Veterans CNG
Join Us!
Do you want to...
...Network with other veterans and military personnel at Cornell?
...Participate in campus veteran's events?
...Influence veteran's practices on campus?
...Connect with the over 400 veterans and military personnel at Cornell?
Mission & Vision
Our Mission
Raise the awareness of veteran and military personnel issues here at the University; provide a forum for veteran’s and their supporters to meet to discuss topics of mutual interest and concern; and to support the University’s recruitment and retention of veterans and military personnel at Cornell University.
Our Vision
There are over 400 veterans who work or go to school at Cornell and we aim to connect with them all.
Events
Upcoming Events: Fall 2024
SEPTEMBER 4:
Veterans & Military Social
3:30 - 5:00 pm, Brewer’s Kitchen & Taproom, 8735 1384 Dryden Road
Join us for casual fellowship, conversation, and complementary food. Co-sponsored with the Tompkins County Department of Veterans Services.
SEPTEMBER 20:
Vietnam Veterans of America POW/MIA Watchfire
7:00 pm, Myers Park, Lansing
Join the VVA and other local veterans in the watchfire and American flag retirement ceremony.
OCTOBER 16:
“To CENTCOM & Back Again: A Desert Deployment 2022-2023”
Presentation by Shaun Gendrue, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, via Zoom
NOVEMBER 2:
Veteran Cemetery Cleanup
Hosted by the Student Veteran Program Office. More details forthcoming.
NOVEMBER 9:
Syracuse VA Medical Center Visit
Hosted by the Student Veteran Program Office. More details forthcoming.
NOVEMBER 11:
Veteran’s Day Events
Greenlight-A-Vet & (tentative) Tower Chimes Concert, Military Appreciation Luncheon, and other events throughout the day and evening. Times and locations in upcoming messages.
TOMPKINS COUNTY WOMEN VETERANS GROUP
4th Friday of every month, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, Human Services Annex Building,
214 Martin Luther King/State St.
Join in and be part of a home base group for Women Veterans in Tompkins County. Late lunch/early dinner served. Hosted by the Tompkins County Department of Veterans Services with support of the NYS Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Support Program.
Get Involved
Cornell Veterans Memorials tour - Attend a VCNG event!
- Join the listserv VETERANSANDMILITARYPERSONNEL-L. Contact us at veterans@cornell.edu.
- Contribute to a discussion on LinkedIn.
- Sweat with a Vet! Join the Team Red White and Blue Community for updates on weekly exercise opportunities and monthly events.
- Access Cornell's Military Community page for veteran-specific resources.
- Discover Cornell's military history through a tour of campus Veterans Memorials. View them online, join Team RWB on a scheduled run or tour them at your own pace.
Leadership
Current VCNG Executive Members
CHAIR: Amber Alpízar all20@cornell.edu
VICE CHAIR: Randi Rainbow randi.rainbow@cornell.edu
HISTORIAN: Rich Mattingly rm2283@cornell.edu
TREASURER: Jase Baese jbb23@cornell.edu
COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR: Tim Merritt tkm53@cornell.edu
MEMBER-AT-LARGE: Shaun Gendrue smg367@cornell.edu
MEMBER-AT-LARGE: vacant
Executive and Ex-Officio Members
EXECUTIVE SPONSOR: Rick Burgess
ROTC LIAISON: Derek Ryan Fitzpatrick drf89@cornell.edu
VETERAN REP. for EA: Jeramy Kruser jak474@cornell.edu
CORNELL VETERANS HOUSE COMMUNITY FELLOW: Tony Roach acr266@cornell.edu
STUDENT VETERAN COORDINATOR: vacant
Chair
Amber Alpízar brings decades of deep industry knowledge and adventurous life experiences as an Operation Enduring Freedom Service Medal Veteran, ICF credentialed Executive Coach and Director of Human Resources for Cornell University’s College of Engineering.
Amber served in the Army Reserves from1999-2009 in various locations while also pursuing her B.S. in Business Management (01’) and M.S. in Organizational Communication (04’), Learning and Design, with research centered around gender issues in the military.
Amber has long held a passion for supporting veterans and raising awareness to the issues veterans face as they integrate back into civilian life/workplace. She has volunteered with the Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans for Peace, Warrior Writers, and has served on podcasts, speaker panels, partnering with community organizations to raise awareness and support for mental health/wellbeing for returning veterans.
