Don Johnson is Jefferson’s Director of Military Programs, but as most soon realize, he is so much more for the men and women who serve our country. He is an advisor, advocate, and more often, friend. Don began working for the military in the 1970’s as an army education counselor and arrived at Jefferson in 1993 as director of military programs at Ft. Drum. There, he has guided countless soldiers and their families through the educational process of attaining their college degrees. “We make sure every time a soldier walks in, it’s a pleasant experience and one where they will want to come back; we are there to help them achieve their goals,” he said. The application process can be overwhelming for many military families because much of their required information is in another state or even another country.“We like to remove any and all hurdles for them to make the process as smooth as it can be. A soldier only has a certain amount of free time in their day so it’s very important to me that when they come in, their needs are met,” he said.
Don likes to find out as much as he can about all the soldiers that come in seeking assistance; he calls this his twenty questions. “I don’t want to miss anything that could help me help them, so I try to ask as many questions as possible to get to know them better, and in turn, that helps me get to know what they are hoping to achieve and where I can assist them best,” he said. Don’s hands-on approach has cemented Jefferson Community College’s reputation as a college that truly cares about its military. “Word gets around pretty fast on base how well Jefferson treats its military students; not everyone can get all their needs met all of the time, but the vast majority does and we are proud of that,” he said. For Don, being able to see first-hand how a college degree furthers a soldier’s career and how it changes their life for the better, is the most rewarding part. “I never get tired of hearing a student tell me they are the first in their family to earn a college degree; and if we were there to help them with that, there’s no better feeling.”
To learn more about what Jefferson can do for our military, including all of the college classes offered on Fort Drum, please contact Don at djohnson@sunyjefferson.edu
