#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Ariel Luna

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Ariel “AJ” Luna. AJ served from 2000 to 2006.

AJ enlisted in the Army in 2000 and began as a communications soldier at Fort Gordon, Georgia. In 2002, he joined the New York National Guard where he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 with the 95^th MP Battalion.

While serving in the National Guard, AJ pursued his bachelor’s degree in Television and Radio at Brooklyn College.  He also completed his Masters in Administrative Science with a concentration in Non-Profit Organizational Development from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

In 2009, AJ became the director of Veteran services for Fairleigh Dickinson University. The Office of Veteran Services was created to provide student Veterans with access to a variety of services. Soon after, AJ was appointed Director of Veteran Services for Bergen County, New Jersey. He focused his efforts on housing, employment opportunities and service referral providers. In August 2016, the County of Bergen became the 28^th community in the United States to have “effectively ended veteran homelessness”.

Thank you for your service, AJ!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Graphic By Kierra Willis: Kierra Willis is a Graphic Communication Major at the University of Maryland University College. She currently has an AAS in Graphic Design and Visual Communications.