Both in her leadership role within Human Resources at Cornell along with volunteer roles, Amber is committed to developing values-driven, conscious leaders that will cultivate high performing, inclusive and engaged teams. Amber embodies a collaborative approach and coaching mindset both on and off campus, supporting others to understand and bring to life their strengths, values and authentic leadership styles in support of personal and organizational goals.
Amber is a full-time single mama to a spirited 12 year old daughter, sharing many outdoor adventures together: hunting, fishing, Xcountry skiing, snowboarding, surfing, scuba diving, hiking, gardening, mountain biking, and camping to name a few.
Vice Chair:
Randi Rainbow is the Director of Information Technology for the College of Human Ecology and the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. His focus is on the development and deployment of technology services supporting the unique nature of the human-involved physical and social sciences in support of their instructional, research and outreach missions. Prior to this, he was an Information Technology Area Manager in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, also at Cornell University. His military service, from 1986-1996, starting with Army National Guard service as a DAAS3 computer systems operator, followed by two active duty Air Force tours as aircraft logistics in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and then in communications-computer systems with the Air Intelligence Agency (AIA) and Joint Analysis Center (JAC) in EUCOM. He served a combat tour in Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of the NATO mission and IFOR/SFOR. He followed military service with contract support for the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and Army Special Operations Command (ASOC) prior to moving to New York and Cornell. Randi is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and has a degree from the Community College of the Air Force in Information Systems.
Historian:
Rich Mattingly: I work for the Cornell Small Farms Program's Farm Ops, veterans in agriculture project, where I help veterans and active-duty military personnel pursue their small farm dreams by providing them access to educational and training opportunities. Born in Montreal, but raised in Tennessee, I spent a lot of my free time as a kid in the woods and found a sense of belonging and peace in wild nature.
After graduating from college, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a combat correspondent for five years, taking part in operations in a variety of locations around the world. During one of my combat deployments to Afghanistan, watching local farmers I spent time with navigate producing food in a variety of inhospitable climates, both atmospheric and political, inspired me to rethink the lifestyle I was pursuing. There, the seeds of what it truly means to live in harmony with the land were planted in my consciousness.
After leaving the military in 2008, I began a career as a professional photographer in Buffalo, NY. I am lucky to be dad to three boys - 12, 13 and 18 - whom I love spending time with.
In 2019, I bought land in Dryden, NY with the goal of starting a small farm enterprise that focuses on providing free, healthy food to local food sovereignty organizations and mutual aid groups. As I have started my own farming journey, I have found inspiration, strength, and camaraderie learning alongside other veteran farmers. I'm honored to be able contribute to VCNG as historian.
Treasurer:
Jase Baese was born and raised in New Braunfels, Texas. After graduating from Trinity University in San Antonio in 1994 with a B.S. in Business Administration, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Branch of the U.S. Army. Jase served a three year assignment in Germany, including six months in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of IFOR/SFOR. Jase has worked at Cornell University and lived in Lansing since 1998, he is currently an Assistant Director for Information Technology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Jase was the captain for the Ithaca Team Red, White and Blue community from 2014 through 2021 and encourages anyone interested in health and fitness, no matter what level you are at, to join Team RWB. In 2022, Jase began a term as VCNG Treasurer.
Community Outreach Coordinator:
Tim Merritt: bio coming
Member at Large
Shaun Gendrue joined the New York Army National Guard in 2013, completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Moore, GA (formally Fort Benning), and commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer. Shaun has served in various capacities at the company and battalion levels in both logistics and human resources. He currently serves (as of October 2023) as Commander for a Forward Support Company based on Long Island. He has been activated for various missions including snow storms, the COVID-19 Pandemic, securing the US Capitol Building, and a recent mobilization to the Middle East in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield.
Shaun started in his position as Assistant Director of Student and Career Development in the College of Human Ecology in 2018 and works primarily with students interested in applying to medical school or other professional schools for the allied health careers. His position also provides him with the responsibility as Staff Advisor to the student club, the Pre-Professional Association Towards Careers in Health (PATCH). He has a BA in History from Grove City College in Grove City, PA and a MS in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Canisus University in Buffalo, NY.
