Retired Colonel Nathaniel “Nate” Todd will be the guest speaker during the Veteran’s Day Celebration scheduled for noon Thursday, November 9, at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The University began a formal ceremony in 2016 to honor local veterans. UAPB was designated a 2017 Military Friendly Gold status campus, and is only one of three schools in the state with that distinction.
Veteran’s Day activities will be held in the STEM building on the first floor and vendors in the lobby with booths for veteran’s benefits. An indoor picnic will follow the formal ceremony.
The speaker, Colonel Todd, is a Pine Bluff native. Prior to his retirement in October 2016, he served as Director for the Health Financial Policy Office of the United States Army’s Surgeon General in Falls Church, Virginia. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
LTC Sherry Oehler is the current UAPB ROTC commander. The Department of the Army established the Reserve Officers Training Corp at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in November 1967. While established in 1967, the first classes were not held until September 1968. Establishment of the ROTC program fulfilled the statues of the Morrill Act of 1890, which required the University to instruct Military Science. Since the establishment of the program, over 500 officers have received their commission through this program. Currently, the highest rank attained by an officer commissioned through the UAPB ROTC program is Major General (MG)-MG Aundre Piggee.
On Friday, November 10, at 8 a.m., a flag-raising ceremony will be held in honor of Veteran’s Day at the UAPB Information Center at corner of University Drive and Fluker Street.