CCCS News
Shining a Spotlight on CCCS System Office Veterans
Every November, I am grateful to recognize Veterans Day with all of you. Last year, I wrote about my personal connection to the holiday as the son of a proud Army veteran. Today, I wanted to shine a spotlight on a few of the thousands of Colorado Community College System (CCCS) employees who have served in the armed forces.
More than any other higher education system in Colorado, we are powered by veteran talent. About 4% of instructors, faculty, and staff across the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) have served in some capacity, and nearly 10,000 of our students are connected to the military.
Veterans Day is about more than honoring the past, however—it’s about celebrating our future.
Veterans Day is about more than honoring the past, however—it’s about celebrating our future. We know veteran employees bring outstanding experience that make organizations stronger and smarter. It’s why we are leaders in providing college credit for military training, and why we are so proud to employ veterans across our System Office.
Jordan, CarrieAnn, and Brian bring diverse and essential skills to our organization. I encourage you to read, in their own words, how their service prepared them to lead in their roles today. And to all our veteran employees, thank you for serving our country and our state. We are indebted to your dedication and sacrifice.
Sincerely,
Joe Garcia, CCCS Chancellor
Jordan Whittington
CTE Program Director of Health Science and Public Safety
Branch: S. Army
Role: Sergeant (E5) and Combat Medic (68W)
Years Served: 4
About Jordan: “Through my military service stateside and on combat deployment, I learned what it meant to put the people you lead first and to know their individual needs to help them grow. This people-first mentality ensures that your team will do everything they can to complete a given task no matter how big or small it is. I continue this mentality in my current role as the Program Director of Health Science and Public Safety CTE here at CCCS. We work to ensure that every stakeholder knows that we hear their needs and that we will accomplish our common goals.”
I learned what it meant to put the people you lead first and to know their individual needs to help them grow.
CarrieAnn Mathis
CTE Program Director for Engineering, Technology, and Media Arts (ETMA)
Branch: S. Army, Signal Corps
Role: Captain
Years Served: 7
About CarrieAnn: “As a telecommunications officer in the Army, I learned how to lead a team of like-minded individuals to accomplish goals and missions in a high-paced environment. This platoon and company of soldiers transitioned into a classroom of students, where I continued to teach and show real-world examples of technology applications. My role as CTE Program Director for Engineering, Technology and Media Arts at CCCS has allowed this authentic learning for students to continue at a state level in CTE Programs with our new ETMA initiatives.”
As a telecommunications officer in the Army, I learned how to lead a team of like-minded individuals to accomplish goals and missions in a high-paced environment.
Brian Silver
Lead Cyber Security Analyst
Branch: S. Army and Army Reserve
Role: Signals Intelligence Analyst with the 18th Airborne Corps
Years Served: 9
About Brian: “My time in the Army taught me that leadership is an art, not a formula. The members of your team are skilled and know how to do their job. The art of leadership is knowing when to stay out of their way and when to provide the motivation, focus, or support.”
The art of leadership is knowing when to stay out of their way and when to provide the motivation, focus, or support.