Veterans Day: Mercyhurst hosts annual ‘Celebration of Valor’

Students, faculty, staff, and administrators are invited to attend Mercyhurst’s annual “Celebration of Valor” on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, at 3:30 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room. 
 
Mercyhurst’s own Dr. Fred Hoffman, chair of the Department of Intelligence Studies, will be this year’s guest speaker. 
 
The annual observance offers the university a chance to highlight the contribution of veterans to the academic and cultural community of the college and for the community to express its gratitude. 
 
The afternoon assembly will begin with the Pride of PA Mercyhurst University ROTC Cadet Color Guard posting the colors, followed by “The National Anthem,” sung by Mercyhurst student Ryah Lambert. 
 
An opening prayer will be offered by Vice President for Mission Dr. Greg Baker, with welcoming remarks made by President Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D.   
 
Hoffman, meanwhile, will share his personal thoughts on “Serving our Country: A Family Tradition.” Like himself, Hoffman’s late father, Adolph, was a U.S. Army veteran. 
 
Hoffman has a long and distinguished military career, having served in 28 different countries. From 1984 to 2013, he worked as a Human Intelligence Officer for the Department of Defense. Among his most vivid and historical memories are working as an Army Intelligence Officer in West Berlin when the Berlin Wall fell on Nov. 9, 1989, and working in the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon on 9/11. He retired from the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. 
 
In 2015, he began a career that included working as a professor of military science at Johns Hopkins University, serving as research director of Cipher Systems LLC, founder of Fifth Domain Solutions, and, in 2019, he began his tenure at Mercyhurst teaching Intelligence Studies. Today, he is chair of the department.   
 
Hoffman earned his D.Sc. in information systems and communications from Robert Morris University, his M.S. in strategic intelligence from the Defense Intelligence University, M.A. in Asian studies from the University of Michigan, and B.A. in government from Lawrence University. 
 
At the conclusion of his talk, Hoffman and President Getz will lay a wreath at the foot of the “Fallen Soldier,” a traditional remembrance observed at the annual event. A brief reception will follow.  
 
Planning for this year’s Celebration of Valor is under the direction of Veterans Services Coordinator Chris Popa. For more information, email him at cpopa@mercyhurst.edu.