Joe Brownell has been named director for University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Military and Veteran Success Center. He started in the role on Aug. 20.

Brownell has served as an executive officer in the U.S. Air Force and brings 28 years of strategic and organizational leadership experience. He previously worked as deputy chair of the strategic leadership department at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. In that role, he supervised the curriculum and faculty of the executive-level leadership program, educating senior military, government agency and international leaders through an intensive master’s program.

“I am excited for this opportunity to serve the university, empower students and help transform the futures of our veterans, active-duty military students and military dependents.”

— Joe Brownell, director, Military and Veteran Success Center

A Nebraska alum, Brownell was a distinguished graduate of the university’s Air Force ROTC program, earning a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. He holds a Master of Science in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University and Master of Public Administration from Troy State University. He is certified as an executive leadership coach by the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with such dedication to leadership and academic success, and it’s an added bonus that he’s a former Husker,” said Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education. “He understands who we are at Nebraska.”

Brownell will preside over the fall welcome for first-year veteran students. The event is 8 a.m. Aug. 25 in the Nebraska Union’s Heritage Room. The event is open to all veterans.