Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A longtime Mississippi State student affairs administrator and Mississippi Army National Guard colonel is the university’s new executive director of Veterans and Military Affairs.

Andrew S. Rendon began his new role Jan. 1 and is responsible for the overall development and enhancement of university services for U.S. service members, veterans, disabled veterans, dependents, survivors and ROTC programs. His oversight encompasses the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at Nusz Hall, as well as the Army and Air Force ROTC programs.

Rendon expects to earn a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from MSU in May 2024, and he is a 2019 Master of Strategic Studies graduate of the U.S. Army War College. He has a master’s degree in public policy and administration from MSU and an undergraduate degree in political science.

His extensive military leadership experience includes supervising hundreds of officers and soldiers and a multimillion-dollar budget. He has been on multiple deployments, including service in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

For nearly a decade at the university, Rendon was director for Planning and Assessment within MSU’s Division of Student Affairs. He earlier served as assistant dean and was the founding director of the Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans. Additionally, he was an Army ROTC assistant professor of military science.

“I am very excited about this role and look forward to continuing to support our military-connected students while working toward being the most military-friendly university in the country,” Rendon said.

Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said Rendon’s MSU experience, dating back to his time as an MSU Army ROTC Bulldog Battalion cadet, coupled with his military experience and ongoing leadership training, make him ideally suited for the position.

“Andrew has done valuable work throughout his tenure at MSU, and we are so grateful for his service, leadership and special focus on military-connected students. His own status as a service member who has balanced both military and civilian careers makes him distinctly qualified to strategically lead this area to best serve our military community,” Hyatt said.

Rendon spent nine years on active duty in the U.S. Army before returning home to Starkville, continuing his military service through the Mississippi National Guard. He joined the National Guard in 2004 and has been an MSU employee since 2006. In his part-time role with the Mississippi Army National Guard, Rendon currently serves as the chief of staff.

Learn more about the Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at https://www.veterans.msstate.edu/

MSU Army ROTC is online at https://www.armyrotc.msstate.edu/, and MSU Air Force ROTC is online at https://www.afrotc.msstate.edu/.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.