In the video, ���ϲ����� Vice Chancellor , who is also the executive director and founder of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, speaks about the GI Bill’s origins and the University’s role in its inception. He also discusses the importance of other universities welcoming veterans, highlighting the positive impact they have on campuses.

If you’d like to schedule an interview with him, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at .

McConville writes: “Frequent military moves often place financial hardships on service members (SM) and their families. For a spouse like me, 23 moves over my SM’s 42-year Army career, caused many challenging pivots in my own career. The new policy authorizing reimbursement of moving costs – up to $1,000 – associated with a spouse’s business is crucial in helping mitigate those financial hardships, in encouraging career sustainment and growth, and in enhancing SM retention.” Also, please view her .

Maury writes: “The new policy reimbursing military spouses up to $1,000 for business costs during moves addresses significant challenges highlighted in our latest data brief on . Our research shows that 46% of military spouses feel their status negatively affects their career prospects, driving many toward entrepreneurship. Despite 74% of military spouse entrepreneurs reporting that entrepreneurship positively impacts their professional lives, only 28% can fully support themselves or their families through their businesses. This reimbursement provides essential financial relief, supporting their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, and helping them sustain and grow their ventures.”

Now two years later, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs professors Tetiana Hranchak and Robert Murrett, along with IVMF staff member Linh Nguyen G’21, offer their reflections on the lessons learned and the road ahead. Access their videos below.

Tetiana Hranchak is a visiting assistant teaching professor, supported by ���ϲ�����’s participation in the Scholars at Risk Network. She shares her thoughts on the two-year anniversary of the war in her homeland. Having fled her country when the invasion commenced, she offers a unique perspective on the ongoing conflict. Learn more about her.

Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Robert Murrett discusses how the military and defensive landscape of both Russia and Ukraine has developed over these last two years, along with what it’ll take for this war to come to an end. Murrett is a professor of practice and serves as the deputy director of ���ϲ�����’s Institute for Security Policy and Law. .

If you are with the media and would like to schedule an interview with either of these faculty/staff members, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Robert Murrett

Murrett writes: “The lethal attack yesterday by Kataib Hezbollah on the Syria/Jordan border, which killed three Americans and wounded more than 30 others, is the latest in a series of mounting attacks by Iranian proxy forces throughout the region.��The White House has made it clear that there will be retaliation for the attack, and it is likely that response options are already available to the President for execution at any time.

The larger issue here is a policy of strong deterrence without causing escalation.��We continue to witness a wide range and increasing number of Iranian-backed attacks in the Red Sea, from Lebanon, in Syria, Iraq, and the Gulf of Aden.��Difficult choices will be required in the days and weeks ahead as military operations continue a policy of strong deterrence without seeking widespread escalation that could harm our interests and those of our allies.��While a retaliatory attack against proxy groups such as Kataib Hezbollah would not necessarily constitute a major inflection point, a decision to strike actual Iranian target(s) could do so.”

More than one in seven veterans discharged between 2002 and 2013 received a less than “Honorable” discharge, according to new research out of ���ϲ�����. The “” research brief describes how service members with behavioral or mental health challenges, ethnoracial minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, and women are at the greatest risk for receiving a less than “Honorable” discharge—which, in turn, has veterans experiencing lifelong negative consequences associated with their discharge status

Mariah Brennan and Emily Graham, the authors of this brief, said, “It is critical that we raise awareness surrounding the challenges that veterans face when they leave military service with a discharge that is less than ‘Honorable’. Transitioning from service can be challenging enough, but the added consequences associated with less than ‘Honorable’ discharges are severe, lifelong, and put this group of veterans at greater risk for poor health outcomes and homelessness. It’s important that resources and support upon separation are available to those in greatest need.”

If you’d like to learn more about this research and/or schedule an interview with the authors, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

The hearing will begin at noon for the case of U.S. v. U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (E-6) Daniel D. Herman. The case concerns an Army soldier who was convicted of wrongfully broadcasting intimate visual images and making a false official statement. Representing the appellant will be Major Mitchell Herniak and Jonathan Potter. Representing the government will be Captain Stu Miller and Major Chase Cleveland. The court commissioners are Captain Andrew O’Grady and Captain Alex Vanscoy.

The three-judge panel will consist of Appellate Military Senior Judge Colonel Elizabeth Walker, Associate Judge Colonel Tim Hayes and Associate Judge Colonel LaJohnne Morris. The oral arguments are open to all.

Herman was tried at Fort Hood, Texas, before a general court martial appointed by Commander, III Corps and Fort Hood, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Z. Hughes, presiding. On May 14, 2022, a military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted Herman (the appellant), contrary to his pleas, of six specifications of wrongful broadcast of intimate visual images and one specification of false official statement in violation of Articles 117a and 107, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 917a and 907 [UCMJ]. The military judge sentenced Herman to reduction to the grade of E-1, confinement for 13 months and a bad conduct discharge. On May 23, 2022, the convening authority approved the findings and sentence as adjudged. On June 13, 2022, the military judge entered judgment.

Arguments will be heard on the following issue: “Whether the military judge erred by denying appellant’s motion to suppress statements and derivative evidence.”

Professor who arranged the court’s visit says, “this hearing should appeal to a number of students at ���ϲ����� Law. The proceedings may be rooted in military law, but the matters the court will discuss include issues pertinent to all law school students—constitutional rights, the privilege against self-incrimination, custodial interrogation and even policy considerations.”

More information about the case can be found on the .��Following the hearing, there will be a Q&A session with the judges, as well as a reception with judges and representatives of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps from Fort Drum in the Levy Atrium.

Corrado (left) and Marciano

As part of this effort, the Air Force Work Project, a Technology Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, has contracted with , a company specializing in health care innovation, to explore the use case of early evidence—or self-collection—sexual assault kits. The ��are a resource that allow survivors of sexual assault to collect their own evidence in private after a rape or sexual assault.

Through that collaboration, Leda has partnered with the�� in the College of Arts and Sciences, who is providing forensic expertise and subject matter insight as Leda looks to scale up the distribution of their test kits.

Co-investigators from the Forensic Science Institute include Executive Director ��and Research Associate Professor��. They bring to the project extensive experience and knowledge of sexual assault kit processing and are well versed in the latest technologies that are being used in the field. Both Corrado and Marciano have also served on the National Institute of Science and Technology’s Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee, which develops forensic science standards including those related to collection of biological evidence and forensic DNA analysis.

“Mike and I have contacts within the field, both on the scientific side and on the military side, that we are bringing into this project,” says Corrado. “It’s great to be able to combine our experience in the sexual assault forensic evidence realm as well as in the national security realm in a way that contributes to public good and honors the University’s longstanding commitment to active members of the military and veterans.”

Marciano and Corrado are specifically assisting Leda with gap analysis assessment. They will offer expertise about collection processes, chain of custody, documentation and legal issues that need to be considered when using early evidence kits. While currently wrapping up phase one of the project, which explores the feasibility of the self-collection test kits, Leda hopes to soon advance to phase two, which would involve a deeper dive into use cases of the kits and the potential impact they could have across different branches of the military.

“Sexual assault within the military is an increasing issue, with reported assaults increasing year after year, however the rates of prosecution have decreased nearly half with one of the reasons being a lack of sufficient evidence,” says Madison Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Leda. “Having our kits available to members of the military could provide survivors with different options. We’re thrilled to partner with ���ϲ�����’s Forensic Science Institute on this collaboration that will drive advancements in healthcare and forensic science.”

Bernard Rostker G’66, G’70 (right) speaks in the K.G. Tan Auditorium during “The All Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit at the National Veterans Resource Center.

Applications for the 2023 Bernard D. and Louis C. Rostker IVMF Dissertation Research Fund are open through May 26. Doctoral candidates at ���ϲ����� who are doing dissertation research pertaining to veterans, or military family-related topics, are encouraged to apply. The fund is open to Ph.D. candidates from all schools and colleges and can be used for travel expenses, software, equipment and conferences, as well as fieldwork and data gathering.

Last year, five students received a total of $50,000 in funding through the Rostker Fund. Their doctoral research ranged in topic from women veteran’s health and employment to understanding how prior military experience impacts law enforcement officers who are veterans.

One of the 2022 Rostker Scholars, Mariah Brennan, works at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) in the research and evaluation division. Her research contributed to the most recent Military Families Lifetime Survey (MFLS), a bi-annual research publication that focuses on the current hardships and situations military families face.

Brennan

“As a student, I have received incredible support from the IVMF including mentorship, valuable research experience and generous funding from the Rostker Dissertation Fellowship. Working with colleagues on the annual MFLS has been such a positive experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to hone my research skills by working on impactful military and veteran research,” says Brennan, who worked extensively with Blue Star Families, one of the IVMF’s partners in delivering insightful research and data analysis on topics pertaining to veterans and their families.

“Each year is different, keeping things fresh and exciting. The MFLS is an opportunity to inform policy and practice, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I look forward to continuing my worked with the IVMF and making progress on my dissertation,” she says.

The funding for the program is provided entirely through the generosity of Bernard Rostker G’66, G’70 and his wife, Louise Rostker G’68, both of whom pursued their advanced degrees at ���ϲ����� amidst myriad setbacks as military-connected students. Bernard earned a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in economics, while Louise earned a master’s degree in social work.

Bernard, a U.S. Army Veteran, was recently honored by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at the second annual Maxwell Awards of Excellence in Washington, D.C., where he was presented the Spirit of Public Service Award. Earlier in the month, he was a guest speaker during “The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit.

Linsner

During the summit, the 2022 Rostker Scholars had the opportunity to present their work to the Rostkers and show the impact of their research so far. Rachel Linsner, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, spoke about her dissertation examining the relationships between military spouse employment status, attitudes toward the military, individual well-being and family functioning.

“I am very grateful to the Rostkers and I am making progress on my dissertation because of their generosity and this program,” says Linsner. “The scholars had the opportunity to meet with the Rostkers and present our work to them. It was a delight to hear their feedback and learn from their expertise.”

���ϲ����� Ph.D. candidates interested in applying must , including one reference letter, by midnight (EST) on May 26, 2023. Applicants can anticipate receiving notification later in the year at the end of August. Potential applicants who have questions may contact ivmresearch@syr.edu.

, is an assistant teaching professor at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. He teaches courses in human sexuality, cultural diversity, and relationship therapy with LGBTQ clients. . He writes:
“Mental health is a conversation that we all should be having; this month gives us a moment to reflect on those around us who may need additional support. For example, the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of mental health needs. This is driven from the compounded impact of minority stress, or external discrimination which leads to psychological distress. This year a record number of anti-lgbt bills (417) have been introduced across the nation. This disheartening statistic highlights the overt discrimination and resulting fear for many. As the need for support increases, therapists should increase their accessibility to this community through LGBTQ-affirming therapy, offering support and validation of their lived experiences.”

, is an associate teaching professor of social work at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a mental health therapist, family advocacy officer in charge, and as manager of the alcohol and drug prevention and treatment program. . He writes:
“As we enter May, we are reminded that this month is not only Mental Health Awareness Month but also National Military Appreciation Month. These two themes are connected, as the military community faces unique challenges that can have an impact on their mental health. In addition, the month of May provides us with the opportunity to observe Military Spouse Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. Throughout the month of May and every day, our military service members, veterans, and their families deserve our support. Prioritizing the mental health of our military communities strengthens the overall public health and well-being of our nation.

Military members and their families face a range of unique challenges that differ from civilian society, such as deployments, exposure to certain traumatic events, extended periods of separation from loved ones, and more. It’s important to recognize that these challenges are not just at the individual level but rooted in the culture of military life. To support the mental health and well-being of our military populations, we must advocate for specific resources and funding initiatives. This includes increased funding for mental health services, improved mental health screening and assessment, training for qualified mental health professionals, and continued support for military families.

According to the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, “In 2020, there were 6,146 Veteran suicides. This was on average 16.8 per day. In 2020, there were 343 fewer Veteran suicides than in 2019, and the number of Veteran suicides was lower than each prior year since 2006.” The military and veteran communities have certainly made strides in recent years, but there is always more work to be done. Civilians play a critical role as well. By educating themselves on military culture and mental health, advocating for resources, and actively listening, civilians can make a difference in the lives of those who serve our country. Significant change can and does occur at the community level. Veterans and military families are highly active in our local communities across the nation and strengthen our social fabric. Having the right services in place at the community level, such as job trainings, access to quality education, parent support programs, and mental health services, allows our military communities to thrive and not just survive.

Veterans looking for help can find information on their local facility’s website or call the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to connect.”

, an assistant teaching professor at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College, studies veterinary social work and currently teaches classes in the online master of social work degree program. . She recently wrote about the burnout and mental health challenges veterinarians experience, sadly with many leading to suicide. She writes:
“A common assumption about the day-to-day experience of veterinary professionals is that they play with animals all day. While this assumption has elements of truth, it’s not the full picture of what happens on a daily basis behind closed doors. Veterinary teams are challenged with routine care of small and large animals to challenging cases, terminal diagnoses, and euthanasias. From working with pets to production animals, veterinary professionals often experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Unsurprisingly, there are many challenges facing the veterinary community causing a workforce shortage from individuals leaving the field due to burnout or financial reasons, retirement, and sadly death by suicide.” Read her full commentary here.

