UCF Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel, who serves as executive director of UCF RESTORES, has been named a finalist for the Orlando Sentinel‘s 2026 Central Floridian of the Year award, an honor recognizing those whose leadership and community impact shape the region.

The award recognizes Beidel �鶹��Ʒ S� representing the entire UCF RESTORES team �鶹��Ʒ S� for building a national model for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. Since its founding in 2011, UCF RESTORES has treated more than 2,150 individuals, including nearly 600 military members and more than 1,350 first responders. All treatment is provided at no charge, supported by state funding, federal grants and private donations.

�鶹��Ʒ S�When we founded UCF RESTORES, we set out to prove that PTSD treatment could be faster, more effective and accessible to everyone who needs it, �鶹��Ʒ S� Beidel says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Over the past 15 years, that mission has grown into something larger: a comprehensive system of treatment, training, and crisis response that meets people wherever they are in their journey toward healing. This recognition reflects the clinicians, researchers and staff who have made that vision a reality. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The center �鶹��Ʒ S�s intensive outpatient program produces outcomes that exceed national standards �鶹��Ʒ S� 76% of participants no longer meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD following treatment, and the program boasts a relapse rate of less than 1%.

Several states are now establishing similar programs, sending clinicians and researchers to Orlando to study UCF RESTORES’ approach.

What began as a research-focused treatment program has expanded into a comprehensive ecosystem of care encompassing clinical treatment, peer support training, crisis response and family resources.

, UCF RESTORES clinicians:

• Delivered more than 2,100 hours of evidence-based care;
• Trained more than 450 first responders through the center’s REACT peer support program;
• Unveiled a first-of-its-kind mobile Resiliency Command Center to deliver psychological support at disaster scenes; and,
• Integrated the UCF RESTORES 2nd Alarm Project, extending capacity-building and behavioral health navigation services to agencies across Florida’s Panhandle.

UCF RESTORES has also responded to large-scale tragedies including the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting and the 2021 Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside, FL, providing on-site mental health support to survivors, families, and emergency personnel. All treatment is provided at no charge, supported by state funding, federal grants and private donations.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Dr. Beidel �鶹��Ʒ S�s work reflects the very best of UCF. She combines compassion, research and innovation to address one of the most complex challenges facing our local communities, �鶹��Ʒ S� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. �鶹��Ʒ S�Through UCF RESTORES, she has redefined how PTSD is treated, turning breakthrough ideas into real solutions for those who need them most. Because of her work, first responders, trauma survivors, and so many others across Central Florida, and beyond, are finding a path forward. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The Central Floridian of the Year finalist recognition follows Beidel’s selection as the Big 12 Conference’s 2025 Faculty of the Year for UCF. Now in its second year, the award showcases the academic excellence, research breakthroughs and educational opportunities available to students at Big 12 institutions.

UCF has earned a ��signaling the university �鶹��Ʒ S�s growing support for military and veteran students. This is the first year UCF has earned the��Gold��designation, following��many��years��as a��Silver��awardee.

�鶹��Ʒ S�This recognition reflects years of intentional work across the university to better support military-connected students, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Andrea Guzmán, UCF vice president for access and community engagement. �鶹��Ʒ S�We �鶹��Ʒ S�ve focused on building stronger support systems, removing barriers, and ensuring students have clear pathways from enrollment through career. �鶹��Ʒ S�

In addition to our Gold Award and recognition as a Military Friendly Spouse School, UCF has been previously designated as a Purple Heart Institution, Florida Purple Star Campus, Best Military-Friendly Online College and��Military Times �鶹��Ʒ S��� 2025 Best for Vets Colleges List.

