Vets in the News

In the news:

Meet the 2019 John Wooden Fellows

UCLA Anderson School of Management is proud to present this video which features four of their most accomplished and esteemed students. Among these four students are veterans Rob Busalacchi (FEMBA ’20) and Danielle Schlegel (EMBA ’20). Watch now to hear their stories and see how they are carrying on and expanding the legacy of UCLA as a top institution for veterans.

Serving Those Who Served

UCLA has long provided an array of services to local veterans. Now, with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the university is adding three centers on the VA campus.

To read article, click here.

Alumni Spotlight – Dr. Frank Douglas ‘81

Frank R. Douglas is a ’81 UCLA Grad and a military veteran, having served in the Air Force as an enlisted member prior to attending UCLA. He was in a Navy officer program and later back in the Air Force as Minuteman III ICBM Missile Launch Officer. He possesses a BA in political science from UCLA, a MA in international affairs from Cal State, Sacramento, and a PhD in international relations from the University of Kent in the UK. He is a published author with his primary manuscript being “The United States, NATO, and a New Multilateral Relationship.” Although he has not been on active duty in some years, he often remains closely associated with the military. In the 1990s, he taught college courses in political science and history for the University of Maryland University College in Europe to U.S. military personnel primarily in Bosnia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In the 2000s, he taught political science and history on board U.S. Navy warships for Central Texas College in Sardinia, Sicily, Bahrain, Kuwait, U.A.E., and West Africa. In 2010, he was an Army civilian historian in Baghdad, Iraq for the 1st Armored Division documenting activities during a one-year deployment. He travels worldwide, in some 57 countries, but manages to stop in to visit the VA Hospital on Wilshire Blvd and the UCLA campus.

Gen. John R. “Jack” Dailey Awarded the 2018 National Air and Space Museum Trophy

General John R. “Jack” Dailey graduated from UCLA in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree and afterwards was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.

Dailey served two tours in Vietnam, during which he completed 450 combat missions and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Navy Commendation Medal, and 24 Air Medals. From 1973 to 1981, Dailey served in several leadership positions within the Marine Corps before becoming a Brigadier General in 1982, taking command of the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation.

On June 12, 1986 Dailey was promoted to the rank of Major General and was then appointed to the grade of Lieutenant General on November 24, 1989. The next year on August 1, 1990, Dailey was appointed to General and assumed the post as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, General Dailey joined NASA, serving from 1992 – 1999 as the Deputy Administrator. In 2000, Dailey became the Director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Between 2000 and 2018, the National Air & Space Museum has greatly expanded its educational offerings, particularly in the fields of science, technology engineering, and mathematics, known as (STEM) education. Dailey retired from the National Air & Space Museum in 2018.

General Dailey’s numerous awards and honors include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal. His many military decorations include Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star.

Forward Operation Presentation Flag

Recently, the UCLA Alumni Association received a Forward Operation Presentation Flag, certificate, and letter from Expeditionary Warfare Specialist John Joseph Ramos.

“This ensign was flown on my patrol boat in honor of the UCLA Alumni Association during a recent mission in the Gulf of Tadjoura. It has been a long deployment and I am looking forward to coming home shortly. I served with 2 UCLA students who withdrew from courses to complete this mobilization. The two were quite impressive and accomplished a great deal while deployed. They are both economics majors and plan to return in the fall and graduate in 2020.”

On behalf of Dr. Julie Sina and the UCLA Alumni Association, we are honored to have received the Presentation flag which was flown in our honor while defending USNS Cesar Chavez. We plan to fly the flag and frame its accompanying certificate for display at the James West Alumni Center.

UCLA Operation Mend

UCLA Operation Mend was established in 2007 as a groundbreaking partnership among UCLA Health, the United States military and the Department of Veterans Affairs to help heal the wounds of war. Operation Mend provides advanced surgical and medical treatment, as well as comprehensive psychological-health support for post-9/11-era service members, veterans and their families at no cost. The program is available to eligible warriors injured during combat operations or while training for service.

UCLA Health Operation Mend recently received a five-year, $20.1 million grant from Wounded Warrior Project to expand its intensive treatment program that serves veterans with post-traumatic stress and mild traumatic brain injuries and their caregivers. The funding will allow the program to more than double the number of mental health patients and caregivers treated by the program, which, in its first three years at UCLA, had outcomes showing all participants experiencing statistically significant reductions in all symptoms and a program completion rate of 97 percent. “UCLA Operation Mend provides life-changing services for veterans and families in need of specialized medical, psychological and social support services. Thanks to the generosity of the Warrior Care Network, patients and their families will have greater access to the care they need,” said Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System. “UCLA Health is honored to partner with the Warrior Care Network and grateful to Wounded Warrior Project for its incredible commitment to healing our nation’s veterans.”

Heroes of fiery 405 truck crash included rescuers from UCLA

Six members of the UCLA Army ROTC staff helped rescue trapped motorists in a fiery crash on the 405 freeway.

Remembering UCLA Alumni who died serving in WWII

By 1945, the UCLA Alumni Association had tallied 5,702 Bruins involved in the war. To view the presentation by Bill Beigel, click here. For the full video, click here.

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