John Rose, PhD, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (retired)

Professor, Defense and Strategic Studies

After a 30 year Army career serving our country both at home and abroad, Dr. John Rose’s passion to serve and support others, continues to endure.  In addition to teaching part-time for MSU’s Defense and Strategic Studies in Washington D.C., John helps advise disabled veterans looking to start their own business.  John consults with them about their business ideas, operations, processes and helps direct them in positive assessment of their future goals. In what began as a favor to one mother’s request, his work has led John down an unexpected path to share his knowledge and experiences to those who have given so much in return, humbly saying “I simply try to give candid advice based on my years of experience.  I continue to serve and give back to my community and country because it is the right thing to do and it is our responsibility to continually make positive contributions within society,”

In 2012, John was asked to help honor our 7.2 million living Vietnam veterans in response to President Obama’s 12 year proclamation to honor our Vietnam veterans – those fallen, wounded, unaccounted for, former prisoners of war, their families, and all who served from 1955-1975.  Retired Brigadier General Rose spends his free time traveling across the country talking with veteran groups and showing the country’s honor, respect and thanks by awarding official lapel pins to individuals that served during the Vietnam era. “While it can be difficult at times to experience a veteran become so emotionally overwhelmed for feeling authentically honored for the first time, it is of highest honor for me to recognize that veteran and place our country’s symbol of honor on his/her jacket.”

John’s passion to help and serve others epitomizes MSU’s public affairs mission, and we are proud to honor him as March’s Public Affairs Faculty Spotlight!