Today about��4,000��military-connected��students��are enrolled��at UCF, and there are a��range of services coordinated through the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success (MVSS) to support them:

Holistic Programming

• An orientation dedicated��for��military-connected students and their families

• Expanded student engagement and social activities, which include families and military veterans within our community

• Collaboration with ��affiliates, most notably Valencia College, to streamline transition for transfer students

Academic Resources

• Peer-to-peer tutoring in courses with high drop or fail rates

• VA Work Study and university academic coaching programs prepare and train military-connected students to provide academic coaching to their peers

Career Readiness

• Industry partnerships�� �鶹��Ʒ S� including��Amazon, JE Technology and Disney �鶹��Ʒ S���that provide opportunity and engagement through mentorships,��internships�����Ի� career fairs

• Range of workshops, lunch and learns and professional development opportunities

Access to Financial Support��

• Established an endowed scholarship to provide assistance to military-connected students

• Potential for �鶹��Ʒ S�meal plan �鶹��Ʒ S� grants, emergency relief funds, tuition and fee waivers, and housing subsidies as part of co-curricular and academic support programs

• Participates in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs �鶹��Ʒ S� Yellow Ribbon Program, a tuition assistance initiative for veterans and eligible dependents

Additionally, MVSS��empowers UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s faculty and staff through professional development opportunities with strategies and tips on how to best serve and engage with��military-connected��students.

A new liaison program has been piloted in the last year, placing an MVSS staff member with VA work study students at the��Rosen College of Hospitality Management�����Ի���UCF Downtown��to increase support services for military-connected students at those campus locations.��In��Fall��2026, the program is expected to expand to��the College of Business, College of��Sciences�����Ի� College of Arts and Humanities.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The support the office provides is some of the most efficient and effective support I have encountered at UCF, �鶹��Ʒ S� says���ھ��Բ��Գ�����������ǰ���Abigail Kost. �鶹��Ʒ S�I have scored interviews from career fairs and connections from lunch and��learns. The office is also a pillar of emotional wellbeing and has helped me navigate VA benefits and scholarship opportunities. I would not have come as far as I have without the office �鶹��Ʒ S�s resources. �鶹��Ʒ S�

UCF: Committed to Serving Veterans

UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s commitment to serving veterans is not singularly confined to��our��Office of Military and Veteran Student Success.

In January, �鶹��Ʒ S�U.S. News & World Report �鶹��Ʒ S�r���԰�����UCF No. 6 for online �����������ǰ� �鶹��Ʒ S�s programs for veterans.

UCF is home to �鶹��Ʒ S�, a nonprofit clinical research center and treatment clinic��established��to �鶹��Ʒ S�change the way post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns are understood, diagnosed, and treated.

Led by UCF Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel, who is currently��, the organization employs a unique and effective approach to treatment. A combination of exposure therapy, emerging technology and individual and group therapy sessions resulted in 66% of participants with combat-related trauma and 76% of first responders no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD following three weeks of intensive treatment.

Last year,��UCF became one of 12 universities nationwide�� �鶹��Ʒ S� and the only school in Florida and the southeast �鶹��Ʒ S���to participate��in a new Service to Service initiative. The national pilot program is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership.

A partnership between UCF College of Medicine and Orlando VA Medical Center���� �鶹��Ʒ S���located��next door to each other in Lake Nona �鶹��Ʒ S�s Medical City �鶹��Ʒ S���ensures every medical student��receives training in specialties including surgery, internal medicine,��neurology�����Ի� psychiatry at the Orlando VA Medical Center.

UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s history department has been documenting veterans �鶹��Ʒ S� stories��as part of the Library of Congress �鶹��Ʒ S���Veterans History Project��since��2010.��UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Veterans Legacy Program, which was founded in 2017 as a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration, focuses on documenting the lives of those buried in Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s nine national cemeteries.

About Military Friendly

Founded in 2003, Military Friendly is an organization that measures organizations �鶹��Ʒ S� commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community.

Military Friendly Schools strive toward and succeed in the areas that matter most in helping veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, satisfying careers in the civilian world. Earning the designation shows a school meets the minimum criteria.

Military Friendly �鶹��Ʒ S�s final ratings for its Schools list were determined by combining each institution �鶹��Ʒ S�s survey responses, government/agency public data sources, and measurements across retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically, for student-veterans.

