Jerry L. Wood, newly appointed Director of WVU’s Veterans Affairs, is the keynote for this year’s Veterans Appreciation Breakfast held at the Erickson Alumni Center Nov. 9 and will begin at 8 a.m. The theme is “Honoring Our Heroes.”
Wood is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel who served more than 30 years of active duty. He enlisted in 1984 as a musician and retired in 2017 as a human resource officer. Throughout the course of his career, he deployed to South Korea, Croatia/Bosnia and Iraq, holding three commands and serving more than seven years in multiservice/NATO assignments.
He concluded his career representing the Department of the Army as the Southeast Regional Director for the Army’s Soldier for Life program, developing corporate government, higher education, not-for-profit and community action veteran initiatives throughout the southeastern United States. In this role, he specialized in developing collaborative efforts at the local, state, regional and national level leading to improve delivery, efficiency, and effectiveness of services for our Veterans and their families.
A native of Parkersburg, Jerry and his wife Leslie returned home to West Virginia to pursue two passions: serve Veterans and their families and work to better the state of West Virginia however he can.
The program will feature the singing of the national anthem, the presentation of colors and reading the names of prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Forest J. “Jack” Bowman will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. He served as Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Army, 1963-1967 and was a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, 2007-2011. He is also the Jackson Kelly Professor of Law Emeritus.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to register for the breakfast.
WVU recognizes Veteran’s Day as a “Day of Recognition,” allowing WVU veterans and military students to miss class to participate in veteran-related events.
This event is sponsored by the WVU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in partnership with WVU Talent and Culture, WVU Division of Student Life, WVU Veterans Affairs, WVU Army & Air Force ROTC, and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
The Division of Diversity is committed to improving the climate experience of our student veterans and veterans of our faculty and staff.