Sebastian Junger poses with military-connected students from the Military Visual Journalism program at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Among some of the most prolific writers of the last century, a handful experienced the hardship of telling the stories of war. John Steinbeck, Martha Gellhorn, Jack London and Ernest Hemingway; all covered the harrowing and dangerous world that exists on the front lines of combat. Award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist and author Sebastian Junger covered the dangerous frontier environment of Afghanistan’s civil war before the arrival of U.S. forces in late 2001 and embedded with U.S. forces in some of the most remote locations in the war-torn nation afterward.

Junger was recently on campus to serve as the guest speaker for the opening reception of “The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit at the National Veterans Resource Center. Prior to the speaking engagement that evening, Junger spent time with the military-connected community on campus during a private event at the .

Junger speaks to a full room inside Newhouse 3 during a presentation for the Military Visual Journalism students at Newhouse.

One of the key groups within the audience was students from . The 10-month course is restricted to Department of Defense (DoD) mid-career communications professionals who, typically, are among the top performers among their peers. The program’s application is considered highly competitive due to the program’s prestigious history of producing award-winning storytellers within the Department of Defense, and it is not uncommon for the MVJ class to have a few students who, like Junger, have experienced telling the stories from the frontlines of conflict zones.

“The MVJ program takes some of the Department of Defense’s best and brightest communicators and puts them through two intense semesters that build upon their storytelling abilities and hones them into highly effective communicators. When they leave here, they are turning around and using those skills and lessons in a real-world environment that most of us will never experience,” said Nancy Austin, the deputy director of the Military Visual Journalism Program at Newhouse. “They typically receive instruction from professors who have amassed extraordinary experience in the civilian world, so it’s not often they get to learn from those who have done the job from a war zone while they are here.”

Junger reflected on how he hadn’t initially set out to become a war correspondent, his intent had been to simply write about dangerous jobs and the people who did them. His first book, “The Perfect Storm,” was about the tragic loss of a fishing crew from New England, which was later turned into a Hollywood movie with the same name. He would later make his way to Afghanistan to report on the Civil War that ravaged the nation after the 1989 Soviet Union withdrawal. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Junger began to shift his focus to the arrival of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Junger speaks with a military-connected student after his presentation with Military Visual Journalism students at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

“A lot of militaries in the world, they don’t want journalists near anything they’re doing, they’re completely suppressive with their information. The fact that the U.S. military is mandated to have journalists with them, both military and civilian, is one of the things that makes this democratic country extraordinary,” says Junger.

With some members of the audience having previously experienced combat, Junger touched on some of the hardships that come with reporting on traumatic events in war-torn environments. While the memories of explosions and shootouts fade over the years, according to Junger, the memories of those negatively impacted by the atrocities never lose their grasp.

“What I’ve found is this: I’ve been in danger many times, and those experiences were temporarily upsetting. My reaction to them dissipated over time, but what never dissipated was the trauma of seeing the harm done to others,” Junger says. “There’s something about the human capacity for compassion and empathy, it’s devastating. That stuff has to be covered, but the people who are doing that important work will be traumatized for the rest of their lives.”

Being a war correspondent has obvious risks, the DoD has lost more than 130 communications professionals since World War I. In fact, the first woman Marine Corps officer to be killed in action in Iraq was a public affairs officer, Major Megan McClung, in 2006. The military’s combat correspondents, public affairs officers, photojournalists and combat photographers embed with front-line units to inform combat commanders, as well as the American public, with first-hand accounts of the military’s operations.

Gregory Heisler, a Distinguished Professor of Photography at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, take a portrait of Junger after a presentation for Newhouse’s Military Visual Journalism students.

Civilian correspondents and journalists on the front lines are not immune from the harm and danger, either. Aside from Junger’s own personal experiences, he spoke briefly about losing fellow photojournalist, and friend, Tim Hetherington. Hetherington co-directed the award-winning documentary “Restrepo,” with Junger, and was later killed in 2011 while covering the Libyan civil war. In 2013, Junger directed the memorial documentary “Which Way is the Front Line From Here? The Life and Death of Tim Hetherington,” to tell the story of a man who lost his life telling stories of, and for, other people.

Newhouse has trained the military’s top communications professionals for almost six decades now. The U.S. Navy, recognizing the need for additional training for their storytellers, established the program in 1963 and the other branches of the military were quick to take advantage of the educational opportunity. Over the years the program has evolved to include specializations in different communications disciplines. A motion media track was added in 1993. Adapting to the changing technology and capabilities with communication today, the school offers a track in graphic design as well as the photojournalism and broadcast journalism track.

For more information on the Military Visual Journalism program, and ���ϲ�����’s historic commitment to service members, veterans, and their families, please visit the .

Emily Weaver ’24

According to the Department of Defense, interest in military service is on the decline among the nation’s youth, especially those who are qualified for military service. Only 9% indicated they would likely serve in the military; such a low percentage hasn’t been experienced since the months leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.

Emily Weaver ’24, a cadet with the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at ���ϲ�����, is among one-quarter of young adults who are interested in serving and have at least one parent who has served as well. Weaver grew up in Western New York, in Mount Morris, where she and her older brother watched their father depart for multiple deployments.

“My experience growing up was a little bit different from those that I went to school with,” says Weaver, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences where she is pursuing a triple major in earth science, forensic science and anthropology. “I grew up in a military family, my dad served in the U.S. Navy for 34 years and retired as a commander, but he was constantly deployed. My brother and I just understood from a young age that being in the military comes with sacrifice and a difficult lifestyle.”

Having grown up a couple hours from campus, Weaver was aware of ���ϲ����� prior to enrolling. The proximity to home wasn’t her primary reason for coming here though—she says it was the academic variety and the school’s military initiatives that were most compelling.

“When I was looking at college choices, I wanted someplace that was military friendly because I wanted to do ROTC, but I also wanted to go to a school that had the academic variety where I could study the disciplines I was interested in,” says Weaver.

Weaver is currently the deputy group commander for the University’s Air Force ROTC, making her the second-in-command among the cadets at Detachment 535. Next academic year she’ll step up and become ���ϲ�����’s highest ranking Air Force ROTC cadet. She has been selected to become the next group commander for the ROTC program. If the responsibilities of leadership and the academic demands of a triple-major were not enough to juggle with her schedule, Weaver is also pursuing a private pilot’s license and, to date, has almost 100 hours logged already.

Additionally, she has volunteered her time with ���ϲ����� CHAARG (Changing Healthy Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls), an organization whose mission is to inspire college students, particularly women, to pursue a healthy and active way of life.

“It’s a woman-based workout club basically. It helps provide insight to women on the different type of exercise you can do and empower them to feel comfortable going to the gym, and just having better well-being overall,” says Weaver. Part of the reason she gives her time in helping other women, she says, is because of the impact other women have had on her during her time at ���ϲ�����.

“Whether it’s the female cadre at the detachment, friends or even fellow cadets in ROTC, they’re some of the most intelligent, hard-working and driven women that I know,” Weaver says.

Looking ahead at military service, Weaver says she wants to pursue a career in military aviation. There are several spots she can apply for, but becoming a pilot in the Air Force can be extremely challenging. Being selected for an aviation program, whether it be as a pilot, remotely-piloted aircraft pilot or combat systems officer, would put Weaver on a unique path that many others, including her peers, are actively seeking.

“We just put in our packages, and hopefully by the end of this semester or the beginning of summer, we’ll find out the results from that. Ultimately, pilot would be my first choice, but I’ll gladly serve in any capacity that they tell me to,” Weaver says.

Weaver is quick to acknowledge that military service comes with distinct challenges many of her fellow classmates may not find appealing, but her experiences have been more of an influence to serve, rather than a deterrence.

“You’re always on call with the military, and even though you might not wear a uniform all the time, you’re always still ‘in uniform’ in a way,” says Weaver. “There’s also a higher sense of discipline that comes with being in the military and being in a military family. At the end of the day, the primary reason I’m choosing the military though is because I’ll be working with a very team-oriented group of people who are all there for the same overarching mission: to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and protect the citizens of this country. It’s a tough job, and it comes with a lot of sacrifice. It’s not for everyone but that’s why those that do it understand the sacrifice and the risk that come with it.”

With both sectors preparing for significant recruitment and enrollment challenges, ���ϲ����� and the University of Tennessee co-hosted a first-of-its-kind, two-day summit to explore how higher education and the federal government could partner up to better support our nation’s service members.

Chancellor Kent Syverud

Held during the 50th anniversary of the end of the military draft and the birth of America’s all-volunteer force, “The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit saw more than two dozen university chancellors and presidents from across the country meet with senior government officials in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address some of the most pressing challenges facing veterans and the long-term sustainability of an all-volunteer armed services.

“We can work together for the common good, and that’s special. We need to create clear pathways to opportunities for enlisted persons, and we need to tell their stories if we expect our enlisted service system to continue working. The pathways need to include much less siloed cooperation, moving back and forth between jobs, academia and the military to create those pathways,” told the summit attendees during his closing remarks.

More than two dozen university chancellors and presidents from across the country met with senior government officials in the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to address some of the most pressing challenges facing veterans and the long-term sustainability of an all-volunteer armed services.

Seven Key Takeaways

Kori Schake, senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy with the American Enterprise Institute, moderated the panel discussion “Where Do We Go From Here?” and summarized the key takeaways as the following:

• Understanding the difference between being veteran friendly (think social media posts touting the benefits of attending a university) and veteran ready (providing the resources, support and access to education that sets members of the military-connected community up for success).
• Improving higher education’s access to the DoD, including nearby military bases.
• Understanding how to navigate DoD bureaucracy, including communicating with military-connected individuals to ensure they understand the process and costs of earning a degree.
• Establishing VA pilot programs to see what’s working for veterans, and what support they need to succeed.
• Creating community for all veterans on campus.
• Reimagining education, military service and work as an ecosystem of exchange, including what the lifecycle in that ecosystem looks like for service members.
• Conveying student veteran best practices to the DoD and VA.

J. Michael Haynie

“How can we think differently about our relationship, and maybe explore opportunities to collaborate and partner moving forward? One of the drivers of volunteerism for military service today is service as a pathway to education. How can we make access to higher education easier, more accessible, more affordable, and by doing so, create more of a push to national service?” said , founder and executive director of the (IVMF).

An Obligation to Make Sure Veterans Reach Their Full Potential

Summit participants agreed that changes need to come, and soon, including altering the narrative around veterans who serve. Matt Amidon, senior advisor with the George W. Bush Institute, said young people view veterans as either heroes who deserve to be lauded or victims to feel sorry for, thanks to their depiction in films and television shows, instead of valued community members who just want to focus on their goals as civilians once they transition out of active duty.

Also, instead of viewing veterans as outsiders in society, University of Montana President Seth Bodnar, a U.S. Army veteran, pointed to the use of compelling storytelling to help spotlight how military-connected students can enhance a college campus.

“Let’s not ‘otherize’ our veterans by acting like they’re not part of our society. I get that military service is so concentrated, but our veterans are not a separate part of our society; they are an integral part, and we have an obligation to make sure every member of our veteran community can reach their unique, full potential,” Bodnar said during the panel, “Competition vs. Collaboration: Common Challenges Make Us Better Together.”

A different mentality is needed too, when it comes to recruiting the next class of veterans to higher education.

“Instead of competing, maybe we can think about innovative ways to collaborate and to partner to the betterment of both institutions,” said Haynie.

Eliminating Barriers to Higher Education

Each year, more than 200,000 military members make the transition from active duty to civilian life, with 74% of that population pursuing a higher education degree once their service has ended.

But only 60% of veterans take advantage of their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, while 19% of veterans won’t use their benefits because they think it’s too difficult to navigate through higher education or they don’t have enough knowledge about their benefits.

“How can everyone who has served and earned that right, which they’re entitled to, take advantage of their benefits? This is part of paying and rewarding those who made the sacrifice with their hard-earned benefits,” said Joseph Garcia, executive director of education service in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ashish S. Vazirani, the Department of Defense’s deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, delivered the keynote address at the summit.

There are currently 2.3 million active and reserve service members in the U.S., and 75% of enlistees come from military legacy families, meaning their decision to serve was inspired by someone they know who had a history of service, said Ashish S. Vazirani, the DoD’s deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness who delivered the keynote address.

“Younger Americans are not exposed to the unique and compelling stories of service and the pathways to education offered by service. The military embraces most of the values these young people seek in life and in a career,” Vazirani said.

“We’re Going to Work Forward, Together”

As the summit drew to a close, there was a sense of optimism that the core principles addressed during the two-day gathering would lead to momentum and sustained change moving forward.

