GALLOWAY, NJ, February 21, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Ryan Luurtsema has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Presently, Mr. Luurtsema serves as an assistant director for the Ocean County College Veteran and Military Resource Center. In this capacity, his work involves understanding veteran and educational benefits, and working with community organizations to help veterans exiting service, as well as their family members and dependents. Due to his own personal struggles while departing from the military, Mr. Luurtsema has committed himself to helping and mentoring other military service members experience a smooth transition into civilian life.
In his prior career related endeavors, Mr. Luurtsema served as a veteran coordinator at Ocean County College between 2019 and 2021, and as a human resources technician for the United States Army between 2013 and 2016. His vocational career began with his work while enlisting as an ammunition specialist for the U.S. Army in 2008.
After enduring a difficult upbringing and leaving high school, Mr. Luurtsema first sought an education at the Fort Dix Youth Challenge Military Academy, earning a state diploma with skill sets in leadership, public speaking and structural professional development in 2006. This prompted his desire for the structured discipline and the sense of family the military would provide. One year after he graduated with honors, Mr. Luurtsema enlisted in the military. He later obtained a master's degree in organizational leadership in project management from Colorado State University Global in 2022, having previously earned a bachelor's degree in hospitality, tourism and management from Stockton University in 2019. As a commitment to his field, Mr. Luurtsema held membership with the Stockton University Student Veteran Organization as student president.
Long dedicated to civic advocacy, Mr. Luurtsema held the position of a sponsor mentor for the ETS Sponsorship Program. His prior contributions include his work as a leadership mentor for the National Society of Leadership and Success, program director for Green Zone Training at Ocean County College, and Student Veterans of America student advisor.
Mr. Luurtsema also is a two-time recipient of a U.S. Department of the Army Good Conduct Medal and an Outstanding Volunteering Service Medal, a three-time recipient of the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. Mr. Luurtsema is also part of the Global War on Terrorism generation that served overseas in the Middle East, earning two-time service ribbons for Iraq Campaign, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and three-time Overseas Service ribbons. He has garnered several awards post military duties, including being the recipient of the New Jersey Governor's Value Veterans Award in 2022. Likewise, he earned the accolade of GI Job Veteran Champion of Higher Education in 2021, and Mr. Luurtsema also received recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for distinguishing Ocean County College as a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, awarded to only 12 higher education institutions in the county every three years.
Mr. Luurtsema is most proud to have developed an in-house, standalone educational transition program that serves as a guide for veteran and military connected members of the community. The Veteran and Military Resource Center is a pivotal pillar in Ocean County, New Jersey, as well as the region for providing innovative, creative, and direct impactful programs to better assist the stressors of transitioning out of the military and becoming stewards of the community once again. Due to the military not providing an amical transitional experience needed to be successful for Mr. Luurtsema and his family, he found it immensely rewarding to contribute to the holistic security of others. Under his mentorship, no military connected student will go unguided in the life long process of transitioning from service to civilian. In this capacity, Mr. Luurtsema ensures military connected service members understand what support options, and community resources are to maximize a successful life outside military obligation.
Among Mr. Luurtsema's accomplishments, he established two academic and civic enrichment programs, Veterans' Voices and Veterans Engaging Teachers and Students or V.E.T.S. Veterans Voices is a televised program he produces on Ocean County College campus that provides broadcasting opportunities to organizations that support and advocate for military and veteran community members. V.E.T.S. provides engagement and holistic outreach experiences for student veterans to participate and coordinate with collegiate courses and provide military perspective based on the course requirements and needs; some focus topics such cultural difference while stationed aboard, military identity, childhood trauma, and poetry.
Throughout the course of his eight years with the military, Mr. Luurtsema feels especially fortunate to have gained a deep understanding of a variety of cultural perspectives during his deployment in different countries. Looking toward the future, he seeks to establish himself as a military and veteran attaché for the collegiate and corporate community, on veteran life and military perspective. Mr. Luurtsema also plans to continue serving as a supportive husband, remain cognizant of his upbringing to become a better parent to his two children every day and be impactful in everything he does.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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