As one of the leading experts on military demographics and civilian-military relations, Jason Dempsey is an author, an adjunct Senior Fellow to the Center for a New American Security, and a senior advisor to the Center for Veteran Transition and Integration at Columbia University. 

Additionally, he is the Director of the Helen Diller Center for Veterans of U.S. Military Service at GGU and is well acquainted with the military lifestyle. Raised as an Army brat, Dempsey was born in Colorado, moved around through his childhood, and graduated high school in Missouri. After attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served for 22 years in the Army as an infantry officer. 

Go Army, Beat Navy!

Before retirement, his final assignment was as a special assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he oversaw outreach to military community non-profits and conceived.

Dempsey has a doctorate in political science from Columbia University, where he focused on the relationship between the military and American society. He also served as a White House Fellow, taking the broad concept of military family support and turning it into Joining Forces.

As the Director of the Diller Center, Dempsey works to find ways to help maximize their potential and continue their service to the country as civilians.

"My job mainly entails identifying the higher education needs of military veterans and implementing best practices for assisting veterans through the process, building supportive communities, and helping them obtain meaningful post-military employment," he said.

Outside of work, Dempsey enjoys riding and racing bicycles and reading. He struggled to choose just one favorite, but right now, he says his favorite book is "A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam."

Dempsey enjoys working with veterans in his post-military retirement career, even though he isn't sporting the "veteran beard." In fact, he said that's why he grew out his hair.

"I had to grow out my hair after retirement as compensation for not being able to grow a 'veteran beard,'" he joked.

Trust GGU and its robust support for veterans because our goal is to help you succeed.