Adelphi, Md. (Oct. 2, 2024)—The theme for the University of Maryland Global Campus Veterans Day Ceremony will be Legacy of Loyalty and Service and feature keynote speaker and UMGC alumnus, The Honorable James D. Rodriguez, assistant secretary for Veterans Employment and Training Services at the U.S. Department of Labor.
At the ceremony, the university will also announce the winner of the General John W. Vessey Student Veteran of the Year award. The Vessey award is presented annually to a student who has excelled in their academic and military careers. The award is named for UMGC alumnus General John W. Vessey, Jr., the only chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who began his military career as an enlisted servicemember.
This year's recipient is Gunnery Sergeant Ehsan Jamshidi, a refugee from Afghanistan, who came to the U.S. as a child.
What: UMGC Veterans Day Ceremony
When: Monday, November 11, 1-3 p.m.
Where: College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
Click HERE to register for this event
Additional Event Information:
The event will be livestreamed. Anyone who wishes to attend virtually can choose the livestream option when registering, which will include instructions on how to access the livestream.
The ceremony will include a presentation of the colors by the University of Maryland Army ROTC Color Guard.
About Gunnery Sergeant Ehsan Jamshidi:
Gunnery Sergeant Jamshidi was born in Herat, Afghanistan, and raised in Elk Grove, CA. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2014, he quickly rose through the ranks, serving in various leadership roles across Okinawa, Japan, Switzerland, Jordan, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Spain. His distinguished service includes assignments as a Marine Security Guard, Detachment Commander, and Psychological Operations Chief at MARSOC. He also served as Psychological Operations Company First Sergeant at the Marine Corps Information Operations Center (MCIOC), where he managed personnel and oversaw psychological operations missions.
Notably, he supported Operation Allies Welcome as the Linguist SNCOIC. His personal awards include the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, among others. After retiring from the Marine Corps in May 2024, he now serves as a Counterintelligence Technology Analyst at the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency in Quantico, VA.
About University of Maryland Global Campus
Founded more than 75 years ago to meet the higher education needs of working adults and military servicemembers, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland. UMGC continues its global mission with online and hybrid courses, over 175 classroom and service locations worldwide, and more than 135 degrees and certificates. The university is also celebrating the 75th anniversary of teaching U.S. servicemembers in Europe. For more information, visit umgc.edu.
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