The three-time alum of the UCF recently took the reins as fire chief of OCFRD �鶹��Ʒ S� the largest fire and rescue department in Central Florida and the 26th largest in the nation out of nearly 30,000 departments. OCFRD serves nearly 1.5 million citizens and welcomes over 75 million annual visitors.

Throughout his years with OCFRD, Rios has held just about every field and executive administrative position within the organization. He has nearly three decades of experience in public service and has a background in what he refers to as the trifecta of public safety: corrections, law enforcement and fire services.

The triple Knight earned his doctorate in public affairs, along with both his �����������ǰ� �鶹��Ʒ S�s and master �鶹��Ʒ S�s degrees, from the College of Community Innovation and Education. Rios says his education and experiences at UCF were crucial in preparing him to lead one of the largest metropolitan fire departments.

�鶹��Ʒ S�It was an invaluable experience at UCF, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. “A lot of my focus through my education was relevant to what we experience here in local government. Everything that I’ve done academically has been building on my knowledge and ability as a practitioner in the field of public safety policy, and it absolutely added a needed perspective as I became a producer of information within the domain of public safety. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Enhancing Service to the Community

The OCFRD plays a vital role in the community as an all-hazards department, responding to a wide range of emergencies, including providing fire suppression, technical rescues, hazardous materials incidents, pre-hospital care response and community engagement.

“One of the strengths within the public safety community is our ability to adapt to the challenges faced by our community,” he says. “As fire chief, my top priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens, visitors and firefighters. �鶹��Ʒ S� Close to three decades ago, Florida adopted me �鶹��Ʒ S� specifically Orlando and Orange County �鶹��Ʒ S� so this is my way to give back to the community. �鶹��Ʒ S�

To facilitate this, Rios embraces opportunities for professional learning and interagency collaboration that build upon the traditions of the fire service, aiming to improve the fire department �鶹��Ʒ S�s services well into the future. This includes investing in employee education and training to ensure OCFRD can provide the highest level of pre-hospital care, developing new partnerships between first responder departments and law enforcement, as well as a nonstop focus on natural disaster preparedness and response strategy.

�鶹��Ʒ S�As a leading fire department, we create opportunities to address these challenges by refining how we perform our core responsibilities, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�At the same time, we explore how to propel the future of the fire service by embracing innovation and technology.”

With the department’s range of programs, its employees interact with citizens and law enforcement on a daily basis, fostering a sense of community safety and pride among public safety interests. This is especially true during hurricane season in Central Florida.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We live in a state where natural disasters are prevalent,” he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�There’s a lot of training and effort that goes into preparing for every hurricane season. Not only do we prepare for the response and recovery, but we also focus on mitigation: How do we prevent catastrophic events from happening year after year? It’s a yearlong focus on how we improve the condition and the quality of life for our citizens. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Protecting First Responders �鶹��Ʒ S� Well-Being

Continuing to provide quality fire and rescue services also requires ensuring that the department �鶹��Ʒ S�s workforce is adequately supported, Rios says. Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population, according to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I am committed to finding solutions within the fire industry, starting here with Orange County Fire Rescue, to reduce the level of carcinogen exposures that firefighters experience because of the inherent job that they have, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Many people may not know �鶹��Ʒ S� firefighters are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer-related illnesses. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Another top priority is to ensure that fire service workers have the mental health support they need to continue serving the community. About 20% of firefighters and paramedics meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder at some point during their careers �鶹��Ʒ S� a similar rate to military members returning from war, according to a Journal of Occupational Health Psychology study. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s especially important to provide resources to help fire and rescue service members process the traumatic events they witness regularly on the job.��The department �鶹��Ʒ S�s collaboration with has been instrumental in providing these services to the workforce through research and development of innovative trauma treatment, as well as delivering peer mental health support training to first responders.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Our firefighters are constantly involved in individuals �鶹��Ʒ S� worst nightmares: They live them on a daily basis, �鶹��Ʒ S� Rios says. “So, we owe it to them �鶹��Ʒ S� in order to have an operational workforce that is ready to respond to the community’s needs �鶹��Ʒ S� to focus on the well-being and the mental health of our employees. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Rios says his education and experiences at UCF were crucial in preparing him to lead one of the largest metropolitan fire departments and manage its responsibilities. Today, he gives back to the community, which he considers one of the most rewarding aspects of his job.

