic relations and operational readiness before deploying to Iraq. In 2013, Mike was deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan, where he gained extensive combat experience in a high-intensity environment.
Beyond his tactical and investigative background, Mike also has experience in business development, where he assessed corporate risks and vulnerabilities to provide strategic solutions. Rising from an intern to an associate, he gained valuable insight into risk assessment and operational efficiency.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Manhattan College and is a graduate of the Connecticut State Police Training Academy. His unwavering commitment to public service is driven by his personal motto: “Leave it better than you found it.”