United States Army and Navy Veteran Gary S. Conley is pursuing a degree in Paralegal Studies to further assist fellow Veterans as they return to civilian life.

“At KU, I am learning better legal writing skills, which will allow me to be much more effective with Veterans Administration written correspondence,” said Conley, a Keiser University West Palm Beach Campus freshman who shared that he’s always had an interest in learning more about the ‘very complex’ Veteran Administration system.

After retiring from the Army in 2014 as a Retiree Recall, Conley first began helping fellow Veterans and their family members pro bono. While focusing on active duty service and combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), he helped shed light on suicide cause and prevention resources along with navigating the disability claims process and accompanying mental health assessments.

Conley joined the U.S. Navy in 1969 serving aboard the U.S.S. Ranger (CVA-61) during combat operations in Vietnam and later aboard the U.S.S. Dixon (AS-37) which supported fast attack submarines before being released from active naval service as a Second-Class Petty Officer in 1973. Reentering active duty as an Armor Officer in 1977, he served as a Tank Company Commander, an Intelligence and Operations Officer, a Tank Platoon Leader, an Assistant Battalion Operations Officer, and an M1A1 Main Battle Tank Test Officer. Upon reentering civilian life, he served as a military contracted supervisor for wheeled vehicle maintenance, and as a senior leader for classroom and hands-on instruction in advance of issuing Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to active-duty service members in Iraq and Kuwait.  Again recalled to active-duty service in 2009, he was assigned to the Mission Command Center of Excellence in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he retired in 2014.

Conley has pursued lifelong learning throughout his civilian and military careers and as an ROTC Cadet was Commissioned as an Armor Officer Second Lieutenant in 1977. He earned his Associate of Science Degree in Law Enforcement, from Sinclair Community College in 1975, and his Bachelor of Science Degree with a Criminal Justice major and minor in Political Science from the University of Dayton in 1977. He is a 1994 graduate of the Command and General Staff College. Conley is thankful to have received numerous awards and commendations throughout his years of service, and reminds fellow learners to “set goals, stay focused, work smart and always remember, ‘The glass is half full, not half empty.’” I always think, “Mission First…People Always”.

Student Veterans of America (SVA) is the premier organization leading service, research, programs, and advocacy for Veterans in higher education. With the vision of empowering student Veterans to lead their best lives, its mission is to act as a catalyst for student Veteran success by providing resources, network support, and advocacy to, through, and beyond higher education. To learn more about Keiser University’s West Palm Beach Campus SVA group and how you can become involved, please contact Gary Chapman Legal Studies Program Director and SVA Faculty Advisor at [email protected] or [email protected].

Keiser University’s Associate of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies prepares students to support attorneys in transactional and litigation fields through legal research, document drafting, case management, evidence gathering, and the litigation procedure. Paralegals are often involved in trial assistance and other dispute resolution processes, as well as with the preparation of real estate documents, wills, trusts, contracts, corporate matters, and law office investigations.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associate to doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 21 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report in 2023-24.