For this year’s game, the Knights defeated North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 68-7, at Acrisure Bounce House. UCF proudly welcomed distinguished leaders from seven major military commands, celebrating the enduring partnership between UCF and the U.S. Armed Forces. The event served as a powerful reminder of the collaborative spirit that drives innovation, readiness and national defense.

Among the honored guests were:

• Maj. Gen. James E. Smith, representing STARCOM (Space Training and Readiness Command), whose mission is to prepare the U.S. Space Force through cutting-edge education, training and testing.
• Brig. Gen. Christine A. Beeler, leading PEO STRI (Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation), focused on delivering advanced training and information operations capabilities.
• Col. Brian L. Chatman��of Launch Delta 45, responsible for managing all space launch operations from the East Coast and ensuring assured access to space.
• Capt. Robert Betts, commanding NAWC TSD (Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division), the Navy �鶹��Ʒ S�s hub for training system development and inter-service coordination.
• Col. Anthony C. Graham, representing AFAMS (Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation), which enhances operational training through integrated simulation technologies.
• Col. Wynndee M. Young, leading PM TRASYS (Program Manager for Training Systems), dedicated to improving Marine Corps readiness through ground training systems.
• Ivan Martinez, director of STTC (Simulation and Training Technology Center), whose team pioneers simulation technologies to maximize soldier effectiveness.

Their presence at the game underscored the deep ties between UCF and the U.S. Department of Defense, especially in the areas of research, simulation and training. As a university located in the heart of Central Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s modeling and simulation corridor, UCF is proud to collaborate with these commands to advance military readiness and innovation.

UCF is nationally recognized for its commitment to helping military and veteran students succeed from enrollment to employment. The university is a Military Friendly Schools honoree, a Military Order of the Purple Heart University, and a Collegiate Purple Star campus. It also ranks No. 8 nationally among U.S. News & World Report �鶹��Ʒ S�s Best Online Bachelor �鶹��Ʒ S�s Programs for Veterans.

From cutting-edge research that supports veterans �鶹��Ʒ S� health to academic programs tailored for active-duty personnel, UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s deep-rooted ties to the military extend far beyond the stadium. These connections strengthen Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s communities, empower students and uplift those who serve.

Here are some powerful ways UCF and the military are united year-round.

Fueling the Success of Military-Affiliated Students

UCF has a long history of welcoming and supporting military-affiliated students. More than 3,300, including computer science student Trevor Chandrapaul, are currently enrolled.

Chandrapaul began his studies at Valencia College before taking a five-year detour to serve in the U.S. Navy as a gas turbine systems technician working in the engine room. His time with the Navy shifted his academic interest from physical therapy to computer science and eventually led him to UCF.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Coming from the military, [I wanted to] continue to serve after [my] service, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�[UCF] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Through the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success, �鶹��Ʒ S�he quickly found community among other veterans. Since 2011, the resource center has offered support and a sense of community to students, faculty and staff veterans on campus. Here, students receive academic and career advising focused on the needs of veterans, as well as guidance on the use and benefits of the GI Bill.

Chandrapaul, like many other military and veteran students, credits the center with making the transition from military life into a university setting smoother.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I saw how many military veterans actually attended [UCF], �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�I reached out to someone at the [Office of Military and Veteran Student Success] and they took the time to talk to me and offer reassurance. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The UCF campus is also home to Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs that combined have about 170 students preparing to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

This fall, UCF is also supporting service members through a new academic partnership, called Service to Service, which helps veterans and their families pursue graduate degrees in public service fields �鶹��Ʒ S� allowing them to leverage their military experience in rewarding new roles. The university is one of 12 universities nationwide �鶹��Ʒ S� and the only school in Florida and the southeast �鶹��Ʒ S� that is participating in the pilot program, which is a collaboration with nonprofits The Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans.

