Dr. Wayne Taylor is a disabled veteran currently serving as the Director for the USF Office of Veteran Success. After high school, Wayne enlisted in the United States Army to change his socio-economic status and acquire the GI Bill to attend college. After rising to a senior noncommissioned officer's rank, Wayne was recruited into the warrant officer corps, where he served as an area intelligence officer and counterintelligence officer. He deployed to the Afghanistan combat zone twice, working alongside joint special operations forces supporting intelligence collection activities. Wayne retired from the United States Army in 2012 as a Chief Warrant Officer Three after twenty years of military service. After retiring, Wayne worked in the corporate sector for seven-years conducting program and project management, managing as the director of operations of a multi-unit company across the United States. Wayne's passion for working with veterans led him to USF, where he works with military-connected students facing economic and wellness challenges after transitioning from military service. Wayne brings a unique perspective to his current role, understanding and meeting the challenges student veterans encounter in higher education, and the delayed transition struggles to civilian life. He is currently leading a cultural transformation focused on a welcoming and inclusive environment for military-connected students at USF and presents nationally as an advocate for veteran inclusivity. Wayne serves on several USF and community committees in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties, raising awareness of veteran needs and initiatives of military-connected students with local business and community leaders.