“I’ve been to ���ϲ����� three times before [to discuss this topic] and up until this visit, the conversation was always linear and one-way,” said Brent Orrell, senior fellow with the American Enterprise Institute. “But today we had productive conversations that were not linear but an ecosphere of exchanges between the institutions. Each of these institutions are working to progress toward the same ends of creating a stronger America.”

“This summit was never intended to be a one and done. It was intended to be a call to action on a critical problem facing our military and our country. We’re going to work forward, together,” added Chancellor Syverud.

Demonstrating its across the nation and making good on its promise to be the , ���ϲ����� will co-host a first-of-its-kind summit addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing veterans and the long-term sustainability of an all-volunteer armed services.

Hosted collaboratively by ���ϲ����� and the University of Tennessee, the summit is being held during the 50th anniversary of the end of the military draft and the birth of America’s all-volunteer force—and at a time when both the military and higher education face significant challenges, including recruitment and enrollment, respectively.

The summit, titled “The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military,” will be held Wednesday, April 19, and Thursday, April 20, at the , home to the (IVMF) and the (OVMA).

The two universities, both leaders on issues impacting military-connected students, will welcome more than two dozen collegiate presidents and chancellors, as well as senior government leaders and private sector partners, to campus to discuss how institutions of higher education and government can enhance collaboration and introduce innovative partnerships positioned to bolster access to in-service and post-service educational opportunities for military-connected learners.

“���ϲ�����’s commitment to veterans, military-connected students and their families has long been woven into the fabric of this institution,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “That commitment dates back as far as World War I in the early years of ROTC programs, and continued in 1944 when former Chancellor William Tolley assisted with drafting the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, now known as the G.I. Bill, This summit as an extension of this commitment, and an opportunity to work with our peer institutions to find solutions to the challenges ahead. Our goal must always be to create and empower and ensure opportunities for the military community.”

Highlights of the summit will be keynote addresses delivered by several renowned military and military-connected leaders, including award-winning journalist, director and best-selling author Sebastian Junger and senior officials from the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.

The summit will also offer facilitated breakout discussions around such themes as building a continuum of human capital, empowering military-connected populations in higher education, and the workforce of the future.

Thursday’s session will begin with a fireside chat, “All-Volunteer Force at 50: Past, Present and Future,” featuring , University Professor and Phanstiel Chair in Leadership in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and Bernard D. Rostker G’66, G’70, senior fellow with the RAND Corporation. Additional discussion topics include the implications of the impending ‘’ on both the volunteer military and higher education and also a conversation focused on the role of education in preparing individuals and communities for the workforce of the future.

The April 19-20 convening will set the conditions for actionable next steps and subsequent engagement between higher education and the federal government, positioned to advance educational opportunities for veterans and military-connected students.

“We are at a moment in our nation’s history when both colleges and universities, as well as the American’s volunteer military force, shared challenges,” says Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie, founder and executive director of the IVMF, who wrote on this topic in a . “It is imperative to have thoughtful dialogue about what’s at stake so that we can begin to identify real solutions that will collectively benefit the next generation of Americans motivated to both learn and serve; institutions of higher learning; and the safety and security of our nation.”

Under Chancellor Syverud, veteran and military-connected enrollment has increased at ���ϲ����� over 500% since 2014. The IVMF, which has served over 192,000 service members, veterans and military family members worldwide since its founding in 2011, includes a , a trusted national resource working to advance the policy and practice of supporting veterans and their families.

Additionally, the University’s OVMA is home to one of the longest-running Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs in the nation, the Office of Veteran Success and other support programs for veterans.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors close the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

Robert Murrett

“The Administration’s report on the Afghanistan withdrawal provides some insight into factors leading to the tragic events of August 2021.�� Most of the report itself – and the discussion which followed release of the report – centered around responsibility for the near and long-term circumstances in the weeks leading up the final departure on August 30th, all of which certainly could have been handled better.

Having said that, we should focus on the future, and what the U.S. and our allies can do to alleviate the humanitarian needs and repression that we witness every day in Afghanistan.�� The human rights violations (particularly against women), rampant poverty and regional insurgency impact are all factors that cry for continued involvement there.�� Aside from all the individuals that we left behind and the good of the overall population, we cannot ignore the instability and lack of governance that presents a human cost – and a security threat to the entire region.�� While it is a difficult mission for the U.S. and other western nations to address these issues while the Taliban is in power, ignoring the persistent challenges in Afghanistan will not make the task easier as time goes on.”

If you’d like to schedule an interview with retired Vice Adm. Robert Murrett, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Marquez, director of the National Security Division for The American Legion and an Iraq War veteran, gave remarks at the U.S. Capitol on March 16, along with its hosts, senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Marquez is pursuing an , offered by the in partnership with the

Maxwell graduate student Mario A. Marquez, director of the National Security Division for The American Legion, spoke at a press conference earlier this month urging lawmakers to repeal the legislation that authorized military force in the decades-old war in Iraq.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beginning of combat operations in Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein,” Marquez told the crowd and cameras before a backdrop of the Capitol building. “The conflict was declared over in 2011, but the law that authorized it is still on the books today.”

If signed into law, a bill supported by Kaine and Young would repeal the 1991 Gulf War authorization and the 2002 Iraq War authorization. The senators are part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers who argue that the repeal is needed to prevent abuse by presidential administrations that could use the old authorizations to launch unrelated combat operations without approval from Congress.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Senate voted 66-30 to repeal the authorizations. The legislation now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has conveyed support for it. ��The White House has also expressed support, issuing a statement endorsing the repeal and noting that it would not affect the 2,500 U.S. troops now stationed in Iraq.

Marquez, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a sergeant major with more than 31 years of service, talked at the press conference about his four combat tours in Iraq. He said he has “vivid memories” of “intense fighting and unimaginable heroism.” During his second and third tours, he said he was subjected to “intense heavy fire, improvised explosive devices and frequent attacks.” During his fourth tour, he said he saw “a major reduction in combat operations” and signs of progress.

“The American Legion is an organization composed of members who have fought in this nation’s wars,” Marquez said at the press conference. “We applaud the effort and note that it affirms what we’ve known for years: There is a strong bipartisan consensus that it is long past time to repeal these two authorizations.”

As director of The American Legion’s National Security Division, Marquez is responsible for support and analysis of defense and foreign policy issues. Previously, he served as director of the organization’s Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division. He spent 20 years of his military service deployed or stationed overseas.

U.S. Army Col. Kecia Troy G’12 poses for her official portrait in the Army portrait studio at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo courtesy of Leonard Fitzgerald)

A key component of the U.S. military’s success is the vast equipment procurement and logistics system operating behind the scenes supporting the Department of Defense’s (DOD) global operations. U.S. Army Col. Kecia Troy G’12, with 25 years of service, knows just how difficult it is to maintain that support successfully.

Outfitting a modern military with state-of-the-art equipment requires experienced individuals like Troy, who manages the complex process of developing, procuring, and distributing critical capabilities and systems. Troy, who serves as a defense acquisition program manager, says one of the reasons the Army can meet the challenges of delivering these vital capabilities is through its solid partnership with the defense industrial base.

“The systems acquisition community works closely with the defense industry, ensuring they understand our emerging mission requirements and the capabilities that we will need to maintain the technological edge over our peer and near-peer adversaries,” says Troy, who earned a master’s degree in from the . “This partnership lets us leverage businesses who foster innovative ideas and develop cutting-edge technological solutions.”

Kecia Troy G’12 with her husband, Milton

While Troy has managed a variety of military system programs, including tactical radio equipment and armored vehicle components, her primary focus has been supporting the needs of the intelligence community. During the early days of her career, she served as an intelligence officer, a position she says introduced her to the realities of military service.

“I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army at 22 years old. At that time, I didn’t truly appreciate or understand the commitment I had made to selfless service or to this nation,” Troy says. “After my initial officer training, I was stationed in Hawaii and thought it would be ‘life on the beach.’ However, the Army and world events had a different plan.”

In 1999, less than six months after arriving in Hawaii, Troy deployed to the Balkans amidst one of the most complex periods of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) peacekeeping operations in modern history. Although the four-year Bosnian War had already ended, U.S. forces were supporting NATO’s mission to enforce the war’s peace treaty and establish stability in the former Yugoslav region.

“This was the first time I had been face-to-face with the aftermath of war. Our team would sometimes visit orphanages or refugee resettlement camps, it was heartbreaking to see how much they all had lost,” recalls Troy. “We visited the site of the Srebrenica massacre and saw the building’s walls covered with bullet holes from when Bosnian Serbs murdered thousands of the town’s Muslim men and boys as a part of their ethnic cleansing efforts. Again—I experienced all of this before 9/11, so this deployment really opened my eyes to the realities of war and my service to this nation.”

Throughout her career, Troy shifted her specialty from the intelligence community to managing system acquisition programs. That shift ultimately led her to ���ϲ�����’s campus for the DOD’s logistics and technology master of science degree program.

U.S. Army Col. Kecia Troy G’12 (third from the left), who has 25 years of military service, earned a master’s degree in supply chain management from the Whitman School of Management.

“I enjoyed the program and definitely got a lot out of it. The program was primarily virtual and offered me the opportunity to earn a master’s degree from ���ϲ�����, while I remained at work full-time in Washington, DC. Back then, not many top-tier schools had this type of fully-funded program available to service members. The ���ϲ����� professors and staff were top-notch and were always accessible to our cohort. We did have some in-person instruction, and I really liked the times we were on campus and at the Whitman School. The campus and the facilities were beautiful. My favorite part of campus would have to be the Ernie Davis statue, near Hendricks Chapel. It’s great to see the university honor him and his legacy in such a way. His life had such an impact, not only on college and professional sports but race relations and integration within our nation,” Troy says.

After completing her master’s degree, Troy’s military career advanced well beyond her initial plan to serve only four years. Her career assignments included tours in the Republic of Korea, Arizona, Alabama and in the National Capital Region, where she worked at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and served two tours in the Pentagon on the Department of the Army staff.

Kecia Troy G’12 with her son, Micah

More than two decades later, as Troy reflects on her commitment to service, she can see success across the force in the opportunities that are now afforded to women. Many of these opportunities were not available when Troy was first commissioned.

“We are seeing female soldiers excel in combat-specific military occupations and successfully leading units that were once off-limits to them. As of a year ago, 100 women had graduated from Ranger School.�� That’s remarkable progress,” Troy says. ��“I think there has been more awareness of the unique issues that women face, that parents face, and that minority groups in the military face. These issues differ from what many senior leaders deal with or even realize exist.”

Troy says one of her biggest concerns today is that women in the military must get a fair opportunity to excel, regardless of the specialty they choose, as well as when or if they decide to have a family.

According to the 2021 Demographics Profile of the Military Community, approximately 5,000 women serve in the U.S. Army as field grade officers on active duty. That is roughly 17.3 percent of all majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels serving full-time in the nation’s largest military branch.

Each year, more women join the military compared to when Troy first earned her commission in the late 1990’s. Despite their increasing percentage of the military population, however, women in the service today are 28 percent more likely than men to leave the military early. According to a Government Accountability Office study, women left the military primarily for family-related and cultural issues.

Kecia Troy G’12 (far left) poses with her son, Micah, and husband, Milton.

“Balancing a career in the military with motherhood is extremely tough, much tougher than even I had given it credit for,” says Troy, who with her husband, Milton, a U.S. Navy captain, are raising a son, Micah. “The Department of Defense is moving in the right direction with the recent policies. It will take a commitment by leaders at all levels to ensure those policies are properly implemented and effective in easing some of the stress for these Soldiers and their families.”

Troy will retire from the U.S. Army later this year, and she’s currently working through the transition process, weighing the different opportunities she has available. For now, she’s looking forward to spending some time with her family.

“The key component of my military career has been the undeniable support system I have had from my family, extended family, and a slew of lifelong friends. They’ve sacrificed and served, as well, to ensure that I was able to focus and complete the Army’s mission,” Troy says. “My success is grounded in my strong foundation from my parents and the support network of relatives and friends. As a community, they have all been my rocks, my cheering squad, and sometimes, my much-needed critics, no matter the situation.�� Too often, family members do not get acknowledged or recognized, but I know that had it not been for their support, I would not be here today.”

Sean McFate

is a professor at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and author of The New Rules of War: How America Can Win — Against Russia, China, and Other Threats. He writes: “Mercenaries are back, and no longer in the shadows but in the open like the Middle Ages and Antiquity. When Wagner Group seized Soledar and publicly gloated, the Russian military leadership went berserk inside the Kremlin. The feud between private and public warrior is as old as mercenaries, the second oldest profession. In the Middle Ages, mercenaries feuded with knights, such as during the siege of��Béziers in 1209, when mercenaries burned down the city just to spite the knights on their side. The owner of the Wagner Group,��Yevgeny Prigozhin, has emerged from being a “useful idiot” before the war into sitting at the right hand of Putin. And it’s not just in Russia. Mercenaries are on the rise everywhere. When you privatize war, it changes war in profound ways that they don’t teach in War Colleges. Machiavelli knew, and condemned mercenaries. Perhaps Putin will eventually as well.”
Note: Professor McFate is located in Washington, D.C. and is available for in-person interviews. Additionally, listen to the latest ‘Cuse Conversations podcast episode with Sean McFate to learn more.

