Pat Hackett discusses issues facing the veteran community with special guests

Rodger J. Pinto is a Master of Public Affairs candidate at Indiana University South Bend. From 2008-2014 Rodger served as an infantry paratrooper in the United States Army’s 1st Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division. Rodger serves the veterans community as President of the Student Veterans of America at Indiana University South Bend, acting as an advocate for student veterans and their families.

Through his work as the Lead Intern for the American Democracy Project and President of the Master of Public Affairs Student Association, Rodger regularly facilitates public engagement projects and deliberative dialogues throughout northern Indiana. In his capacity as President of the Indiana University South Bend, Student Body and Chairperson of the Indiana University, All University Student Association, Rodger has the privilege of representing and advocating for Indiana University’s student body of 114,000. Upon completion of a Master of Public Affairs, Rodger plans on attending law school and returning to public service.

Celeste Ross was commissioned a U.S. Marine Corps officer after graduating from The Ohio State University in 1994. She became a Public Affairs Officer, serving in the Division of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, then as the Deputy Director Public Affairs for Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

After her time on active duty, Celeste served in various roles in the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, leading Marines in South Bend, with Engineer Company B; Quantico, Virginia; and Santiago, Chile, during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When the Marines of Engineer Company B deployed to Iraq in 2003, and again in 2006, she was responsible for their more than 500 family members living across the country. In 2003, Celeste resigned her commission, after 15 years of service.

Currently, Celeste lives in northern Indiana. She is married to John Ross, who is also a Marine, and they have four children.

Andrew Stryker served in the National Guard from 2007 to 2018 as an Infantry Squad Leader in the Indiana Army National Guard. While in the military, Andrew held a variety of different positions and served both domestically and overseas until he was medically retired. He is currently a machinist at MG Products.

Andrew has a passion for his community. He is dedicated to helping the homeless population in Elkhart County and is the Board of Trustees Secretary at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Elkhart. Andrew was appointed by Mayor Roberson as a board member of the Elkhart Board of Zoning Appeals in early 2020, where he continues his mission for fair housing practices.