Top Talent Pipeline to the Defense Industry

The university has repeatedly been recognized by Aviation Week Network as the nation �鶹��Ʒ S�s top talent pipeline for students to work in the aerospace and defense industry, meaning a UCF education prepares students well for future success in those industries.

Students learn from world-class faculty who bring exceptional industry and academic experience into the classroom, and UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s location in Orlando provides many nearby internship and career opportunities.

Among the opportunities UCF students often secure is the Department of Defense �鶹��Ʒ S�s SMART Scholarship program, which provides STEM students with financial support, a summer internship, an experienced mentor and guaranteed employment with the DOD after graduation.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I was drawn to the program �鶹��Ʒ S�s integration of academic advancement with real-world application, especially within the DOD �鶹��Ʒ S�s infrastructure and research divisions, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Carlos Arteaga, a master �鶹��Ʒ S�s in civil engineering student and one of three Knights who received the scholarship this summer. �鶹��Ʒ S�The opportunity to contribute to national security while deepening my expertise in structural and geotechnical engineering made it an ideal fit. �鶹��Ʒ S�

In July, Lockheed Martin and UCF expanded a partnership that has been in place for more than 40 years, greatly impacting the State of Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s economic prosperity, fueling innovation and strengthening student success.

As part of that agreement, Lockheed Martin will expand investments in the highly successful �鶹��Ʒ S�College Work Experience Program, which since 1981 has provided unrivaled work experiences for more than 10,000 students in engineering, business and many other disciplines �鶹��Ʒ S� and led to many of those students earning full-time employment with Lockheed Martin.

UCF, Air Force Partner on Hypersonic Technology

World-renowned faculty member Kareem Ahmed and his research team are partnering with the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research to advance the technology that fuels hypersonic travel �鶹��Ʒ S� at speeds up to 13,000 miles per hour �鶹��Ʒ S� to �鶹��Ʒ S�help enhance national defense �鶹��Ʒ S�and �鶹��Ʒ S�open up new frontiers in space exploration.

Ahmed, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the �鶹��Ʒ S�College of Engineering and Computer Science, has received multiple U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) grants to develop hypersonic technology.

Hypersonic propulsion allows for air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, meaning six to 17 times the speed of sound, or more than 4,600 mph to 13,000 mph.

Advanced hypersonic propulsion systems are a national priority and are essential to maintaining U.S. national defense as global technological advancements continue to evolve.

UCF, Military Advance Modeling and Simulation Technology Together

UCF continues to develop connections with the U.S. military that ensure they benefit from the most advanced technologies and training. These partnerships also strengthen Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s high-tech economy, as Orlando is a national hub of the modeling and simulation industry attracting nearly $7 billion in annual contracts.

UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Institute for Simulation and Training is the academic leader of the industry. The institute �鶹��Ʒ S�s partners include the Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation and the Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems, among others that are also part of the Team Orlando community.

IST modeling and simulation research in strategic areas such as digital twin, AI, human performance, quantum, and spatial computing has accelerated practical innovations in multiple U.S. Army projects and developed multiple tools that are currently in the hands of personnel in every branch of service. In one of the most recent projects, IST’s researchers partnered with the Army to develop a human digital twin prototype that can be a mission team member supporting the commander in the next generation of combat vehicles.

Regaining Lives Through UCF RESTORES

UCF RESTORES provides clinical treatment services to first responders, front-line medical personnel, military veterans, active-duty military personnel and survivors of mass violence and natural disasters �鶹��Ʒ S� helping them overcome trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lead fulfilling careers and family lives. The program �鶹��Ʒ S�s innovative therapy includes elements of virtual reality, with treatment success rates far exceeding the national average.

