Daniel Maynard

One of Tennessee Tech University’s one hundred and fifteen student veterans took the stage at the university’s annual Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday, November 12, to share his story of military service and adapting to campus life.

Daniel Maynard, an Army veteran, was selected to speak at the event due to his strong work ethic, dedication to helping other veterans, diverse military experience and positive attitude.

A Cookeville native, Maynard served in the Army for 23 years, including deployments to South Korea. His military roles included serving as a cavalry scout and as an instructor at several military bases across the country.

“I graduated from Upperman High School in 2001, and that same year, I left for basic training at Fort Knox,” Maynard said. “I served for 23 years and just retired this past July.”

After retiring from the Army at age 41, Maynard enrolled at Tennessee Tech, attracted by its accredited engineering program. He was also motivated by the opportunity to attend school alongside his oldest daughter, a sophomore at Tech. 

Together, they are navigating the challenges of calculus, a subject Maynard has found particularly difficult. Having his daughter on campus has been a source of support, helping him adjust to civilian life while sharing their academic journey.

The transition from soldier to student has presented challenges, but Maynard credits Tennessee Tech’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs for its support.

“They helped me get my GI Bill benefits set up, and they’ve been really supportive with everything,” Maynard said. “If I run into any issues, even outside of military-related concerns, they’re always ready to help.”

Maynard also finds that being around other student veterans has made the transition easier than he anticipated.

“It’s been a great help being able to connect with other veterans every day,” he said. “It makes the adjustment a lot smoother than I thought it would be.”

While he’s struggled with math classes like pre-calculus, Maynard remains determined to succeed, relying on the discipline and perseverance he developed during his military service.

His advice to other student veterans is simple: don’t wait to pursue higher education.

“Don’t wait,” Maynard said. “If you wait, life has a way of making you think there’s always more time. But there isn’t. The best time is now.”