Brian Taylor

is a professor of political science at ���ϲ����� and author of the highly acclaimed book The Code of Putinism. He writes: “The key outcome from the first year of the war is that Ukraine is still standing and is determined to fight on to defend its territory and independence. In 2022 Ukrainians refuted Vladimir Putin’s mistaken notion that Ukrainians and Russians are “one nation” and that the Ukrainian state is an artificial construct.��In Russia, the economic, military, and human costs of Putin’s war will put additional pressure on the stability of the regime in 2023. Currently, however, Putin retains strong control over the organs of repression, the economy, and the media, which makes it very hard for those who oppose the war to challenge his rule. Putin plans to fight on.”
Note: Professor Taylor is located in ���ϲ�����, NY, but is available for virtual interviews.

Robert Murrett

is a professor of practice at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School and deputy director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law.��He writes: “The first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine provides a valuable opportunity to take stock of the lessons from the past year, and their application to the future of the conflict.��Among them: the strength and resilience of the Ukrainians, the remarkable and increasing diplomatic, financial and military support from NATO and other allies, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis that the conflict has spurred.��Additionally, Russia’s strategic mistake and their subsequent diplomatic and economic isolation on the global stage are all factors that will persist in the year ahead.��As military operations increase in intensity this coming spring, it is likely that support for Ukraine will also ramp up, reflecting the determination of Kyiv and the west to stop the Kremlin and any like-minded autocrats from attempting another such “fundamental challenge to the values and norms that have brought security and prosperity” to the global community.”
Note: Retired Vice Adm. Murrett is located in ���ϲ�����, NY, but is available for virtual interviews.

Daniel McDowell

, associate professor of political science at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School and co-director of the Comparative Politics/International Relations Speaker Series, recently published the book .��In this book, McDowell talks about how sanctions undermine the dollar’s status in the wake of Russia sanctions, and discusses the implications of future effectiveness given the war in Ukraine. McDowell’s focus areas are in international political economy, international finance, international monetary system, and IMF.
Note: Professor McDowell is located in ���ϲ�����, NY, but is available for virtual interviews.

Key takeaways:

• There are over 350,000 Black and African American active duty and select reserve members
• Over 2.4 million Black and African American veterans in the U.S
  • Of all Post-9/11 veterans, 17% are Black and African American (this is higher compared to the 13% of the nonveteran counterparts)
• 89% of respondents said joining the military was a good decision; however:
  • 56% had considered “racial/ethnic discrimination” in their decision-making process, and 53% had “concerns about safety regarding base/ installation preferences due to my (or my family member’s) racial/ethnic identity
• 93% of respondents felt pride in their accomplishments during service; however:
  • 45% believe their racial/ethnic identity hurt their ability to get ahead at work
• 59% of Black and African American veteran respondents characterized their employment transition as difficult or very difficult
• For more data on the above and numbers regarding employment, entrepreneurship, and education, please

, IVMF’s Director of Applied Research and Analytics, is the author of this data brief and is available for interviews upon request. She has been featured on , , , , and more. Please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, Media Relations Specialist, at if you’d like to schedule a time to speak with her.

Sean Stumpf

Born in the Bronx, Sean Stumpf ’07, often watched planes take off and land at nearby LaGuardia Airport.

That childhood fascination sparked a lifelong passion for aviation that fueled his determination to become a pilot. Today, Stumpf is the one doing the takeoffs and landings, but instead of a commercial airliner he flies the C-130J, also known as the Super Hercules, in the United States Air Force.

The C-130 is one of the most versatile aircraft in the world that has been in service since the ’50s and flies missions supporting every branch of the military as well as various civil organizations operating in austere environments.

In high school, Stumpf played baseball and football but also participated in track and field, primarily running in the 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter races and various relays. Stumpf recalls that in his senior year of high school, he experienced competing in the Dome firsthand, an experience that would become familiar to him in front of family and friends while in college.

“I was a state finalist in track and field my senior year of high school. The state finals were in the Dome that year,” says Stumpf, who serves as the chief of safety for the 317th Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base. “My sister was a student at ���ϲ����� when I got my first taste of the campus and its beauty though,” Stumpf recalled.

Stumpf was in the Dome when the ���ϲ����� football team crushed Rutgers University in a blowout 42-0 game. The overall experience left an impression on him and years later, when it came time to apply to college, ���ϲ����� was among his top three choices. He says he was looking for a university where he could study aerospace engineering, participate in Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and run track.

“I was so conflicted because all my choices had so much to offer. One morning, my dad woke me up early and told me to get in the car, that we were going on a four-hour drive,” says Stumpf. “We arrived on campus for our own tour and bumped into some ROTC cadets. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and the campus just felt like my new home. A few days later Carmelo Anthony and the men’s basketball team brought home the national title and I was sold.”

Of course, being a full-time college student is time-consuming all on its own. Add on the rigorous schedule for ROTC as well as being a student-athlete and free time becomes almost non-existent. Stumpf’s schedule those first few years started early, long before the sun came up, and ending long after it went down.

“I get tired just thinking about it,” Stumpf says. “Mornings were devoted to ROTC, followed by a day’s worth of aerospace engineering degree requisites, track practice, homework, then bed. Eventually I had to prioritize these things and, since I was not a strong athlete, my degree and ROTC took lead, so I left the team after a couple of years.”

Stumpf graduated from ���ϲ����� and accepted a commission in the USAF as a second lieutenant. Most of his first few years were spent going through the training process to become a C-130 pilot. Initially, he served as a navigator on a C-130 but a few short years later he was selected to become a pilot—a dream he had chased since childhood.

“Since I was young I had always wanted to fly airplanes. They flew over my house all the time to land at LaGuardia,” Stumpf says. “Yes, I’m biased, but being a C-130 crewmember is the greatest job in the Air Force. The missions are always changing, our tactics and problem-solving abilities are always being tested.”

Stumpf has returned to his alma mater a few times since graduating, mostly for athletic or alumni events, but also to speak with current cadets with Air Force ROTC Detachment 535. He returned a few years ago, after becoming an officer, to visit with the ROTC cadets and answer their questions about life in the U.S. Air Force after graduation.

Sharing his knowledge with cadets is one thing, but Stumpf returned earlier this year to give back in an entirely different way that the cadets are sure to remember.

“My fellow pilot, a ���ϲ����� native, and I thought it would be an incredible opportunity for the cadets to get a live look at the C-130J and its dynamic mission,” Stumpf says.

Some people can go years in the military without ever stepping foot on a C-130, much less having the opportunity to fly in one. Getting on a military aircraft, participating in a flight and speaking with the pilots afterward is a rare opportunity, especially for ROTC cadets. The opportunity for this experience was primarily due to Stumpf’s passion for supporting the Air Force ROTC detachment at ���ϲ�����.

With 16 years of service to date, Stumpf plans to finish out his career and retire from the Air Force one day. An exact date isn’t on his mind at the moment, but he is about to reach a major milestone in his military career in early February.

“I’ll reach the pinnacle in a couple of weeks. In February, I will become the squadron commander for the 40th Airlift Squadron, the ‘Screaming Eagles,’ at Dyess Air Force Base,” says Stumpf. “I’m truly humbled to be given this opportunity. I’ll be working for approximately 150 people who’ve volunteered to serve their country; looking after their well-being, professional development, training, and deployment readiness.”

Those interested in learning more about the opportunities available through the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at ���ϲ����� are encouraged to visit the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs .

Army veteran , a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and an adjunct professor at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, writes:

Sean McFate

• “Patriot are not Javelins. This is a major step up in U.S. commitment. Traditionally the U.S. sends Patriot missiles as a strong diplomatic signal of escalation to foes: to Poland against Russia, to Taiwan against China, to Israel against Iran.
• The Patriots will provoke a Russian reaction. It will be diplomatic, but it’s the U.S.’s most escalatory action to date.
• Patriot missile systems are very sophisticated technology, and take months to learn, not weeks��– we are unsure of a date they will be used.
• The Ukraine war will likely grind on for years, not months. Those who expect a resolution in 2023 are ‘blue-skying’ it, which is dangerous.”

Robert Murrett

, deputy director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law and professor of practice at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, writes:

“Reports that the United States will be providing Patriot missile system(s) to Ukraine are a welcome and necessary step in response to Russia’s increasingly diverse air attacks.�� The Patriots will have particular effectiveness against higher-end missile threats, such as current or projected cruise and ballistic missiles that Russia has or could import from Iran.�� These air defense systems will also address gaps in Ukrainian integrated air defense capabilities, as they contend with a wide range rudimentary to sophisticated air-to-ground weapons from the Russian military.”

If you are interested in speaking with these professors, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Stephen Snelson

Stephen Snelson ’97 loved to play with Matchbox cars when he was a child. But unlike his friends, Snelson’s cars had a magical ability to fly, a simple yet imaginative gesture that would one day foreshadow the decorated career Snelson would enjoy in the Air Force.

It’s a lifelong profession that has seen him fly missions all over the world, from Afghanistan to Iraq, and it’s also one that brought him face-to-face with two presidents of the United States and their first ladies.

As the commander of the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Snelson was responsible for oversight of Air Force One and its fleet of executive aircraft that carry out special global air missions that transport the president, vice president, cabinet members, combatant commanders and other senior military and elected leaders to destinations around the world.

Escorting the president to and from Air Force One before and after every flight, Snelson got to know President Donald J. Trump and his vice president, Mike Pence, quite well, along with current President and fellow ���ϲ����� alumnus Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68 and his vice president, Kamala Harris.

Snelson has also flown operational missions worldwide, including combat missions in support of operations Allied Force (in the former country known as Yugoslavia), Southern Watch (southern Iraq), Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn (Iraq).

Today, Brig. Gen. Snelson oversees the U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and the surrounding strategic waterways as deputy director of operations, U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

Throughout it all, Snelson, a 26-year veteran of the Air Force, maintains the same steadfast commitment to serving his country that he first learned as a member of the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at ���ϲ�����.

“I just knew when I was a little kid that I wanted to fly airplanes. It was a calling from an early age,” says Snelson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in from the .

“If you had told Cadet Snelson in 1993 or 1994 that I’d be 26 years into a career in the Air Force as a two-time wing commander and one-star general, I never would have thought that was in the realm of possibilities,” Snelson says. “But it also speaks to the lessons learned and my approach to life, and it’s amazing how those lessons carry you through life. I learned those lessons and built the foundation of leadership at ���ϲ�����.”

Humble Beginnings to Distinguished Military Career

While he initially entertained dreams of replicating the daredevil fighter pilot maneuvers made famous by Tom Cruise’s character Maverick in the iconic film “Top Gun,” Snelson quickly realized those gravity-defying moves didn’t sit well with him. Literally.

“My first flight I got airsick, the first of many flights where I got sick up in the air. I came within one flight of washing out of pilot training, but somehow, I made it and I quickly realized being a fighter pilot wasn’t in the cards for me. So I gladly became a cargo pilot, and I loved the teamwork it required and the lifestyle it offered,” Snelson says.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Snelson ’97, left, with President Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68, first lady Jill Biden and Snelson’s wife, Catherine

A relatively new pilot when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks killed 2,996 people, Snelson flew the first of his nearly 100 combat missions in Afghanistan in the weeks after the attacks. On one of the first nights of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Snelson served as a C-17 cargo pilot, air-dropping packets of food to the civilian victims of the war.

Over the next 20 years, Snelson would fly into and out of Afghanistan on an assortment of missions, including leading air drops on select targets across the country. He was deployed to Kuwait during the fast-paced and frenetic final days of the United States’ involvement in Afghanistan, overseeing the day-to-day logistics that led to the successful evacuation of 124,000 Afghan civilians.

The Kabul airport became overrun with people looking for a way out of the country, which was facing an uncertain future with the Taliban assuming control of the war-torn nation. The images of families desperate for a way out left an indelible impression on Snelson, who led efforts to provide those people with food, water and shelter as they gathered at the airport.

“It was a daunting task. Right before we left for good, there was an ISIS suicide bomber that killed 13 service members. Part of my job was working the logistics to get the injured soldiers out of there while saving as many lives as we could. I was proud of what we were able to do in two and a half weeks. We saved the lives of 124,000 people. There’s no other nation in the world that could have or would have done that,” Snelson says.

Two Orange Alumni Walk Onto Air Force One…

Back in the Spring 2021 semester, as Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73 was guiding the Orange into the Sweet 16 of March Madness, Snelson, like many Orange fans, was experiencing serious palpitations.

