Pacific’s alumni body includes hundreds of veterans and active-duty military who bravely serve their country. Many also give selflessly to support Pacific students.

Ken Garber ’84, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, is one of them. Garber earned an electrical engineering degree at Pacific and discovered a passion for leadership that fueled his career. He went on to serve 30 years of combined active and reserve duty as a Navy Submarine Officer.

Garber recently made a generous gift supporting the renovation of Manor Hall, the century-old building that will house student veterans on the Stockton campus.

Though his own military career began after graduation, Garber recognizes the unique challenges faced by student veterans—including those in his own family—and appreciates how Manor Hall will help.

“When people come to Pacific with veteran experience, it’s important we understand that they’ve been through something, and have risked their lives for their country,” he said. “It’s a unique set of people who have that experience. [For them] to have support and a sense of belonging is very valuable.”

Garber’s gift to Manor Hall honors his father, the late Richard K. Garber ’50. The elder Garber was an Army airman during WWII. He was a clarinetist with the Army Band, and later became one of the branch’s top navigation specialists. Following his service, he earned a chemistry degree at Pacific and worked as a chemist and a teacher.

Nearing his own retirement, Ken Garber co-founded STEP (Support the Enlisted Project), a San-Diego based organization that provides emergency assistance to active duty and recently discharged enlisted military and their families. Today, he is President and CEO of DEL REY Systems & Technology, Inc. a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.

“My whole focus is trying to give back to veterans and make sure they feel supported,” he said.

Garber hopes his gift to Pacific inspires other Veterans to give, specifically his Omega Phi Alpha fraternity brothers who served. He put out a call during this year’s Pacific Gives fundraiser, and the brothers responded with more than $60,000 in gifts to Manor Hall.

“I hope Manor Hall is a beacon for [veterans] to come to Pacific, and that it presents opportunities for veterans to represent the military to the student body in a positive light,” Garber said.

Like Garber, retired Brigadier General Glenn Goddard ’83 appreciates the opportunity to invest in veterans who come after him.

Goddard graduated from Pacific with a degree in civil engineering, then enlisted in the Army and later attended Officer Candidate School, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. He served in South Korea and later at Old Fort Ord in Monterey. He later left active duty and transferred to the Army Reserves, where he served for over 32 years while also working for Parsons Corporation, an engineering and technology company.

Goddard has volunteered for 12 years on the Engineering Dean’s Council at Pacific. In 2018 he established the BG Glenn A. Goddard Veterans’ Endowed Scholarship, to support students in the School of Engineering who are actively serving in a military reserve component unit, participating in an ROTC program, or are honorably discharged veterans.

“It’s my way of trying to help them get through all the difficult courses to graduate and get that engineering degree,” Goddard said.

“We have so many people that have already sacrificed for their country, let’s see what we can do to help them [invest in] themselves,” he continued. “I’ve worked very hard in my career and am giving back a little bit of what I’ve earned over the years. To me, that’s the least I can do.”

Goddard recently celebrated his 35th year at Parsons, where he is currently the corporate lead on a Ukraine assistance effort. He also volunteers with the Army’s civil affairs branch, which helps civilians interface with the military through humanitarian assistance, economic development, and other areas.

This year’s Goddard Scholarship was awarded to Army Specialist David Yang ’25, a computer science major who served two tours of duty in Iraq.

“As a student veteran, I hold myself to higher standards and expectations to leave a positive and lasting impression on my peers, professors, and university faculty,” Yang said.

He continued, “Receiving this scholarship not only validates the expectations and standards I've set for myself, but also shows that others are willing to invest in my education. I take great pride in being a student at Pacific, and I am determined always to honor those who've served and will serve our great nation.”

To all Pacific alumni, students, faculty, staff, families and friends who serve: Thank you.

To learn more about ways to support veterans, contact Vice President Scott Biedermann '05, '20 at sbiedermann@pacific.edu.