There are plenty of U.S. military veterans working at WPI, but the veterans themselves may not know who else has been through the unique experience of serving their country.
The Community of Valor veterans group hopes to change that, and this week held its first annual Breakfast Celebration for WPI employee veterans at Higgins House to commemorate Veterans Day.
“It’s nice to see veterans meeting veterans,” said Adam Heppe, WPI director of facilities operations and a 20-year U.S. Army veteran. “We had a great turnout, and it was comfortable—just people breaking bread over conversation.”
He estimated there are about 50 military veterans currently working at WPI. Employees who have served in the military are a priority in Talent & Inclusion’s efforts to build groups in certain affinity areas that includes women in STEM, expatriates, and working parents and guardians. Heppe said various veterans groups have formed over the years at WPI; the Community of Valor is a chance to re-engage with the community.
At the breakfast, veterans from all service areas across a broad spectrum of time shared stories about their experiences, from the Vietnam War to the current day. WPI President Grace J. Wang, PhD, and Arne Gericke, interim dean of undergraduate studies, also attended.
Anthony Antinarella works in Facilities, and has worked for WPI since he was a teen. He also served as a medic in the U.S. Army Reserve, and was deployed for 1½ years to Iraq, where he said he was proud to be able to take care of service members, enemy combatants, and local residents. He said his experience helped him develop skills he was able to apply to his life and career, including self-reliance and the ability to think on his feet.
Recent WPI retiree Bob Pepin served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 to 1980; he said serving in the military before coming to work at WPI helped him learn to be a leader, and to put people first.
Lieutenant Colonel Adam Messer, commander of WPI’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 340 and a professor of military science, isn’t quite a veteran yet—his role at WPI is an active-duty assignment–but he enjoyed the camaraderie of the Community of Valor’s breakfast gathering. Wearing military fatigues, Messer noted that “we stick out” as visible service members, but said events like the breakfast were good opportunities to connect with others and celebrate common ties.
