Andrew Rendon stands out as an ideal candidate for the Military Friendly Veteran of the Year Award due to his exceptional contributions to both the military and veteran communities. Andrew has served nearly three decades in the military, starting as an Army aviator and rising to the rank of Brigadier General in the Mississippi National Guard. His leadership as the commander of the 66th Troop Command highlights his dedication and capability. As the Executive Director for Veterans and Military Affairs at Mississippi State University (MSU), Rendon has been instrumental in supporting military-connected students, faculty, and staff. He has actively worked to make MSU one of the most military-friendly universities in the country. Rendon’s efforts extend beyond his professional roles. His commitment to fostering partnerships, such as between MSU and the Mississippi National Guard, demonstrates his dedication to strengthening the veteran community. Andrew embodies the qualities of leadership, advocacy, and community service that the Military Friendly Veteran of the Year Award seeks to honor. His work has had a lasting impact on the lives of veterans and military personnel, making him a truly deserving candidate
I think what I am most proud of and driven by is my family. We spend a lot of time honoring, remembering and celebrating veterans and I think both my military and civilian career illustrates my commitment and passion towards the veteran cause but what is often overlooked is the amount of selfless service and dedication that comes from our spouses and kids. The countless deployments, the time away from home, the putting ourselves in harms way....in all of that, our families are there to support us, care for us, sacrifice for us, and wait for us (sometimes to never come home). In a way they are the true heroes and my family is no different. My wife Hilary has always been there for me and our family and my two incredibly caring and loving kids, Kyler and Sarah have supported me and my career and I am forever grateful for and inspired by them.
Andrew S. Rendon is the Executive Director of Veterans and Military Affairs at Mississippi State University (MSU). He oversees services for U.S. service members, veterans, dependents, and ROTC programs, including the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans. Rendon has a strong military background, having served in the Mississippi Army National Guard and completed multiple deployments, including in Afghanistan and Kosovo. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from MSU (expected May 2024), a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from MSU. Before his current role, he was MSU’s Director for Planning and Assessment and previously served as an Army ROTC assistant professor of military science. His leadership experience includes managing hundreds of officers and soldiers and overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets.
