Student
Daniel (Dan) Cordial is currently attending the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and is enrolled in the Executive Master of Public Administration with a focus on International and National Security Policy. He is expected to graduate in May of 2020, and will earn a Certificate of Advanced Study in Security Studies in December 2019. Dan earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science also from the School of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University in August 2018.
He was voted as the Syracuse University Student Veteran of the month for October 2016 and is an active member of the Syracuse University Student Veterans Organization, where he formerly served as the Community Relations Coordinator. As Community Relations Coordinator, Dan worked hard to make meaningful connections throughout the Syracuse community and organize events with other veteran and service organizations; he continues this mission as a committee member. He has been a Peer Advisor in the Peer Advisors for Veteran Education program at Syracuse University since 2017 and has consistently demonstrated his willingness to assist student veterans as they transition into higher education. Dan is dedicated to building a sense of community for student veterans at Syracuse University. Outside of the Syracuse University community, Dan spends his time working and volunteering for New York State organizing the annual veteran’s event held at the New York State Capital in Albany.
Veteran
Dan served in the United States Army from 2006-2011 and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in June 2006 and in December 2006, he graduated from Advanced Individual Training, where he was awarded the MOS of 91E (Metalworker). He was stationed at Idar-Oberstein, Germany with the 1st Armored Division, 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery, where he served on a General’s Salute Team and mobilized to Romania in support of Joint Task Force East in 2007 where he participated in combined training operations with the Romanian and Bulgarian Armies.
In 2007, Dan was re-stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado with the 4th Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, 64th Brigade Support Battalion. Upon arrival in Colorado, he immediately mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2008-2009 at Camp Taji in Baghdad, Iraq where he worked on projects developing and improving safety systems for armored combat vehicles. Upon return from his deployment, he served as the fire squad Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge for the brigade’s fallen soldiers and was appointed as the brigade’s Air Assault operations training instructor during pre-deployment training. One year after his return from deployment, he mobilized in once again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2010-2011 and Operation New Dawn. Dan served at Contingency Operating Bases Tallil, Basrah, Bucca, and Um Qasr where he served primarily as the Convoy Recovery Operations Sergeant and the Air Assault operations Non-Commissioned Officer in charge for a great part of Southern Iraq.
Future
Upon graduating from Syracuse University, Dan plans to work for a government agency where he can employ his knowledge and skills to enhance the security of our nation and spend more time with his son, Kayden. Dan hopes to continue his service to our country in a greater, more impactful capacity, and will remain involved in volunteering at the community level as much as possible.
