KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 12, 2026

From classrooms and research labs to student support offices, military veterans play an important role across Kennesaw State University.

The leadership, resilience, technical expertise, and commitment to service they developed in uniform now help them mentor students, advance research, strengthen campus programs, and contribute to the University’s mission of developing future leaders. While their experiences and career paths vary widely, the following profiles represent just a few of the many veterans who make an impact across KSU's campuses every day.

Amelia Estwick – Assistant Professor of Information Technology

Long before Amelia Estwick began researching ways to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure, she was a U.S. Army soldier helping ensure sensitive information reached the people who needed it.

Stationed in Germany during the Gulf War, Estwick operated secure communications equipment and handled classified and unclassified messages. The responsibility helped launch a career in information security that now informs her work as an assistant professor in the Department of Information Technology in KSU’s College of Computing and Software Engineering.

Her inspiration to serve began with her grandfather, a World War II Army veteran. Estwick enlisted in July 1990 and completed eight years of combined service in the Army and Louisiana Army National Guard. During that time, she supported operations during the Gulf War and NATO-led peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“As a young soldier, I was trusted with a security clearance and with handling classified communications,” Estwick said. “The equipment I was responsible for helped protect our front-line soldiers and allowed them to do their jobs effectively.”

Using her GI Bill benefits, Estwick earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Southern University while serving in the National Guard. She later received a National Security Agency-sponsored fellowship to pursue master's and doctorate degrees in computer science at George Washington University, eventually working in the NSA’s cyber operations division.

Today, she brings more than 30 years of experience to research addressing threats to essential systems, including energy, water, healthcare, and transportation. Through KSU’s Cyber Nexus Lab, she is developing an explainable artificial intelligence approach to help infrastructure operators determine which cybersecurity vulnerabilities to address first.

“In the Army, I saw firsthand how much depends on information getting where it needs to go securely,” Estwick said. “I bring that same mission-driven mindset to protecting the systems our communities rely on.”

For Estwick, Veterans Day offers an opportunity to reconnect with fellow veterans, remember those lost, and honor the family legacy that first inspired her service.

“I’m incredibly proud of the relationships I built during my service,” she said. “Many of them are still going strong today, more than 30 years later. Most of all, my service made my family proud and allowed me to honor my grandfather’s legacy.”

Darryl Ahner – Dean, College of Computing and Software Engineering

In 2007, Darryl Ahner led a small technical team that turned complex data into predictive models to identify roadside bomb threats. Today, the lessons he learned leading soldiers help guide his work preparing the next generation of computing professionals at KSU.

For Ahner, dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering, both roles share a focus on helping people apply their abilities to meaningful challenges.

A first-generation college student, Ahner was drawn to the United States Military Academy at West Point by the opportunity to serve his country and to pursue an education. His Army career included serving as a company commander and attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel, with assignments that combined technical expertise and leadership.

In 1993, he led soldiers providing network communications for the commander of U.S. Naval forces in the Middle East. Later, his team’s roadside bomb threat models were implemented in Iraq, an accomplishment he counts among his proudest.

Leading people from different backgrounds helped Ahner develop a philosophy centered on shared expectations, accountability, and informed decisions.

“These experiences broadened my perspective and allowed me to develop and refine my own leadership philosophy,” Ahner said. “Among the most important lessons I learned was the value of establishing clear, shared expectations early and holding people accountable for performance against those expectations.”

Teaching and conducting research at West Point also revealed how much he enjoyed helping others succeed through education. That experience helped shape a career in higher education, including leadership roles at the Air Force Institute of Technology and Wright State University.

At KSU, Ahner emphasizes hands-on learning, collaborative partnerships and preparing graduates who combine technical proficiency with communication and teamwork skills.

Reminders of his military career remain in his home office, including his West Point class ring, flags from his two company commands, medals, and ribbons.

“I associate many of the medals with those with whom I served when I received them,” Ahner said. “Rarely is the award of an individual's medal a direct reflection of that individual's accomplishment alone.”

For Ahner, Veterans Day is a time to reflect on those he served alongside, those who came before him and those still serving, including veterans carrying the physical and emotional effects of their service.

Christopher Brayton – Transition Coordinator, Military and Veterans Services

Christopher Brayton understands how challenging it can be to find your footing after military service. Once a student veteran himself, he now helps military-connected students navigate that transition at Kennesaw State University.

As transition coordinator for KSU’s Military and Veteran Services, Brayton draws on four and a half years in the U.S. Coast Guard and his own experience entering higher education to connect with students preparing for their next chapter.

Brayton’s decision to enlist took shape during his senior year of high school, when the Sept. 11 attacks inspired him to pursue military service. He served as an operations specialist and completed his service as a petty officer second class.

Stationed in South Carolina, California, and Louisiana, Brayton’s responsibilities included standing watch, supervising operations, and serving as an electronic warfare supervisor. His assignments ranged from counter-narcotics and migrant interdictions to search and rescue, aircraft control, and law enforcement operations.

Deployments also brought challenges. Frequent time away left him feeling disconnected from everyday life, an experience that taught him patience and the importance of keeping difficulties in perspective.

Those lessons, along with exposure to different leadership styles, shape how he supports students at KSU. Brayton emphasizes meeting people where they are and recognizing that each student brings different circumstances and needs.

“My time in the military, along with my experience as a veteran student, also allows me to empathize with KSU's military-connected student population,” he said. “I've experienced some of the challenges that come with transitioning from military service to student life, and I hope I can use those experiences to help newer students navigate their own journeys.”

For Brayton, Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on how far he has come and remember the people who helped shape his experience.

“Veterans Day gives me an opportunity to reflect on my service, who I was then, and who I have become,” he said. “It's a time to remember the friends I made while serving and the members of my own family who served before me.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.