A huge fan of ���ϲ����� athletics—some of his favorite memories of his time on campus were cheering on the football and basketball teams in the Dome—Snelson’s increased heart rate had nothing to do with the on-court happenings of the men’s basketball team, and everything to do with a short walk on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Morningside, Maryland.

Leading up to ���ϲ�����’s NCAA tournament game against Duke, Snelson was escorting President Biden to his latest flight, and the two started reminiscing about their time on campus. While Snelson keeps the exact contents of their conversation confidential, he proudly shared how the leader of the free world bonded with him about their love of ���ϲ�����, their passion for the men’s basketball team and how their time on campus set the foundation for their successful careers.

Oh, and of course they shared horror stories of those cold, snowy Central New York winters.

“It’s pretty amazing and pretty humbling to be able to form a bond with the president, especially knowing he went to ���ϲ�����. I was very nervous. I have one of those watches that tracks your heart rate, and when I looked at the data at the end of the day, during my interaction with the President, my heart rate looked like I was having a massive coronary episode I was so nervous. But it was special to me. Here we were, two proud ���ϲ����� alumni sharing a moment reminiscing about our alma mater,” Snelson says.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Snelson’s ’97, right, with President Donald J. Trump

During these contentious political times, Snelson says he gained a newfound respect for the position of president. As he was escorting President Trump and President Biden to and from Air Force One, they would often ask Snelson how his wife and two daughters were doing, providing a human element to the most powerful position in this country.

“No matter how you try to rationalize or prepare yourself for an interaction with the president or our country’s other leaders, it was always surreal, but also inspiring. When you have conversations with these leaders, you realize they are people with families, just like me. Those experiences were special. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I treasured every day,” Snelson says.

An Unimaginable Career

Regardless of the position he held, Snelson approached every job with the same voracious work ethic he learned from both his parents and from his time on campus: no one was going to outwork or out-hustle Snelson.

That mentality served him well during a decorated military career that began as second lieutenant in 1997 and saw Snelson ascend to first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel and, finally, brigadier general.

“It’s unimaginable,” Snelson says when asked to reflect on his career path. “It’s an incredible honor to be the very first Air Force mobility pilot to have this job at Central Command. The job typically goes to an Army Special Forces soldier. It’s an incredible honor and I try to earn that honor every single day.”

This November, as our country celebrates Veterans Day, Snelson is celebrating ���ϲ�����’s commitment to our nation’s veterans, through the , the , and the other ways the University fulfills its promise to provide veterans with an affordable path to academic success.

“It just makes me so proud, knowing what my alma mater does to set our veterans up for success. It matters. Veterans develop a skill set and background that make them extremely valuable, and ���ϲ����� is able to train and set our veterans up for success as the leaders of tomorrow,” Snelson says.

Sean McFate

“Honestly, I have a hard time with the , and most things that come out of them these days. It’s a little naïve, because the military has already tried all these things, but it’s not worked. I don’t think their researchers are paying attention.

People don’t volunteer for the military just because they want job opportunities or a free education. Military life is hard, and you can get killed. You need to believe it’s worth it, and that’s the current problem. Who can blame youth today who look back on 20 years for war and ask: What was it all for? Nothing, apparently.��

Also, this is an absolute trope and ‘red flag’ that these analysts are not taking it seriously: ‘Low unemployment rates (plenty of job opportunities in the civilian sector).’ It’s not like the late 1990s tech boom. The ‘plenty of job opportunities’ are not career opportunities. For example, yes McDonald’s and the Gap are hiring, but that’s probably not the reason people aren’t volunteering for the force. No one is saying, ‘Gee, I really want to be a VP at Burger King, so goodbye Army!’

It seems like the military is caught in the culture wars where half of the recruiting pool thinks the military is too woke to join (conservatives) and the other half thinks military service is distasteful (liberal). That doesn’t leave much of a recruiting pool.”

If you’re interested in an interview with Sean, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, ���ϲ����� Media Relations Specialist, at .

, former secretary of the Navy and University Professor at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School:

Ash had the uncommon skill to merge the intellectual horsepower of his scholarly, academic insights with pragmatic instincts to yield practitioner solutions. I was fortunate to work with him on several projects over the last three decades, co-taught a few classes with him, and collaborated on a book with him along with multiple contributors. Whatever differences we had in policy debates never diminished the common ground we agreed on. His skill translated on various public programs we worked on together with seemingly different objectives, yet he found mutual outcomes we could work toward.�� In that regard he was among the finest public servants I’ve ever been privileged to work with.

He was a terrific colleague and valued friend that I will miss, but always be grateful and blessed to have known. My deepest condolences and sympathy to his soulmate and wife Stephanie, and to his family for their untimely and tragic loss.” ��.

, teaching professor and executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at the ���ϲ����� College of Law:

“As a woman who served over twenty years in the Army, the former Secretary of Defense made a direct positive impact on the military’s gender gap by opening all military combat positions to women. During his tenure as the Secretary of Defense, women service members found themselves deployed to combat zones yet unable to actually fill those combat assignments. His forward-thinking actions in lifting the ban on women in combat opened doors and opportunities that women have not only embraced but thrived. I’m personally thrilled to look across campus and see young women in our ���ϲ����� ROTC programs graduate and fill the ranks of the combat arms.” .

At a strapping and formidable 6-foot 2, William was a “man of the land.” He loved working with his hands and being with the earth. While he valued the small things like cleaning your plate or writing with impeccable penmanship, above all, William was fiercely committed to three things: his close-knit family, his beloved country, and his fellow Jewish service members.

As a young child, Sara remembers learning from her grandfather how to properly salute, raise, lower and fold the American flag. While he walked with a limp and would eventually need the assistance of a cane later in life, she remembers William seemingly always out in his fields digging and bringing back fresh fruits and vegetables.

“My grandfather was so patriotic. As the son of Jewish immigrants who fled the pogroms in Russia, he really saw the United States as a safe haven and as a land of opportunity,” Sara says. “He was thankful to have a home here, and the freedom to practice his religion. And his military service was a huge point of pride.”

While still a teenager, William graduated from the New York State Ranger School (part of the New York State College of Forestry at ���ϲ�����) in 1914 and would later enlist in the U.S. Army in 1917.

He served his country in World War I as a sergeant in the 4th Infantry Division, known as the “Ivy Division,” a play on the Roman numeral IV. Demonstrating extraordinary bravery during a long-fought battle in 1918 near Bazoches, France, William repeatedly put his life on the line, leaving his cover and crossing open space multiple times to rescue the wounded. Despite exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire, he managed to save three injured comrades. As a result, he was honored with a Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart and numerous other awards and clasps—but at the time, was denied the Medal of Honor due to his Jewish faith.

A new book, “The Ivy Hero: The Brave Life of Sergeant William Shemin” (City Point Press, 2022), authored by Sara and her cousin, Dan Burstein, shares William’s story—from his earliest years on the Lower East Side to his military service and time at ���ϲ�����, to the 15-year fight of his daughter Elsie Shemin-Roth ’51 for William to be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He is the only known graduate of ���ϲ����� to have received the distinction.

Universal Themes: Discrimination, Tenacity, Bravery

While the book, whose target audience is middle-school-age readers, tells William’s unique story, Sara says she and Burstein were motivated to write it because of the universal themes evident in his experience. “The book is about William and his family values—but it’s also about discrimination, it’s about immigration, it’s about tenacity, it’s about bravery,” she says. “We thought it carried a broader message that people outside of our immediate family would be interested in.”

The lives of Henry Johnson (left) and William Shemin are permanently linked by both their immense bravery during World War I and the discrimination they faced after the war. (Photo courtesy of the Shemin family)

“The Ivy Hero” is peppered with family anecdotes and photos, helpful definitions and a glossary of terms, beautiful illustrations by Gary Bullock, important lessons, and thought-provoking questions for readers. There is even a curriculum available on the that schools can use.

The book also shares the story of fellow WWI veteran Henry Johnson (1892-1929), a member of the U.S. Army’s all-Black 369th Infantry Regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters.

Although the two never met, Henry and William’s lives became inextricably linked in 2015 when both men were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor nearly 100 years after their military service. Henry had been denied the honor because he was Black, despite displaying incredible bravery fighting alongside French soldiers on behalf of the Allies in 1918-19.

“We thought it was incredibly important to include Henry’s story in the book, because discrimination is discrimination—and unfortunately it comes in all different forms,” says Sara. “As my family was working to have my grandfather recognized [with the Medal of Honor], we learned that Senator Chuck Schumer was also pursuing recognition for Henry Johnson. He didn’t have any living relatives that could be tracked down, so we decided to adopt his cause as our own. We decided that whenever we talked about William Shemin, we would also tell Henry Johnson’s story, including in this book.”

Making Sure Our Heroes’ Stories Are Told

When William and Henry were finally at the White House on June 2, 2015, President Barack Obama spoke extensively about the importance of righting wrongs.

“It has taken a long time for Henry Johnson and William Shemin to receive the recognition they deserve. And there are surely others whose heroism is still unacknowledged and uncelebrated,” Obama said. “We have work to do, as a nation, to make sure that all our heroes’ stories are told. And we’ll keep at it, no matter how long it takes. America is the country we are today because of people like Henry and William—Americans who signed up to serve and rose to meet their responsibilities—and then went beyond. The least we can do is to say: We know who you are. We know what you did for us. We are forever grateful.”

VIDEO: Check out the story of World War I Medal of Honor Recipient William Shemin, as recounted by his daughter Elsie Shemin-Roth ’51.

(Video courtesy of the Medal of Honor Society)

From left: Ina Shemin-Bass ’53, Elsie Shemin-Roth ’51 (William’s daughters) and President Barack Obama at the Medal of Honor Ceremony in June 2015. (Photo courtesy of the Shemin family)

Asked what she thought her grandfather’s reaction would have been if he was in the room that day with President Obama and sixty of his family members, his two daughters squeezing one another’s hands while tearfully and joyfully accepting the Medal of Honor on his behalf, Sara carefully considers.

“He never would’ve thought he was discriminated against or that the military did anything to overlook him. He was happy with the medals that he had,” she says. “But I think he would’ve been full of pride. He wasn’t a man to show a lot of emotion, but the ceremony, being at the White House, getting that recognition … I think he would’ve cracked a little, gotten a little teary-eyed. He was so proud of and thankful for this country that he was willing to sacrifice his life for it.”

Post-Military Life and Legacy at ���ϲ�����

William returned from the war in 1919 and enrolled in the New York State College of Forestry at ���ϲ����� (now the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry) on a full scholarship. Reconnecting with his love of plants and his passion for the land at ���ϲ�����, William went on to start a successful nursery and landscaping business in the Bronx, New York.

His time at ���ϲ����� also ignited generations of Orange pride. All three of William’s children—Elsie Shemin-Roth ’51, the late Emmanuel “Manny” Shemin ’52, former University Trustee, and Ina Shemin-Bass ’53—studied at the University, as well as one of his granddaughters (Leslie Shemin-Lester ’84) and four of his great-grandchildren (Rachel Forman ’05, William Cass ’08, Samuel Cass ’13 and Scott Bass ’15).

The Shemin family has been interwoven with the University community in myriad ways for over one hundred years. A tribute to William and his service and some of his personal memorabilia are on display alongside other military-affiliated heroes in the Hall of Honor in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building.

The Shemin family’s generosity is further evidenced by their support of numerous philanthropic initiatives, including but not limited to the Shemin Family Lecture Series, the Emanuel and Rhoda Shemin Auditorium in the Shaffer Art Building, the Rhoda Shemin Student Lounge in the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life, the Manny Shemin Resource Room in the Stevenson Education Center at Manley Field House, and the Shemin Micro-Grant Fund within the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. William Cass ’08, great-grandson of William Shemin, serves as a member of the Young Whitman Advisory Council and supports various initiatives at the Whitman School and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

“The Ivy Hero” is and will be released on Nov. 8, 2022.

, who teaches about the politics of North and South Korea and multi-track diplomacy at ���ϲ�����, says we must engage North Korea diplomatically. He writes:

Frederick Carriere

“The only effective response to this perceived threat is – not to duck and cover – but to engage North Korea diplomatically. The current spate of missile tests by North Korea is the usual tit for tat we’ve always seen when diplomacy is dead in the water while the Americans, South Koreans, and Japanese are busy saber-rattling. The Western media hypes North Korea’s missile tests and downplays or ignores the stimuli for them – e.g., U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, increased military spending by both South Korea and Japan, the threatening dispatch of nuclear-capable aircraft to the Korean Peninsula by the U.S., etc. As the saying goes — and it cuts both ways — it takes two to tango.”

Carriere’s professional experience includes a 30-year career as an administrator in the nonprofit sector, initially as the executive director of the Fulbright Program in Seoul, Korea, and later as the executive vice president of The Korea Society in New York City.

