Marine to give keynote at veterans' luncheon

The University of Akron Wayne College invites area veterans to its fourth annual Veterans Day luncheon and recognition ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. in the Student Life Building.

The event is free for veterans and a family member, but seating is limited. Registration is required at wayne.uakron.edu/webforms/rsvp/veterans.dot or by calling 330-684-8973.

Col. Charles G. Ikins, United States Marine Corps Reserve (retired), will provide the keynote address. The military-style ceremony will include lunch, music and a time to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Representatives also will be on hand to share where local resources are available to veterans and the educational benefits available to those who have served. Social time will be from 11-11:30 a.m. with Stair Steps to Wellness providing complimentary chair massages to veterans who arrive early. A ceremony and lunch will start promptly at 11:30 a.m.

Ikins has a combined military and Department of Defense civilian career of over 30 years. While serving as a civilian foreign affairs specialist at the Pentagon on the policy staff of the Secretary of Defense, he was involved in the creation and conduct of defense policy regarding humanitarian operations in Somalia, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, countering an insurgency in Sierra Leone, building African militaries’ capabilities to participate in peacekeeping operations, developing African counter-piracy and maritime and coastal security capabilities, the creation of the U.S. Africa Command, and many other defense policy challenges.

Ikins is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as several other operations. He has served with the artillery and infantry, as a forward observer and naval gunfire spotter, as a forward air controller, as a parachutist, and finally as a senior intelligence liaison officer.

As a graduate of the Ohio State University, Ohio University and the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defense Force Academy, Canberra, Australia, he holds a B.S. in environment and natural resources and an M.A.s in both international affairs and military history.

Now a resident of the village of Clinton in Ohio, where his family has lived for five generations, he and his late wife Debbie recently renovated his 163-year-old childhood home.

“I look forward to being a part of the celebration whereby we recognize and honor those who have served in our armed forces,” said Dr. Jarrod Tudor, dean of Wayne College. “Wayne College is committed to remaining a comfortable place for our veterans to attend college during and after a veteran’s service to our country. We have advisors who have expertise in serving military personnel through their academic program and afterward as they seek civilian employment or wish to remain in military service. Wayne College is very excited to have our veterans on campus.”