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As the United States sits on the precipice of its 250th year as a nation, there’s no better time to honor the lives of service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice than Memorial Day.
At the University of 㽶ƵAPP – Fort Smith, veterans walk campus as students, faculty, and staff, each with a unique experience, but an unshakable common bond: a duty of service. With nearly 40 years of combined military service, three UAFS veterans shared their reasons for joining the armed forces, how their time in the military has helped them continue to serve others through student success, and what Memorial Day means to them.
Carey Tucker, vice chancellor for finance and administration, and Drs. Dean Cantù,
dean for the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences, and Steve Wilson, associate
dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, were each called to duty for different
reasons. Today, they stand together in a brotherhood. Below are their stories.
CAREY TUCKER,
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Carey Tucker spent 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, building a career that took him across the United States and Europe before retiring as a colonel. After joining in 1985 and attending Officer Training School in San Antonio, Tucker served at installations in California, Alabama, Louisiana, England, and Germany. He also completed graduate studies in logistics management through the Air Force Institute of Technology in Ohio.
Today, as vice chancellor for finance and administration at University of 㽶ƵAPP – Fort Smith, Tucker still draws heavily from the principles that shaped his military career.
“The core values of the Air Force are Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in all we do,” Tucker said. “I try to carry those values with me into my role at UAFS.”
“In the Air Force, my work in maintenance and logistics was all about making sure our people and equipment were mission ready,” he said. “I’m grateful to bring that same mindset to UAFS, where I’m extremely happy to be part of a team that takes real pride in providing the best support we can for our students, faculty, staff, and community.”
Tucker said many of the responsibilities handled through his division are designed to work quietly in the background, from cybersecurity and campus safety to student billing, facilities maintenance, employee benefits, and financial oversight. He emphasized transparency and service as central to the role, pointing to expanded faculty and student representation on the university’s Budget Council and annual town hall meetings explaining the university budget.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Tucker sees a strong connection between military service, citizenship, and public education.
“Like many Americans, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on 9-11-2001,” Tucker said. “In the days that followed, we felt a connection that I hope we can remember during this 250th year celebration.”
“We were reminded that service to our country doesn’t only happen in a military uniform,” he said. “It happens every day — in cities and small towns, on farms and in skyscrapers, in rural classrooms and busy hospitals. We serve by showing up for one another and by placing value on what we contribute to our communities.”
Tucker recalled a particularly meaningful visit to the National Constitution Center on Sept. 11, where he digitally signed the Constitution while standing among life-sized bronze statues of the nation’s founders. The moment, he said, reinforced his belief in the role education and civic responsibility play in sustaining democracy.
“As we approach the 250th year of our nation, I’m reminded that without the commitment to public education in those early years, we wouldn’t have the independence, growth, and opportunity Americans enjoy today,” he said. “We should continue to honor the sacrifices made by all Americans who helped shape this nation, and be grateful for the vision of leaders who understood that an educated public is essential to a thriving democracy.”
For Tucker, Memorial Day also carries deeply personal meaning tied to the loss of a fellow officer and close friend, Capt. Rob Weinman.
“Rob and I started Officer Training School together in 1985,” Tucker said. “We were in the same flight — 25 of us began, 20 of us finished — and Rob and I even shared a birthday, August 2nd.”
“There was only one OT Colonel, the Wing Commander for all 300-plus trainees, and that honor went to Rob,” he said. “He was a natural leader, and everyone saw it.”
After graduation, the two officers went to separate assignments but stayed connected. Weinman later died in a catastrophic aircraft explosion during a training mission near the U.S.-Canadian border in 1989.
“When I learned of Rob’s death, I was devastated,” Tucker said. “It felt impossible that someone so capable, so steady, so full of promise could be gone.”
“Now that I’m retired, I understand more deeply the importance of honoring those who gave their lives in combat,” he said. “But I also remember those like Rob — men and women who died in the line of service while preparing for the missions they would one day be called to perform.”
