University of Tampa Student Veterans Organization

Eddie, President

I am currently a sophomore, majoring in Government and World Affairs. I was in the Marine Corps for 9 years from 2001-2010.

I was an infantryman (0311) with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine regiment from 2002-2006, and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom three different times during that period. I was in Iraq in 2003, 2004, and 2005/06. I was injured by an IED blast in 2005, and was subsequently retired due to these injuries in Feb. 2010. From 2006 to 2010, I was an infantry and marksmanship skills instructor with Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Recruit Training Depot, Parris Island, SC.

Paul, Vice President

I was born and raised in Terryville, CT and enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after 9/11 in my senior year of high school. I went on to become an infantry mortarman (0341) with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines and deployed with the 31st MEU(SOC) to the Western Pacific in 2003 and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan in 2004-2005. After my combat tour, I re-enlisted and went to School of Infantry (West) for instructor duty teaching infantry skills for 3 years in Delta and Echo companies. My final year was with 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan and Korea. I am currently a Senior pursuing a B.S. in Management and Entrepreneurship (Dual Major) and hope to pursue an E.M.B.A.

Farida, Vice President of Finance

I am from Sacramento, California. I am currently a transfer student majoring in Chemistry with pre-med concentration. I was in the Air Force Active duty since January 2004, but I separated and joined the Air Force Reserves in August 2008. I was originally a radiologic technologist, but now I am a dental assistant in the Reserve. I only deployed once while I was on Active Duty. Last year, I worked for the Special Operations Command Central at MacDill Air Force Base as an Information Management/Administration. I worked with the joint services, and helped the directorate’s NCOIC/supervisor with their budget for the fiscal year and created temporary duty orders (for travel.) I also helped organized our directorate’s portal site/page. I was also the Government Purchase Cardholder for our directorate where I was in charge of purchasing supplies. They also put me in charge of managing the Government Travel Card Program for our personnel.

Danny, Vice President of Outreach

I served in the U.S. Navy from 2001-2007 on board the USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) as part of the Stennis and Ronald Reagan Battle Group, and have done two deployments- one to Iraq and the other to Afghanistan. I came in with the rate of undesignated Fireman and worked in the Engineering Department. After two years, I was promoted to Yeoman (Admin clerk for Officers). I left active duty a 3rd Class Surface Warfare Petty Officer with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. I am currently in the Navy Reserve as a 2nd Class Petty Officer at MacDill Air Force Base, and a first semester Senior at the University of Tampa majoring in Entrepreneurship.