UCF RESTORES has treated more than 1,900 veterans, active-duty military personnel and first responders.

Clinicians don �鶹��Ʒ S�t just treat PTSD �鶹��Ʒ S� they challenge it head on through a model called Trauma Management Therapy, which involves helping patients confront traumatic memories in a safe, structured environment. They do this through customized, immersive virtual reality technology that helps clinicians recreate elements of patients �鶹��Ʒ S� unique traumatic experiences.

One-on-one sessions are delivered alongside group therapy �鶹��Ʒ S� which addresses challenges with anger, sleep, guilt, depression and social isolation �鶹��Ʒ S� to drive long-term recovery.

As the devastating flash floods that struck Central Texas on July 4, continue to impact communities across the state, first responders remain on the front lines, navigating both physical danger and the mental stress these disasters leave behind. For many, the emotional strain of responding to large-scale crises is made even heavier when children are among the victims.

, executive director of and trustee chair and Pegasus Professor of psychology and medical education, knows this burden well. UCF RESTORES provides clinical treatment services to first responders, front-line medical personnel, military veterans, active-duty military personnel, and survivors of mass violence and natural disasters. Since the program �鶹��Ʒ S�s founding in 2011, Beidel and her team have treated 1,300 first responders through its innovative program, which includes elements of virtual reality. UCF RESTORES �鶹��Ʒ S� treatment success rates far exceed the national average, with 76% of first responders no longer meeting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnostic criteria after three weeks of treatment.

The UCF RESTORES team has responded to the scenes of many disasters, including the Pulse nightclub shooting, Surfside condo collapse, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and many hurricanes.

Below are a few of Beidel �鶹��Ʒ S�s insights regarding first responders helping with the Texas floods.

Having so many children as victims can have an �鶹��Ʒ S�especially profound �鶹��Ʒ S� psychological impact.

The most common reason first responders seek help from UCF RESTORES is trauma involving the deaths of children. Pediatric fatalities leave a lasting emotional imprint, more than almost any other type of event. When multiple children are injured or killed in a single incident, that emotional burden becomes even more overwhelming.

Trauma can hit even harder for first responders who are parents of young children.

We’ve heard from many firefighters and rescue personnel who �鶹��Ʒ S�ve told us that, in the moment, they suddenly saw their own child in the victim. Others have shared that in their nightmares after the event, it’s their own child they �鶹��Ʒ S�re trying to save. As a therapist, that �鶹��Ʒ S�s a group I would want to monitor closely and support through proactive mental health care.

First responders can experience a range of emotional and psychological reactions in the weeks and months to come.

It �鶹��Ʒ S�s not uncommon for them to struggle with sleep, appetite or intrusive thoughts about what they saw. For some, these symptoms may fade over time without the need for treatment. But for others, the distress can persist and even intensify, leading to conditions like PTSD, depression or panic attacks. When those symptoms start interfering with daily life �鶹��Ʒ S� whether it �鶹��Ʒ S�s difficulty focusing at work, withdrawing from family, becoming irritable or avoiding the job altogether �鶹��Ʒ S� that �鶹��Ʒ S�s often a sign that professional help is needed. Recovery looks different for everyone. There �鶹��Ʒ S�s no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. At UCF RESTORES, we tailor treatment to each individual �鶹��Ʒ S�s experience and needs, helping them regain control and begin to heal �鶹��Ʒ S� both on the job and at home.

One of the most meaningful ways society can support first responders is by showing up for their loved ones.

Most people truly value the service and sacrifice of first responders, and saying �鶹��Ʒ S�thank you �鶹��Ʒ S� is always appreciated. But when possible, going beyond words can make an even greater impact. For instance, when responders are deployed to large-scale disasters, like the flooding in Texas, they can be away from home for weeks. That puts a real strain on the families they leave behind. Simple gestures such as offering to mow the lawn, pick up groceries or watch the kids so their partner can have a moment of rest can ease the load at home and give the responder peace of mind, knowing their family is being cared for. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s in these everyday acts of kindness that we show real support, not just for the job they do, but for the sacrifices their whole family makes.