“Their sacrifice is no less real,” Tucker said. “Their absence is no less felt. And
they remain honored in the hearts of their families, their friends, and those of us
who had the privilege to serve alongside them.
DEAN CANTU
Dean of the College of Health, Education and Human Sciences
Following his graduation from 㽶ƵAPP State University, Dean Cantu was commissioned as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, beginning four years of active-duty service that would shape both his leadership philosophy and personal values.
Cantu first trained at Fort Huachuca, the longtime home of Army Military Intelligence, before being stationed at Fort Knox as the S-2 Intelligence Officer for the 5th Battalion, 33d Armor of the 194th Armored Brigade.
His decision to serve was rooted in family influence. Cantu’s father served in the U.S. Navy, and the example he set left a lasting impression. “I always respected his service to the nation,” Cantu said. “I also admired those character traits that served to define him as a father, which I knew were influenced by his time in the military.”
Cantu said his Army experience fundamentally shaped the way he approaches leadership, education, and family life. “The military taught me the importance of always leading by example and of being a servant leader who never violates the trust of those they serve,” he said. He also credits the Army with teaching him the value of teamwork, strategic thinking, and empowering others within an organization.
Beyond professional lessons, Cantu said military service reinforced the importance of family and perspective. “The military consistently reminded us of the critical importance of family and to never allow anything to take away from that responsibility,” he said. “My time in the military also served as a reminder of the fragility of life, and the need, therefore, to embrace and cherish every moment you have with your family.”
As a veteran working in higher education, Cantu said he takes pride in the university’s support of military-affiliated students. He praised University of 㽶ƵAPP – Fort Smith for earning designation as a Military Friendly School and highlighted the importance of the campus resources available to veterans and their families.
Cantu also expressed pride in the university’s ROTC program and the opportunities it creates for students interested in military service and leadership development.
For Cantu, Memorial Day carries deep significance. “Memorial Day is a time for us
to take a pause, if only for one day, to remember and honor those who served in the
U.S. Armed Forces and made the ultimate sacrifice in that service to our nation,”
he said.
Dr. STEVE WILSON
Associate Dean and Criminal Justice Department Head
Steve Wilson joined the Air Force in 1980 at the intersection of patriotism and necessity. Fresh out of high school in Orlando, Florida, he struggled to find steady work during a difficult economic period. At the same time, the Iran hostage crisis weighed heavily on him. “I wanted a career, and I thought it was the right thing to do,” he said.
Wilson entered the Air Force on Aug. 4, 1980, and served four years in Security Police — now known as Security Forces — during the height of the Cold War. Stationed primarily in the United Kingdom, he worked in an environment shaped by constant security concerns tied to both Soviet tensions and IRA threats. “Being in the Cold War in Europe was a very different experience,” he said. “Security was everywhere.”
The military exposed Wilson to people and perspectives far outside his rural upbringing. He credits those experiences with reshaping how he viewed leadership, discipline, and service. “You are introduced to people who are very different than you, and you have to work with them,” he said. “Sooner or later, you end up calling them brothers and sisters.”
More than four decades later, many of those relationships remain intact. Wilson still keeps in touch with fellow airmen from his time overseas and participates in reunions and online groups with former colleagues. “I’m still really, really good friends with everybody,” he said.
After leaving the Air Force on Aug. 3, 1984, Wilson returned to Florida and spent about eight years in law enforcement, including investigative and crime scene work during the crack epidemic. Eventually, he realized advancement would require a college degree. He left policing, returned to school full time, and ultimately earned associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, including full scholarships for graduate study.
Today, after nearly 30 years in higher education, Wilson sees a direct connection between his military service, law enforcement career, and leadership philosophy. “Those two experiences have deeply shaped who I am in higher education as a leader, educator, and person,” he said.
Wilson said the hardest transitions of his life were leaving the military and later leaving law enforcement. Both required rebuilding his identity in civilian life. Through each chapter, he carried forward advice from his mother that still guides him today: “You are here for service.”