United States Marine Corps veteran and Syracuse University student veterans Leonel Aviles was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Leo joined the United States Marine Corps in 2017, just two weeks after graduating high school. He attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina and completed Supply and Warehouse Specialist training at Camp Gilbert H. Johnson, North Carolina. As a Supply and Warehouse Specialist, Leo was responsible for keeping Marines equipped with all their equipment required to train and operate each day.
Leo’s first duty station was Twentynine Palms, California, where he supported the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School. This duty assignment was at one of the most remote bases in the U.S., and it taught him about responsibility, leadership, and taking pride in the details that keep supply operations running smoothly. Leo’s next assignment was with the 1st Tank Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC). With the 1st Tank Battalion, he managed all supply operations from ordering vehicle repair parts to equipping Marines with their personal gear. One of Leo’s proudest military moments was playing an instrumental role in the 1st Tank Battalion’s historic deactivation, ensuring accountabilities for all supplies and equipment that facilitated a seamless deactivation for the battalion and the Marine Corps.
After four years of active-duty service, Leo transitioned out of the Marine Corps and joined the Warrior Scholar Project, introducing him to Syracuse University. Originally, his plan was to return to Florida and attend a community college, but Syracuse offered academic and support opportunities he could not pass up. As a first-generation college student, Leo’s transition was not easy at first, but finding the Syracuse University veteran and military-connected community on campus helped him feel at home and provided the support he needed to succeed.
Today, Leo is a senior at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, majoring in Information Management and Technology with a focus on cybersecurity and data analytics. For the past two years, he has served as the President of Syracuse University’s Student Veterans Organization, providing community and support to all veterans and military-connected students he finds on campus. Leo will graduate in May 2026, and plans on continue service to our country by working in cybersecurity for the U.S. government or military-connected company.