Member at Large
(Position vacant)
Veterans Rep for the EA:
Jeramy Kruser – is currently the Veterans Representative to the Employee Assembly. He served in the Marine Corps Reserves as a KC-130 engine mechanic for 6 years, from 1993 to 2000, before a spinal injury removed him from service. He received a BS in Computer Science from Alfred University in 2006 and has been working a variety of IT jobs since. He joined Cornell in 2012. In 2015 he joined the Ithaca Chapter of Team RWB and became the Communications Director for the chapter in 2019. He has been researching and providing guided tours of the veteran memorials around Cornell campus since 2019. Jeramy has pursued several competitive sports and unusual skills including boxing, MMA, atlatl, fencing, heavy sword and shield, cycling, blacksmithing, and flint knapping. He is an avid computer gamer and works with his wife on turning their yard into a native wildlife habitat at their home. He welcomes contact for tours, or just to chat via email or Teams chat: jak474@cornell.edu
ROTC Liaison
LTC Derek Ryan Fitzpatrick has served as an active duty U.S. Army officer for over 19-years, across numerous command and staff positions and with multiple operational deployments (16 countries and counting) as a Civil Affairs officer. He commissioned from Army ROTC at Niagara University in 2005 as a Distinguished Military Graduate, and holds graduate degrees from the University of Kansas and the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies. LTC Fitzpatrick is a native of Syracuse, New York and is grateful to be back in Upstate with family and friends. Email: drf89@cornell.edu
Cornell Veterans House Community Fellow
Tony Roach: Captain Tony Roach, USN (Ret) is a native of Lancaster, PA and graduate from Temple University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil/Construction Engineering Technology. He was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at the University of Pennsylvania. He reported to flight training and received his “Wings of Gold” in 1996. He received his Master of the Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2008. He spent most of his career flying H-60 Seahawks (F, H, S variants). His operational assignments include; HS-4, CVW-9, and HS-8. Tony later served as the 53rd Commanding Officer (CO) of HSC-12. Capt. Roach was the Plank owner XO for the precommissioning ship JOHN P. MURTHA (LPD26) and assumed command as the 2nd CO of LPD-26. His ashore assignments include, HS-10; CHSWP Weapons & Tactics Unit as a Seahawk Weapons & Tactics Instructor; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, staff in the J5 Directorate. His final active-duty tour was as the 32nd Professor of Naval Science/CO of the Cornell Navy ROTC Unit, where he served until his retirement in 2022. During his aviation career, he has accumulated more than 3,600 mishap-free flight hours. After retirement from active-duty, Tony remained at Cornell and is now the Director of Administration for the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering. Additionally, he proudly serves as the Cornell Veteran House Community Fellow.
Student Veteran Coordinator
Vacant
Executive Liaison
Rick Burgess, PE, CEM, Vice President, Facilities and Campus Services
As Vice President for Facilities and Campus Services, Rick is responsible for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of facilities and utilities at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. He oversees the Office of the University Architect, Contract College Facilities, Facilities Management, Energy and Sustainability, Transportation and Delivery Services, Finance and Administration, Engineering and Project Management and the Cornell University Police Department.
Before coming to Cornell, Rick completed a 30-year career in the U.S. Navy. His final tour and career highlight was as the commanding officer of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Washington, D.C. He was the senior executive in charge of planning, building, and maintaining the facilities for eight naval bases in the D.C. area, including the Naval Academy and the Washington Navy Yard.
Rick served as the co-chair for the Cornell 2018 and 2019 United Way Campaigns.
Rick has a master’s degree in civil engineering and is a licensed professional engineer and certified energy manager.
Award
Chair of the Veterans Colleague Network Group presenting an award plaque to awardee. Shaking hands and smiling for the camera.
Debra Howell presents to one of the 2022 awardees, Jase Baese. Continuation of Service Award
The Veterans Colleague Network Group (VCNG) Cornell Veterans Continuation of Service Award recognizes Cornell veterans for their continued leadership and service.
The award celebrates veterans who have continued to serve after their military service by giving back to other veterans or making outstanding contributions to the Cornell community. Award recipients will receive an engraved plaque which will be presented during the annual Veterans Day activities.
Congratulations to our 2024 Awardee: Sarah Kreps
Read more about our awardees, and eligibility and application details: