Charles Hale

I served nearly 7 years on active duty as an infantry assaultman in the United States Marine Corps and was one of the first Marines to spearhead Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia in early December 1992.  A few years later I was attached to a Force Recon platoon in Okinawa, Japan as a squad leader for a trailer platoon to help with their dynamic job in Close Quarters Battle (CQB).  I ended my active duty service as a sergeant in 1998 at Marine Corps Security Force Company in Keflavik, Iceland as the training chief, training Marines in Iceland, Northern Greenland and Norway for cold weather operations.  I started my higher education career when I returned to school using my GI Bill benefits after my military and federal service as a work study for Veteran Affairs at Glendale Community College in 2004.  I graduated ASU in 2008 with a BA in History and later a MEd in 2011 from Northern Arizona University.   While at Glendale CC, I was hired as an academic advisor, VA certifying official, work study supervisor and adjunct faculty in history.  After leaving GCC and joining ASU, I became the Assistant Director for Admission Services for the Downtown Phoenix campus in 2012.  I also worked closely with the Pat Tillman Veterans Center on veteran admissions and recruitment traveling to southwest region military bases for educational recruitment events.  Currently, I work for the College of Health Solutions working on student veteran initiatives with the Military and Veteran Resilience and Health Collaborative (MVRHC) and as the coordinator for the graduate programs in Clinical Exercise Physiology, Strength and Conditioning, and Population Health.  I am also actively involved with many veteran service organizations; Quality Resilience Fitness (QRF), Daisy Mountain Veterans, Merging Vets and Players (MVP) to name a few.    

Mission Statement

Drawing from my personal experiences as a veteran and understanding the unique challenges veterans and their families face when navigating a world without well-defined structure, I aim to be a steadfast advocate for student veterans. My mission is to help them transition successfully into higher education by fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes their mental and physical well-being. Through the encouragement of constructive activities that enrich the mind, strengthen the body, and build lasting community connections, I am dedicated to empowering student veterans to reach their full potential and thrive in both their academic and personal lives.

Vision

When I began my higher education journey in 2004, supported by GI Bill benefits, I quickly realized the profound value I could bring to the student veteran community. My path, from community college to university, became a personal case study in navigating the complexities of transitioning to civilian and academic life as a veteran.

Student veterans are a unique and resilient group, set apart from traditional students by their experiences, perspectives, and the benefits they have earned through their service. These benefits offer incredible opportunities but also create unique challenges for educational institutions, which must provide the necessary resources to ensure student veterans succeed. Many veterans are first-generation college students, often facing educational deficits, and they may be reluctant to seek the help they need to thrive.

I envision a future where every student veteran has access to comprehensive peer-to-peer support and a collaborative space where they can connect with other veterans, both on and off-campus. This space would serve as a hub for academic success, career preparation, and lifelong learning, embodying the charter of Arizona State University to serve its diverse communities. By fostering this environment, we can ensure that student veterans are not only equipped to navigate their educational journeys but are also empowered to excel in their post-graduation endeavors, creating a legacy of excellence and service in their communities.