Celebrating Veterans and the Veterans in UITS
Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served, but at the University of Arizona, this appreciation is celebrated year-round. With a military legacy dating back to the 1896 launch of the U.S. Army ROTC, the university is now ranked the nation’s top program for veterans by Military Times. Key milestones, like the 1920 dedication of Berger Fountain in memory of WWI Wildcats and the Navy ROTC’s 1938 preservation of the campus’s oldest building, underscore this deep commitment. Today, the University of Arizona is home to many veterans and active military who make our community stronger every day.
Veterans bring unique experiences and invaluable skills from their time in the service—many of which are beyond what the average person can imagine. At UITS, we're honored to have several veterans whose dedication to serving their country now extends to advancing technology and supporting our university’s mission of serving students. The discipline, resilience, and adaptability gained through military training are qualities that make the unit operate with excellence and agility. Their journey from the military to IT demonstrates how their unique backgrounds contribute to our overall success and growth.
Jeff Jones, Senior IT Business/Security Analyst, is a military veteran, having dedicated much of his time in Military Intelligence as an All-Source Analyst. In this role, he honed skills directly, translating to his current IT work, mastering predictive analysis, system and behavioral monitoring, and complex computer solutions. After leaving the military, he held several roles at a school for adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems, ultimately becoming the Vice Principal for the K-12 school. In this role, he was entrusted with setting up the school’s IT infrastructure – an experience that not only deepened his technical skills but strengthened his interest in IT.
In 2012, Jones joined the University of Arizona, starting in Classroom Technology Services (CTS) with a focus on technology design. In this role, he quickly expanded his hardware expertise, leveraging his adaptability and drive to grow his IT skillset continually. “Security has always been second nature to me,” Jones noted, drawing on his Military Intelligence experience, which shaped his knack for anticipating and mitigating risks. Since then, his role has expanded, evolving to align with his strengths and interests. “I’ve had the opportunity to pursue my interests within this framework, which has been invaluable,” Jones shared. “I’ve incorporated extensive security protocols, conducted regular checks in Sentinel and Defender, and was given the opportunity to contribute to the Universities overall security stance.” His work continues to reinforce a strong security foundation within the organization.
Like Jones, Jeff Otteson, an Information Technology Support Center Specialist, had military experiences that helped sharpen his skills in IT. Having a father who was a computer programmer instilled knowledge. However, his final year in the military allowed him to dive heavily into technology and IT training. “I was assigned to the IT office in the hospital. My primary responsibility was to teach doctors and nurses how to use Windows, Word and Excel. After I retired from the military, I continued in IT at various organizations, including customer support at a software support company and went on to support network infrastructure at IBM.”
Otteson has an impressive career history, having left IBM to join Law Enforcement, working as a Network Administrator. After 10 years in law enforcement, his hunger for IT continued, leading him to the University. “Each change was a new opportunity to learn more about the technology industry,” stated Otteson. “I retired from that position after 10 years. This position in 24/7 Support fits perfectly. I have been here three years and I’m having a great time.”
Jones and Otteson are only two of several veterans at UITS who are implementing the skills and lessons they acquired in the military.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the UITS veterans for their service to both our country and our university. The dedication and invaluable skills they bring from their military experience have greatly enriched our team and strengthened our mission.