To learn more or schedule an interview with Professor Carriere, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, Media Relations Specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Hon. James E. Baker

Hon. James E. Baker is the director of the ���ϲ����� Institute for Security Policy and Law, a professor at the ���ϲ����� College of Law and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a distinguished fellow at the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University. He previously served as a Judge and Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. He has been active on the war in Ukraine. He writes:

“As military experts analyze the tide of war and diplomats search for mechanisms to end the war, lawyers should ask does law matter? Does law matter where one nation invades another with impunity and commits serial war crimes in the process? Does the law of the UN Charter, of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence matter? Do the Nuremberg Principles and the law of armed conflict matter?�� Lawyers should answer these questions and in doing so make the case for law. Why? Because while Ukraine is a contest between armies, and cultures, it is also a battle about the meaning of law and whether law matters. Lawyers should also ask, where do we go from here? Is there a role for international in ending the war, Ukraine’s reconstruction, and in protecting Ukraine from Russian aggression in the future?�� And, considering Ukraine, how should U.S. and international law evolve in response?”

Retired Vice Adm. Robert Murrett

Retired Vice Admiral Robert B. Murrett is a Professor of Practice on the faculty of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at ���ϲ����� and serves as the Deputy Director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law at the University. He is also on the adjunct staff of the RAND Corporation and the Institute for Defense Analyses. Previously, Murrett was a career intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy, serving in assignments throughout the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East through his thirty-four years of duty. He writes:

“As both the Ukrainian forces and Russia prepare for offensive operations in the weeks ahead, it is important to keep in mind the long-term strategic goals on both sides. The Ukrainian armed forces continue to add additional capability, economic sanctions against Russia have had increasing impact, and support for Ukraine by the NATO alliance and other nations has remained remarkably steady. These and other factors could provide a more favorable basis for bringing the war to an end on terms acceptable to Kyiv before winter sets in.”

If you are interested in interviewing either of these two, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Sean O’Keefe

“It was 75 years ago that the Congress passed, and President Truman signed, The National Security Act of 1947. This was the most significant legislative initiative in the history of the Republic pertaining to the defense of the country and the cultural behavior of the military personnel and institutions that perform the duty to defend us. The Act transformed the national security organization framework to focus military capabilities in a more coordinated manner. It also reflected the importance of new technologies and capabilities to organize military operations during conflict and integrate the nation’s defense capabilities to maximize effectiveness.

Enacted after World War II, the 1947 Act incorporated many “lessons learned” stemming from the successful campaign to defeat the Axis powers and Japanese imperialists. The Act was also developed to correct some of the deficiencies which emerged and became evident during the global conflict in the 1940s. ��In particular, the coordination between the War Department and the Navy Department were limited to the most senior civilian and military leaders at the highest levels. The Secretaries of War and Navy reported to the President directly with little coordination between them. Similarly, the General Staff of the War Department were often disconnected from the naval services – the Navy and Marine Corps – at the Navy Department.��In effect, the military capabilities were engaged as two separate, independent silos with all the duplication, sibling rivalries and jealousies that such an arrangement implies.

While naval forces were engaged in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, Europe was considered a dominant land war which engaged traditional land-based Army forces. Similarly, while the Army Air Corps was heavily engaged in the Pacific theater, the vast region and its multitude of islands prompted military leaders to consider this to be dominantly conflicts between naval forces. Naval gunfire engagements and submarine warfare in both theaters of operations opened new options to defeat the enemy. The Marines were tasked to secure the shoreline and island terrain while the Navy transported the “soldiers from the sea.” But while the loosely formed strategy produced success, it also revealed defective operational results that could have been more effective and reduced the horrific number of military and civilian casualties had military worked together more closely.

The solutions embraced in the 1947 Act were sweeping. The War Department and Navy Department established by Constitutional mandate at the founding of the Republic were fundamentally reformed. The War Department became the Department of the Army, and a new Department of the Air Force was created to coordinate the nation’s air warfare assets, largely from the Army Air Corps assets of the time. A new civilian Secretary of the Air Force was established along with a new military Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The Marine Corps remained under the purview of the Navy Department, but the stunning victories in the Pacific theater raised the standing of the Marines as an essential element of force projection from the sea.

Most significantly, the Army, Navy and Air Force Departments became subordinate to a single civilian leader who reported to the President as the Cabinet Officer responsible for the “National Military Establishment” renamed two years later as the Department of Defense in 1949. ��The “Joint Chiefs of Staff” was formally designated and composed of the Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Air Force, the Chief of Naval Operations, and Commandant reporting to their respective service Secretaries, as well as the new Secretary of Defense. In doing so, they began to act as a consolidated “team of rivals” rather than a collection of stand-alone subsidiaries.

This was an important legislation initiative that boldly recast the nation’s military capabilities. Over the years since, other significant changes were made to bring the military services even closer together to coordinate their capabilities and make the national security capability more formidable. Significantly, command structures that were cobbled together by necessity during WWII were designated under a single senior officer in charge to coordinate all armed forces in their respective regions. The 1947 Act started a string of reforms designed to formalize the concept to coordinate forces in a joint, integrated manner to maximum collective effectiveness. It all started with the 1947 Act to build on the American military success and organized to do so when called upon to work together to realize a common goal of victory.”

Among many impressive experiences O’Keefe has had, it’s important to note that on four separate occasions, he served as a presidential appointee when he led NASA, as secretary of the Navy, as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and deputy assistant to the President, and as comptroller and CFO at the Defense Department.

Mayra Quintana (left) and Kamryn Olkowski interned for one month at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

Kamryn Olkowski hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado, where prior to attending the USAFA she served as a signal intelligence analyst for the U.S. Air Force. She always knew she wanted to go to the academy growing up because she attended local sports camps and programs there. When she applied the first time, however, she was denied. With a no-quit attitude, Olkowski applied twice while serving active duty and was finally accepted to attend the USAFA. As a rising senior, Olkowski is a management major, which covers topics such as accounting, finances and marketing.

Mayra Quintana was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where a tough family life molded her into the person she is today. “My dad was arrested when I was 8 years old, and he’s been in prison for most of my childhood,” says Quintana. Her community is heavily impoverished and deals with constant violence and drugs. Quintana had her eyes set on college, and during junior ROTC in high school, she decided to apply to the USAFA and become a beacon of hope for others. Similarly, to Olkowski, Quintana is a rising senior also majoring in management and uses her experiences to speak with members of her community about the ways she has avoided becoming a statistic in her community.

Both cadets, as part of CSRP, gained insight on opportunities available to them in the workforce. Olkowski says, “When looking at what the IVMF was and the focus on entrepreneurship, as an aspiring entrepreneur I knew that it could provide me with some insight and maybe something that I could use in the future.” While cadet Quintana says she initially found out about VET-SIM (a project focused on helping student veterans navigate collegiate study), she thought this would give her the experience and opportunity to help others, specifically veterans, through research.

Quintana is looking forward to taking what she has learned under Linda R. Euto, associate director for research and evaluation at the IVMF, and Professor Benjamin Dotger, from the School of Education, and the project and implementing it at the academy. Quintana says, “Within each squadron [100 cadets] at the academy, there is an officer and enlisted member in charge of those cadets. Applying what VET-SIM is trying to accomplish can potentially close the gap between officers, who have much more training through the academy, and their enlisted peers who are working with students.”

Within entrepreneurship, Olkowski has been working on the community navigator pilot program (CNPP), which was awarded to the IVMF through a Small Business Administration grant. The CNPP program includes seven hub organizations, in this case one of them being the IVMF, at the center of a network of spoke organizations that engage trusted community advocates to support veteran small businesses. Olkowski says, “I have been analyzing what our hub at the IVMF does to coordinate with our 16 spokes. I am then comparing that to the other seven hubs and taking the best parts of what they are doing and coordinating with IVMF staff to implement them [the best parts] into our hub.” Through her analysis Olkowski has also been part of restructuring the community navigator website design, as well as creating a document explaining the project.

While the cadets spent most of their time working in their respective groups, they did have the opportunity to attend the Veteran Entrepreneur Success Summit in Washington, D.C., featuring members of the . They were able to make new connections with successful veteran business owners and learn about other segments of IVMF programming. Reflecting on the experience Quintana says, “Everyone was super genuine and supportive and giving us so much wisdom and knowledge. It was cool to be there and see successful people encouraging us to start our businesses and careers earlier than later.” Olkowski says, “We were nervous about it, we did not want to annoy all the people from their actual networking opportunities. But everyone was genuine about wanting to connect with us and talk with us.”

As both cadets enter their final years at the academy, they thought about what life might be like for them after they fulfill their military service. Olkowski says her hope is to one day open a consulting business for people who are dealing with death and navigating that process. She hopes that she can bridge the gap for folks struggling to balance the administrative nature of the task of dealing with death and the personal emotion that accompanies the process. Quintana is looking back on her community, and what it means to be a female minority in the military. She hopes that others will see what she has done and be inspired to follow in her footsteps making positive change in her community and others across the country.

Quintana and Olkowski shared their appreciation of the IVMF and what they learned in a short amount of time. Olkowski says, “After seeing the number of resources offered at the IVMF I am going share what I have learned with others facing the transition process. It is nice to have this resource in my back pocket for when I transition out as well.” Both women are excited to get back to the academy and share their experiences from the IVMF with other cadets.

Dr. Ken Marfilius

So what can we do to prevent suicide and help veterans and military personnel suffering from mental health issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Dr. Ken Marfilius, a U.S. Air Force veteran, shared his insight on what can be done. While in the service, Marfilius worked in multiple roles including active duty clinical social worker, mental health therapist, family advocacy officer in charge, and manager of the alcohol and drug prevention and treatment program.

He writes:

We all have a role to play in our greater American society when it comes to promoting the health and wellness of our military populations. It is paramount for military leadership to create a positive organizational culture that is mission oriented with a clear vision to promote and maintain the mental health of our military service members and then execute it. Problems are a shared experience. We all have them. We share in its manifestation by doing or not doing and we share in its resolution by the same means. We can choose to act and bring about positive change we hope for, or we can do nothing and perpetuate its maintenance.

It truly takes a village. We must all be in this together—something we can all provide is an ear or shoulder to lean on. Social support does and can prevent suicide. There is strength in seeking help. Reaching out for social support protects us all.�� It protects your family, the ones who care about you, and your communities. A stronger military community is a stronger American society.

There is always room to do more. You do not need to be a trained therapist to save a life. We must acknowledge the inherent strengths of the human condition—we all have them. How do we continue to find those strengths to help one another? This can now be done via text, phone call, or even a virtual session. There are so many options now at our disposal—what a unique opportunity to leverage advanced technology to benefit our service members and their families.

I have witnessed firsthand that serving in the military in and of itself is not necessarily the sole reason a service member or veteran may experience mental health challenges. It certainly can and is often a contributing factor. However, what I have experienced in my work as an active-duty mental health provider and in the Department of Veteran Affairs is that mental health is often a complicated and complex issue.

Prior trauma is a significant risk factor for the development of mental health disorders. Research indicates that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are traumatic experiences that occur during childhood or adolescence, influence one’s health across the entire life span. Multiple adverse childhood experiences pose significant risk for numerous mental health conditions (e.g., PTSD, substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation). This is important to understand being that individuals who experienced ACEs during childhood may seek sanctuary in the military. While this can be very positive and fundamentally alter the trajectory of a service members life for the better, we should also be exploring the associations between childhood trauma and future mental health challenges. And perhaps, how this may impact the rise in depression, PTSD, and suicide in our military and veteran populations.

We must be proactive in a reactive society. Efforts should focus on prevention, continually examining the predisposing factors and vulnerabilities that may be present in our military populations. To really sustain improvement in veteran and military mental health, we must first understand the critical need to sustain improvement in the overall public health. Service members were once young civilians before entering the military and when they transition out of the military, they are often integrated back into the communities they came from before service. They are part of the social fabric of our society. Prevention and awareness efforts must focus on the complexities of experiencing mental health challenges and its impact on not just the military member but their loved ones. It is imperative we work together as a society in promoting and sustaining the overall public health of the nation—a strong nation leads to a stronger military and veteran population across the lifespan.

We need the right services in place. These services include parent support programs, job trainings, mentors, family centered schools including mental health services, access to holistic medical care and food. We must continually monitor for the intended and unintended consequences of these interventions. The single most important factor in developing resilience in children and adults is to have a safe, stable, supportive, and committed relationship with another caring individual. We all seek human supportive connections throughout our lives.

Prevention efforts involve educating not just the service members but also their families, caregivers, and general public to identify warning signs and how to seek out the right help for that individual. Warning signs may include but not limited to depression that goes untreated, talking about wanting to die, increase in substance use, seeking access to lethal means, and displaying extreme mood swings. Risk factors for suicide may include a family history of suicide, experiencing hopelessness, trauma history, and relationship stressors. Military risk factors are similar. However, the experiences may be different, such as, a recent return from deployment or sense of loss, hopelessness, and honor. We all need purpose driven lives.

In the name of prevention, if we are experiencing someone that is displaying risk factors or warning signs, we can aid in preventing suicide by starting a conversation, reducing access to lethal means, and directing individuals to get help while providing positive and consistent social support along the way.

