Humphrey appointed to Governor's Council on Service Members, Veterans, Families
Kim Chaudoin |
Jim Humphrey, assistant dean of students and director of Veterans Services at Lipscomb University, was recently appointed by Governor Bill Haslam to serve on the Governor’s Council on Service Members, Veterans & Their Families.
Humphrey is among 10 new appointees selected from across the state of Tennessee to serve on the council.
“I appreciate the willingness to serve the state and the continual commitment of these men and women,” Haslam said. “Tennessee will be well-represented on these boards and commissions, and I look forward to continuing our review to make sure Tennesseans have a government responsive to them.”
The council is charged with facilitating collaboration and coordination of federal, state and local organizations and representatives to strengthen the system of care for service members, veterans and their families. The Council will also collaborate closely with various veterans’ service and advocacy organizations that address unique challenges faced by the veteran population in Tennessee including mental illness, traumatic brain injury and physical injury in addition to challenges in the areas of employment, housing and education.
“I look forward to serving the state and our military service members, veterans and family members alongside my fellow council members,” Humphrey stated. “I appreciate the opportunity and confidence placed in me and the council by Governor Haslam.”
Humphrey served 22 years in the United States Army and Air Force, having retired from active duty in November 2011 as the deputy of the Manpower and Plans Division, U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. Humphrey began his military career as a long range surveillance scout in the Army in 1986 before receiving his commission with the Air Force in 1992, where he began as a training systems analyst for the Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, N.M., in 1993. In the course of his career, Humphrey served the Air Force in a variety of assignments across the country including duty at Falcon Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, Calif.; Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas; Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va.; Minot Air Force Base in Minot, N.D.; Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.; Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier, La., as well as numerous deployed tours in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Afghanistan.
Throughout his military career, Humphrey was recognized at every level of command to include being selected as the top senior human resource manager of the year for the Air Force in 2004. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Superior Service Medal and holds master’s degrees in Aeronautical Science and Military Science.
In 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon enhancement was established as an education benefit for individuals who served on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001. It is administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and based on a veteran’s length of service; he or she may be eligible to receive the cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state institution of higher education. For veterans who qualify for 100 percent of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Lipscomb University has committed to allocate the necessary funds to allow them to earn a tuition-free undergraduate degree through the use of the Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program. The university also offers qualifying student veterans a variety of graduate degrees tuition-free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate.
Since its inception, Lipscomb’s Yellow Ribbon program, now managed by Humphrey, has grown from 20 original participants to more than 170 veterans enrolled this fall and growing. Students have performed well academically with 71 percent of currently enrolled student veterans maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA, and 13 percent of those maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Humphrey explains that Lipscomb’s success is attributed primarily to its focus on the individual veteran’s transition needs from a military environment into the collegiate environment and on to graduation and job placement.