---
title: An Enduring Call to Serve
date: 2023-11-10T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/an-enduring-call-to-serve"
section: Articles
---
# An Enduring Call to Serve

*November 10, 2023* — by [Maggie Haslam](/author/maggie-haslam)


> Military Experiences Shape Terp Veterans’ Work at UMD

*Veterans hero art 1920x1080 — Clockwise from bottom left: Associate Dean Doug Lombardi flying in an AC-130 aircraft during a combat mission in Panama; former senior airman Andy Tran '27 with a helicopter; doctoral student and former senior airman Eran Eads; Frank Goertner, a director at the Smith School, flying a helicopter for the U.S. Navy. "These are the people who first raised their hand to serve our country," said Goertner. "They continue that service in their work at UMD."*

During the height of the pandemic lockdown, Frank Goertner would fix himself a coffee and trudge down to his home office to tackle his inbox and face his Zoom calendar. He was always busy, but at the end of the day, it was difficult to feel accomplished.


*Frank Goertner*


*Georgina Dodge*



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*Doug Lombardi*



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*David Lovell*



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*Erin Iverson*



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*Michael Hoffmeyer*



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*Timothy Jones*



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*Edward McDermott with George W. Bush*



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*Andy Tran*



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*Eran Eads*



**Sidebar note:**

The Memorial Chapel will host [Honor & Remember, ](https://stamp.umd.edu/centers/memorial_chapel/veterans_memorial)a service and lunch at noon Friday to celebrate the contributions of University of Maryland veterans. Featured speakers will be **Frank Goertner,** director for federal and veteran affairs at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and **Rebecca Patterson**, a Tillman Military Scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in environmental health sciences.

Other Veterans Week events include golf, a kayak football tournament and veteran reception at the Maryland vs. Michigan game Nov. 18. Find the full lineup of activities on the [Veteran Student Life](https://stamp.umd.edu/engagement/veteran_student_life/veterans_week)page.





**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Veterans](https://today.umd.edu/topic/veterans), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [A. James Clark School of Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/james-clark-school-engineering), [Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center](https://today.umd.edu/topic/clarice-smith-performing-arts-center), [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities), [College of Education](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-education), [Division of Student Affairs](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-student-affairs), [Belonging & Community at UMD](https://today.umd.edu/topic/belonging-and-community-at-umd), [Robert H. Smith School of Business](https://today.umd.edu/topic/robert-h-smith-school-business), [University of Maryland Police Department](https://today.umd.edu/topic/university-maryland-police-department)