Any individual can aid in promoting mental wellness and suicide prevention efforts by actively listening, expressing empathy, and taking part in the integrated network of support for our nation’s military members and veterans. And perhaps, most notably, expressing they are not alone. Engaging in these conversations fosters a culture of support in so that they do not feel othered and begin to isolate, which only perpetuates the risk involved in developing depression, anxiety, and suicide.

For assistance: 24/7, confidential crisis support for veterans and their loved ones is available through the Veterans Crisis Line. They can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online or text 838255. In addition, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 1-800-273-8255.

Kola Oluwagbemi

National Guard soldier and federal civil servant Kola Oluwagbemi G’22 has had a “very favorable experience” as a result of the University’s commitment to the military community. Below, he answers questions about his background and plans for the future.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States just before my 20th��birthday. I had just finished my associate degree in marketing and was pursuing university admission to further my education when the opportunity came about to migrate to the United States. The general belief there is that America has better opportunities. I stayed with family friends in Indiana. I was always working while in school to earn my bachelor’s degree in management. I also started my own business and did freelance accounting for businesses in the Indianapolis area.

Why did you join the military?

Somewhere around 2011-12, I decided I wanted to join the military. It was something I always wanted to do. Even in Nigeria, I considered seeking admission to the military academy after high school. After considering all the options and branches, the National Guard seemed to be the most appropriate for me and would allow me to join as an officer candidate. I could serve on a part-time basis, keep my business, and not have to move too much. I didn’t want it to be too disruptive.

I joined in the Indiana Army National Guard and served an enlisted finance soldier for a few years before accepting my commission as an infantry officer. Somewhere along the line, I took a job as a federal civilian employee in the United States Property and Fiscal Office (USPFO) for Indiana. The USPFO is responsible for accountability of all federal funds and properties in the possession of the state National Guard. Essentially, during the week I was a finance guy supporting the missions of the Indiana National Guard, and a solider on the weekend.

How did you get to ���ϲ�����?

The National Guard Bureau (NGB) selected me to participate in the Defense Comptrollership Program (DCP). The DCP is a 14-month program designed primarily for Department of�� Defense (DoD) military and civilian personnel in the financial management discipline. My selection for the program was based more on my civilian employment in resource management than my military affiliation with the National Guard. I’ve worked for the USPFO in various positions including management analyst, accounting officer, and most recently as the staff accountant. Upon graduation, I will earn an MBA from the Whitman School of Management and an EMPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

How do you experience ���ϲ�����’s commitment to the military community?

The military-friendly culture of the University certainly makes for a very favorable experience. I am going through the program with 24 other DoD personnel, so that offers an added degree of built-in friendship and support for me.

What do you plan to do next?

When I complete the program in July, I’ll go right into a 2 ½ year post-utilization tour at the NGB headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Resource management, operations and logistics are my areas of interest. I’m looking forward to taking on increased responsibilities in my upcoming assignment, apply what I’ve learned from the program, and positively influence the way we do things.

Vice Chancellor Haynie wrote in this op-ed about the question, “Why create an academic facility focused on veterans and their families at ���ϲ�����?” He answered this in two parts, stating, “First, I believe all individuals and institutions have a moral obligation to assume responsibility for the costs and consequences associated with America’s decision to wage war.” In his second part he explained the opportunities it provides for the university and for central New York. He said, “you cannot tell the story of that Greatest Generation without telling the story of ���ϲ����� and Central New York. This university kicked open its doors — wider than almost any college or university in the nation — and welcomed more than 14,000 returning veterans to this campus.”

In the podcast, Patel discussed the 9/11 attacks and the United States military power, saying, ‘bureaucracy remains a problem. And when every agency has a seat at the table, it creates confusion about who’s in charge.’

Paul Dottle

One of the people behind this annual scholarship is Paul Dottle. Dottle says his involvement with ���ϲ����� first began in 2010 when his son Griffin became an Air Force ROTC cadet.

“My son was just getting started and I was just clicking around on the ���ϲ����� website when I found the Institute for Veteran and Military Families (IVMF). I reached out to them and set up a meeting,” says Dottle. He met with Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of the IVMF Mike Haynie and Assistant Vice President for Veterans Development for IVMF Raymond Toenniessen. “I was just really blown away by their energy, passion and commitment to military-connected families. I decided right then that this was an effort I could really get behind”

Dottle said his goal was to ensure that students who aren’t on full ROTC scholarships had the financial support to finish their degrees. He also wanted to ensure student veterans had comprehensive support through graduation. “I think we have to be creative to meet student veterans where they are in their journey. If that’s on campus, then ���ϲ����� can provide a full suite of support. Student veterans tend to be older, and because of that independence, they may have limited support options. We also need to help them with internships and job placement opportunities that meet their unique needs,” says Dottle.

In September 2013, Kent Syverud was appointed Chancellor and President by the University’s Board of Trustees. “What I learned early on was that the support of the Chancellor is critical to making all this happen,” says Dottle. Syverud made making ���ϲ����� the best place for veterans a strategic imperative. “In my experience in the corporate world, if the top person is committed to an action and consistently backs it up with not just words but actions, you can get a tremendous amount done. The Chancellor’s commitment is unwavering,” says Dottle. Syverud assumed the leadership post in January 2014 and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) was established in 2015. OVMA serves as the front door to student veterans beginning their journey in higher education and supporting them beyond graduation.

Dottle’s passion for supporting student veterans grows from his personal experience with the U.S. military. As the child of a U.S. Army officer himself, Dottle says he’s practically been immersed in the military his entire life. As a child he was moving around the world in support of his father. Both of his brothers have served, one as a U.S. Army NCO and another as a civilian employee for the Department of the Army. Dottle himself served in the U.S. Army Reserves. Dottle felt like the timing was right for him to get involved from both a professional and personal interest.

In 2018, Dottle became chair of the OVMA board of advisors. This group was built to provide advice and counsel to University leadership related to programs, initiatives and opportunities positioned to advance the educational goals of the University’s veteran and military-connected students. Dottle helped lead this diverse group made up of individuals with deep levels of experience from the military, government, business, higher education and public service sectors.

Dottle feels his involvement with an organization like OVMA allows his support to have an exponential impact on a community that means so much to him personally. After his son, Griffin, commissioned after graduating in 2014, Dottle’s daughter Madelyn also attended ���ϲ����� and graduated in 2018.

This past May, Dottle stepped down as chair of the OVMA board of advisors. Dottle thinks the OVMA is in great hands. He says OVMA’s Executive Director Ron Novack and his team are dedicated and “relentless” in their support of student veterans. “The OVMA would not be successful without Ron’s unyielding and undying dedication to the mission. He makes the job of the board and the board chairman so much easier because of the way he shows up each and every day,” says Dottle. “He’s a difference maker.”

His vision for the OVMA going forward is to continue to be forward-thinking about the needs of student veterans and think about supporting them not only next semester, but also addressing their challenges three to five years ahead. “How do we use the network of all of our board members to really find and drive the opportunities that are going to continue making ���ϲ����� the best place for veterans?” says Dottle. He has total confidence in the incoming chair of the OVMA board of advisors, Rich Jones. “Rich is a great leader and has a tremendous network,” says Dottle.

Kenneth Marfilius, Assistant Teaching Professor

is a veteran and an assistant teaching professor at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. Professor��Marfilius��specializes in military mental health, veteran social work, suicide prevention, and military culture and social work practice.

Prof. Marfilius is available to discuss and answer questions about post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in the case of veterans and members of the military.

He says:

“Post-traumatic stress disorder is a complicated, complex topic — it does not discriminate. We do know that prior trauma is a significant risk factor for the development of PTSD. What we see in the research is this notion of adverse childhood experiences or ACES, which are traumatic experiences that occur during childhood or adolescence, such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or violence in the home. There is evidence to support ACES does influence one’s health across the entire life span.

“In order to tackle prevention, we must examine the predisposing factors and vulnerabilities. I believe that to really sustain improvement in veteran health – we must first understand the critical need to sustain improvement in the overall public health. These veterans are civilians before entering the military and when they transition out of the military, they are often integrated right back into the communities they came from before service—which makes this a societal issue and community-wide effort.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications
M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

Joshua M. Grossman ’03
Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications and Marketing
T��202.227.9250
jmgrossm@syr.edu

Mark Nevitt

, associate professor in the College of Law, authored an op-ed for Just Security titled “” Nevitt specializes in national security law and previously served as a tactical jet aviator and attorney in the United States Navy.

According to a variety of estimates, approximately one-third of active U.S. military members have opted out of the COVID-19 vaccine. Nevitt writes that some reports predict even higher rates of military service members declining the vaccine, which has prompted some members of Congress to call on President Biden to enforce mandatory vaccine orders for the military.

Nevitt answers a variety of questions related to the possibility of vaccine enforcement, including whether military members can legally be required to receive the vaccine. Ultimately the answer is yes, Nevitt says, but it would require President Biden to waive a pre-existing informed consent requirement.

Nevitt also addresses lessons from earlier military vaccination efforts when the military ordered the anthrax vaccination for all service members. He explains that federal courts ruled against the Department of Defense’s mandatory vaccination program based on claims that the order violated informed consent, but military judges routinely upheld the order as it was in the best interest of the nation. Therefore, Nevitt concludes that while federal courts may strike down a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination order, military courts would likely uphold the ruling from Biden.

Luckily the COVID-19 fatality rate for the military is very low, but Nevitt says that recent outbreaks on Navy ships have prompted discussions about how high vaccine opt-out rates may impact national security. Ultimately, Nevitt believes that the U.S. government must “double-down” on its efforts to counteract misinformation about the vaccine in order to get more military members vaccinated, regardless of whether the vaccine is mandated.

To read his essay in its entirety, visit .

���ϲ����� media relations team members work regularly with the campus community to secure placements of op-eds. Anyone interested in writing an op-ed should first review the University’s op-ed guidelines and email media@syr.edu.

Robert Murrett

Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School and deputy director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law, wrote an op-ed for the Military Times titled “” Murrett is a former career intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy and specializes in defense analysis and military intelligence.

Murrett writes that there is increasing interest in the growth of the Chinese navy, known formally as the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). PLAN has grown its fleets at a consistent rate, but Murrett believes it is also necessary to assess the navy’s strategy, operational proficiency, and regional and global power.

Murrett says that while China’s navy has vastly expanded their operational scope, they do not yet have a global reach. “The PLAN will achieve the proficiency associated with extended maritime employment in time, but a strategy which allows both a regional and global deployment posture has yet to be fully realized,” Murrett writes.

The Chinese navy also has a different command structure than many other navies, Murrett says, as there are two individuals in charge of each warship. Murrett believes this causes clear potential for disagreement at the command level, which would likely trickle down to the crew and cause delays in decision making. Lastly, Murrett emphasizes the importance of having a balance of naval power between the Pacific and beyond.

“We should never take our maritime allies in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere for granted, and China is fully aware of their standing and strategic impact,” Murrett writes. Ultimately, Murrett believes that the growth of PLAN is worthy of American attention, as “quantity has a quality all of its own.”

To read his essay in its entirety, visit the .

���ϲ����� media relations team members work regularly with the campus community to secure placements of op-eds. Anyone interested in writing an op-ed should first review the University’s op-ed guidelines and email media@syr.edu.

is the director of LGBTQ Studies and an associate professor of religion at ���ϲ�����’s College of Arts and Sciences. He provides a written perspective about how the ban was basic discrimination, and what this move by President Biden reaffirms for all Americans, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Prof. Robert says:

“Arguments against allowing transgender persons to serve in the military aren’t new. They’re straight out of discrimination 101. Anti-progressives have dusted them off and trotted them out many times, to try to ban men of color, then women, then LGB persons from military service.

“It’s reassuring to see that, once again, these arguments have failed. Because these arguments are really about who gets to count as a citizen, and whose lives count enough to be lost in military service.��There probably hasn’t been, in the last few decades, a more important moment to reaffirm that American citizenship is a capacious category, one more interested in welcoming folks in than in keeping folks out.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., 2^nd Fl., ���ϲ�����, NY 13202
news.syr.edu |

���ϲ�����

Banks is the co-author of “,” which examines the laws that govern military conduct during times of domestic threats and unrest.

President Donald Trump has threatened military force to stop protests and expressed support for Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton’s��, which would allow for the deployment of active-duty units in law enforcement roles if requested by a governor or state legislature.

Professor Banks, who is the founding director of the ���ϲ�����, offered his thoughts about which branches of the military can be deployed by states versus the national government.

“The military (National Guard) may be deployed by State governors Federalized military – National Guard controlled by the President or regular military – are subject to the Posse Comitatus Act, and cannot engage in law enforcement except in narrow circumstances,” said Banks.

Prof. Banks has been recently quoted on this issue by��

• “It’s a horrible situation. The confluence of the virus and the racial incident — it created powder kegs and there is a lot of pent-up frustration all over the country,” said William Banks. “What you need at a time like this is tremendous leadership on the part of state, local and national figures,” he added. “Martial law is an “extraordinary state of being, and it basically means the government isn’t in control at all; there is no law. Martial law is the power of a commander,” Banks said.

