United States Air Force Lt Col Joseph Raffa was born and raised in Oswego, New York. He graduated Mexico High School in 2003 and attended Syracuse University from 2003 – 2007, where he commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force through Syracuse University’s Detachment 535 Air Force ROTC program. Joe met his wife Angela while both were attending Syracuse University, and they were married in Hendricks Chapel on May 26, 2007. They have three sons: Joseph Jr., Vincent, and Dominic.
Continue Readingnews
Hometown Hero: Devon Hubbard
United States Army Captain Devon Hubbard hails from Chicago, Illinois. In 2016, Captain Hubbard was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps from Mercyhurst University.
Continue ReadingCelebrate Veterans Day at the NVRC
Retired U.S. Air Force General Lester L. Lyles, former vice chief of staff of the Air Force and a 35-year Air Force veteran, will deliver the keynote address.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Leonel Aviles ’26
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.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Alexis Stanley
United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Alexis Stanley is from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and she enlisted in the United States Air Force in March 2015.
Hometown Hero: Uma Lama
Uma Lama was born in Nepal and has been a resident of New York City since 2013. In 2018, she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Alexa Hernandez
United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Alexa Hernandez was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Staff Sergeant Hernandez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in November 2016, and she completed Marine Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina in 2017.
Continue ReadingOVMA 10 Year Celebration: Military-Connected Alumni
In this video, hear from military veterans who have studied at Syracuse University. U.S. Marine Corps veterans Katy Quartaro ’18, G’20; and Kevin Lee ’18; as well as U.S. Air Force veteran Stacy Pearsall, MVJ ’05, all share their experiences with the impactful programming and services offered by Syracuse University and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.
Continue ReadingCongratulations to The 2025 Syracuse University Tillman Scholar Anthony Ruscitto
On July 10th, the new Pat Tillman Scholars were announced, and we are happy to congratulate Anthony Ruscitto ’22, G’23, L’27 as the Tillman Scholar for Syracuse University.
Tillman Scholars are provided academic scholarships, leadership development opportunities and access to a supportive national network as they embark on career journeys in the fields of health care, public service, business, STEM, law, the humanities and education.
The fellowship program honors Pat Tillman, a starting safety for the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals, who in 2002 put his football career on hold to serve his country with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Tillman’s family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following Tillman’s death in April 2004.
Syracuse University was invited to become a Pat Tillman Foundation University Partner in 2017. To date, the University has seen 14 students honored as Tillman Scholars.
The Rewards of Army ROTC
Rebecca Lee ’24, L’27 and Mackenzie Kirsch ’26 found a shared sense of purpose in the Army ROTC—one that has shaped their academic journeys and guided them toward future careers in military law.
Continue Reading