\documentclass[letterpaper,12pt]{article}
\usepackage[top=1in,left=1.5in,right=1in,bottom=1in]{geometry}
\pdfpageheight=11in
\pdfpagewidth=8.5in
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage{tocloft}
% some special formatting
\renewcommand{\contentsname}{\normalsize{TABLE OF CONTENTS}}
\usepackage{etoolbox}
\patchcmd{\thebibliography}{\section*{\refname}}{}{}{}
\usepackage{titlesec}
% section formatting
\titleformat*{\section}{\centering\normalsize\bfseries}
\titleformat*{\subsection}{\raggedright\normalsize\bfseries}
\titleformat*{\subsubsection}{\raggedright\normalsize\bfseries}
\renewcommand{\cftsecleader}{\cftdotfill{\cftdotsep}}
\begin{document}
% Roman page numbers
\renewcommand{\thepage}{\roman{page}}
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/approval.tex}
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/title.tex}
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/dedication.tex}
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/acknowledgment.tex}
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/abstract.tex}
% table of contents
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/toc.tex}
% list of figures
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/lof.tex}
% list of tables
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/lot.tex}
% preface
\input{Dissertation/front_matter/preface.tex}
% start page numbers in arabic for body
\pagenumbering{arabic}
% main body -- maybe you want to include these in other folders
\normalfont
\section{Introduction}
\vspace{.25in}
\subsection{State of the Practice}
\begin{flushleft}
Put some introduction about your work here~\cite{benson}. \lipsum[2]
\end{flushleft}
\subsubsection{Topic A}
\begin{flushleft}
Write about Topic A.
\end{flushleft}
\clearpage
\section{Conclusion}
\vspace{.25in}
\subsection{Lessons Learned}
\begin{flushleft}
\lipsum[3]
\end{flushleft}
\clearpage
\section{Appendices}
\vspace{.25in}
\subsection{Appendix A}
\begin{flushleft}
\lipsum[4]
\end{flushleft}
\clearpage
% references
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{References}
\section*{References}
\vspace{.15in}
\bibliographystyle{plain}
\bibliography{references}
\clearpage
\end{document}