And by the��

• “The background presumption in our society has always been that we don’t want the military involved in law enforcement,” Banks said. It’s a cultural view that sets the United States apart from most countries in the world and is rooted in the country’s founding rebellion against England.

Members of the media can contact Prof. Banks directly at��wcbanks@law.syr.edu��or reach out to Ellen James Mbuqe, director of media relations at ���ϲ�����, at��ejmbuqe@syr.edu��or at 412.496.0551.

Graduates were recognized with recorded messages from , .

The University normally holds a student veteran commencement each May. This year’s in-person event in the new National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) was transitioned to a virtual format because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduates are expected to be recognized on campus once in-person instruction is deemed safe to resume in the fall.

Dominique Visser and her husband, Andy

U.S. Army spouse Dominique Visser was born and grew up in Sydney, Australia. She was working as an international trade advisor/market development specialist for the Australian federal government when she was told of her now-husband, Andy, by mutual friends.

“Good friends of mine told me about a U.S. Army soldier who was deployed in Iraq. They were convinced we would hit it off. So, we actually started writing each other while he was deployed in 2004.”

By spring 2005, when she visited her friends in Fort Drum, New York, Andy had returned from Iraq and turned up for dinner.

“We met in person, went on a few dates, and it was clear this was serious,” Visser recalls. “I went back to Australia and maintained a long-distance relationship. I visited Andy in January 2006, and we became engaged. By the time we got married, we had probably spent a collective eight weeks face to face.”

The two married in New York in July 2006. One month to the day after their wedding, Andy deployed again to Iraq, leaving his new wife in a new country amidst a new lifestyle.

“Military culture is so different. But I was lucky I have friends who showed me the ropes of military life,” she says.

The snow arrived in Fort Drum that year in October. It was Visser’s first experience living in the cold.

“I had to establish myself in the U.S. without my husband’s help,” she says. “I had to get a U.S. driver’s license and learn to drive on the other side of the road—in the snow! That experience was somewhat of a microcosm of being a military spouse. You have to be able to be independent and just get on with it.”

Andy returned home in July 2007, and the couple soon moved to California so he could complete his master’s degree at Stanford University. From there, the Vissers moved to Paris, then Hawaii, West Point, Virginia, Burkina Faso and now Belgium.

Through all the moves, and the births of their three children (now aged 11, 10 and 7), Dominique maintained a desire to advance her skills, knowledge and career.

She decided to pursue her online MBA and chose ���ϲ�����, given her familiarity with the University. She felt it would give her a formal academic framework on which to hang her international experience.

“I always felt a tie to ���ϲ�����, being the closest hub to Fort Drum. SU was actually the only school I applied to, and they were so helpful,” she says. “My undergraduate degree is a B.A. in languages from Western Sydney University, and ���ϲ����� was understanding and accommodating about international accreditations. I had friends whose kids went to ���ϲ�����, and I always heard good things. So when I got in, I was delighted.”

Doing her coursework online while managing a military family, Visser has endured her share of obstacles. En route back to Burkina Faso during a layover in Paris, everything was stolen—her laptop with her coursework, passports, certificates—but her professors were flexible and only concerned with her safety.

In Africa, two terrorist attacks hit their area, and the country was declared a no-travel zone. “I told my professors of the dangers, the challenges of heat, dust and electricity/connectivity,” she says. “They never pitied me or made me feel like they were making special accommodations. Rather, everyone was understanding and supportive in a difficult situation.”

Visser also found support from other students and her academic advisors.

“So many people I studied with took the time to understand the challenges of military life. When I had especially spotty internet service during the hot season in Africa, or during our move from Burkina Faso to Belgium, other military-connected students in the classes knew what I was experiencing. Being able to talk to others who get it and have jumped through those hoops, coupled with the support from the University—it set me and others like me up for success.”

For Visser and her family, her ���ϲ����� degree is a family endeavor and a family investment.

“I have been so impressed with the program. This program really stretches and pushes you,” she says. “You have to sign on ready to work—it is not a walk in the park. My husband afforded me use of his GI Bill for this, and as he tells the kids when he takes them out for the day when I need to study, or when we all sit down to do our homework together, this effort is for all of us.”

The Visser family planned to attend ���ϲ�����’s Commencement. “My kids have seen the effort this has taken,” Dominique says. “They have seen me heading into class on weekends. They know the time difference with New York means I am up late at night for class and sometimes don’t finish until 2.30 a.m. So, we think it’s important for our kids to see the end of the effort, for them to see me walk the stage in my cap and gown.”

The University’s commencement has been postponed to the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Vissers still hope to attend the rescheduled ceremony.

After taking a break from embassy work to finish her degree, Visser is excited to explore new opportunities with her MBA. Ideally, she would like to find a remote or transferable job to help with career continuity or even go back to her passion, international trade advisory/export advisory.

“My ���ϲ����� education really has given me a sense of confidence that I can take on a career amidst this crazy life,” Visser says. “I have enjoyed every minute of this program, even the most challenging. To other military spouses, all I can say is: give it a try, invest in yourself—it’s worth it in the end.”

Today, ���ϲ����� is reaffirming its commitment to adult and lifelong learners, veterans and military-connected students through a series of initiatives designed to expand opportunity and enhance affordability for those who aspire to earn a ���ϲ����� undergraduate degree through part-time study at University College.

“Part-time learners represent the largest population of students enrolled in higher education today. Making part-time study at ���ϲ����� more affordable and accessible is both a natural continuation of the University’s history of supporting non-traditional students and also an appropriate response to the changing needs and expectations of those who could most benefit from a ���ϲ����� education,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud.

Specifically, effective immediately, the cost for part-time undergraduate study at ���ϲ�����–to include all part-time residential and online undergraduate degree programs–will be reduced by 18 percent, from $846 per credit hour to $695 per credit hour. This adjustment to part-time undergraduate tuition will effectively reduce the total tuition cost to earn a bachelor’s degree from University College, on average, by $18,000.

“���ϲ����� has a proud history of empowering part-time students,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of University College. “As we introduce and align new part-time undergraduate programs with the demands of a dynamic labor market, we recognize that enhancing access to those programs must be central to our efforts.”

Consistent with Chancellor Syverud’s dedication to support and serve the nation’s veterans and military families, the University is also acting to expand access to undergraduate part-time degree programs for military-connected students.

Also underway, ���ϲ����� has aligned the undergraduate part-time tuition rate charged to active duty military members, enrolled in online undergraduate programs, to be equivalent with the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) reimbursement. University College will also offer part-time online undergraduate study to members of the New York State National Guard and reservists stationed in New York state, at a cost equivalent to the Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program (RIRP) tuition reimbursement rate.

The TAP and RIRP programs are designed to provide federal financial aid to active duty military members, and members of the National Guard and the Reserves, in support of advanced education. ���ϲ�����’s decision to align online undergraduate part-time tuition with the TAP and RIRP reimbursement rates effectively means that active military and members of the NYS National Guard and the Reserve will ideally incur no out-of-pocket tuition expenses while enrolled in part-time undergraduate study at University College.

“The foundational idea behind ���ϲ�����’s commitment to the nation’s veterans and families is that access to high-quality, advanced education will empower our veterans to realize their inherent potential as individuals, and as citizens, after their military service comes to an end,” says J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “I can think of no better way to enable that potential than with a degree from ���ϲ�����.”

���ϲ�����’s part-time undergraduate programs include an online associate degree in liberal arts and bachelor’s degrees in liberal studies, creative leadership, knowledge management and cybersecurity administration. Part-time study is designed for those who cannot attend ���ϲ����� full time. Courses are offered in eight-week sessions, allowing part-time online students to complete up to three courses (nine credits) each semester. Students who have earned prior college credit may be eligible to transfer up to 30 credits into the 60-credit associate degree and potentially up to 90 credits into the 120-credit bachelor’s degrees.

Individuals interested in more information about part-time enrollment opportunities at ���ϲ����� may contact the University College admissions team at 315.443.9378 or parttime@syr.edu. Veterans and military-connected students can learn more about part-time programs and tuition benefits at .

is a University Professor at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and former Administrator of NASA. The graduate courses he leads include national security policy and technology management.

O’Keefe says:

“This directive won’t save the organizational expense of this separation and will create countless bureaucratic fist fights over what goes into which part of this new Department of the Air Force enterprise.��Moreover, the operational chain of command will remain unaffected by this structure. Separately, the Defense Department is recreating the U.S. Space Command which will place all of the operational assets of the military services under another four star general.

“In the end, this is a lot of organizational box shuffling to give the president an opportunity to sign a directive which still must be officially created by the Congress. That branch of government will surely have its own ideas of what goes into the new military service.

“This solution is still searching for a problem – and along the way, creating new problems to be adjudicated.

“This an organizational compromise that creates ‘Space Force’ as a subcomponent of the Air Force much like the Marine Corps structure within the Department of the Navy. This avoids the necessity to establish a new civilian leadership chain to the Secretary of Defense since the Secretary of the Air Force is a direct report and already has a support structure of Assistant Secretaries, General Counsel, etc.

“But beneath that level will be a new military four star General as Chief of Staff for Space Force who will be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and all the associated military support structure that will mirror what you see in the Department of Defense today for each military service – the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, the National Guard Bureau and now Space Force.

“The upside is that the civilian chain of the command isn’t any more complicated than it already is.�� But 95 percent of the overhead cost is wrapped up in all the process units to be built around the typical functional stove pipes for budget, programs, personnel, contracts, and the very complex acquisition support.��The Marine Corps is comparatively lean and much smaller than the Army, Navy or Air Force – but all these organizations dedicated to Marine Corps matters are under the Department of the Navy which has a parallel collection of units that support Navy matters.��The Secretary of the Navy is at the top of this dual set of stove pipe organizations, the same way the Secretary of the Air Force will have two different military services reporting in to ‘recruit, train and equip . . .’ – the standard responsibility of all of the military departments.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Communications and Marketing

T��315.443.1184 ����M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

���ϲ�����

is the Director of Applied Research at . She says for student veterans, going back to school means more than gathering books and backpacks.

Maury says:

“The demographics of those attending higher education institution are changing. In fact, it is estimated that by 2025 more than 50 percent of the student population will be nontraditional students. Student veterans fall into that nontraditional category.

“Student veterans are more likely to be older, married, have children, and working full or part time. Some student veterans may have a disability and some are first generation students in higher education.

“For student veteran going back to school means more than gathering books and backpacks.”

Some challenges that student veterans have faced while pursuing higher education are:

• Age differences between themselves and other students
• Lack of financial resources
• Working full time jobs
• Few veterans resources on campus
• Family responsibilities
• Transferring academic credits

Helpful resources and assets for veteran success include:

• Having a military/veteran friendly campus and environment (including policies, resources, faculty/staff, etc.)
• Dedicated academic advising/counseling and peer or professional tutoring for student veterans
• Dedicated veterans office & administrators on campus
• Flexible class schedules
• Veterans orientation program and academic preparation courses & remediation for those that need

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Communications and Marketing

T��315.443.1184 ����M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

820 Comstock Avenue, Suite 308, ���ϲ�����, NY 13244
news.syr.edu |

���ϲ�����

is a University Professor at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and former Administrator of NASA. The graduate courses he leads include national security policy and technology management.

O’Keefe says:

“Creation of separate military service as a ‘Space Force’ is a solution in search of a problem.

“The ‘Space Force’ as a separate military service entity would still compete with all the other defense-related priorities for resources and leadership attention. There’s no reason to believe that space-related programs would fare any better than they do today under the U.S. Air Force recognizance.

“Setting this up via Executive Order means Trump decided to railroad this answer past his own Department of Defense. Perhaps he thinks that the administrative cost to create this new bureaucracy for no rational reason will be offset by what he thinks is being saved by canceling the Pacific ‘war games’ in Korea.

“It’s hard to imagine how this will improve the dynamics for space as a priority.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Communications and Marketing

T��315.443.1184 ����M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

820 Comstock Avenue, Suite 308, ���ϲ�����, NY 13244
news.syr.edu |

���ϲ�����

“I would never underestimate the Japanese military,” he said. “In terms of just sheer military proficiency — unit for unit, person for person, they’re the best military in Asia. From a policy approach, they’re getting more energetic and less deferential to their neighbors or to the umbrella provided by the United States.”

“The Department of Defense believes that more than one million veterans will transition to civilian life over the next five years. As I learned firsthand, the transition can be difficult—half of veterans will leave their first civilian job within a year, and three-quarters depart within the first 18 months, according to a ���ϲ����� study. The reasons for individuals’ decisions are innumerable, but with approximately 93 percent of the U.S. population never having served a day in the military, there are communication and cultural differences between veterans and non-veterans that we must account for, solve and translate into successes for our employees, our companies, and ultimately, our country.”