First responders who need assistance from UCF RESTORES are welcome to call 407-823-3910.

Supported by the Florida Legislature, the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal, Lockheed Martin and UCF, the mobile command center is equipped to deliver trauma-informed care and mental health resources to emergency responders statewide. The unit includes private consultation rooms and staff quarters, ensuring clinicians can provide care in a safe, confidential environment at the heart of emergency response operations.

Since 2019 UCF RESTORES has dedicated nearly 900 hours of crisis response support to more than 50 of Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s most devastating events, including the Surfside building collapse and the state �鶹��Ʒ S�s most catastrophic hurricanes. Pegasus Professor of Psychology Deborah Beidel is executive director of the program.

UCF RESTORES provides clinical treatment services to first responders, front-line medical personnel, military veterans, active-duty military personnel, and survivors of mass violence and natural disasters �鶹��Ʒ S� helping them overcome trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder and lead fulfilling careers and family lives. The program �鶹��Ʒ S�s innovative therapy includes elements of virtual reality, with treatment success rates far exceeding the national average.

As part of Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s State Emergency Response Plan �鶹��Ʒ S�s (SERP) Mental Wellness Incident Management Team, UCF RESTORES �鶹��Ʒ S� licensed clinicians are among the first on the ground when tragedy strikes. Until now, the team has provided psychological first aid in borrowed, makeshift spaces, lacking the structure and privacy necessary for effective care.

The all-new Resiliency Command Center addresses this gap, creating a controlled, trauma-informed environment for emergency response clinicians to meet first responders where they are �鶹��Ʒ S� at the frontlines of crisis.

During the event UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright thanked state Sen. Tom Wright and state Rep. David Smith for their �鶹��Ʒ S�unwavering support and advocacy for this program. �鶹��Ʒ S� He acknowledged Lockheed Martin for their collaboration with UCF RESTORES and their partnerships across many other areas of UCF.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We are also immensely grateful to our first responders and emergency response agencies who bravely run towards critical emergencies, �鶹��Ʒ S� UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Today marks a significant step forward in mental healthcare for first responders and trauma survivors. Through groundbreaking research and cutting-edge innovation, UCF RESTORES has helped thousands of individuals across our state, providing critical support to those in need, proving again that UCF rises to every occasion, faces challenges head on and develops solutions that drive real-world impact. �鶹��Ʒ S�

�鶹��Ʒ S�After Champlain Towers collapsed, UCF RESTORES deployed alongside the State Fire Marshal team with mental health support for search and rescue teams, �鶹��Ʒ S� Wright says. �鶹��Ʒ S�These experiences revealed the lack of secure space to support our emergency personnel to do their work. The command center will close that gap.�� It will provide confidential treatment, space in the aftermath of disasters and help to strengthen our first responders as they go about the heroic work. �鶹��Ʒ S�

�鶹��Ʒ S�I spent my career in the U.S. Marine Corps, retired as a colonel. I �鶹��Ʒ S�m one of the few combat veterans serving in the Legislature today, so I understand the visible and unseen wounds of war and the trauma our first responders deal with, �鶹��Ʒ S� Smith says. �鶹��Ʒ S�That �鶹��Ʒ S�s why I was happy to support an appropriation of state funding for the UCF RESTORES Resiliency Command Center. Whether it �鶹��Ʒ S�s the Surfside collapse or other tragedies that might strike Florida, we need these on-site, real-time assets available for our first responders. �鶹��Ʒ S�

�鶹��Ʒ S�Today, we celebrate the inauguration and unveiling of a mental health command trailer for the UCF RESTORES program, a project born from a shared commitment to the well-being of our first responders, �鶹��Ʒ S� Florida Division of State Fire Marshal Director JoAnne Rice says. �鶹��Ʒ S�For me, it has been an absolute honor to work alongside Dr. Beidel and her devoted team, as well as Deputy Executive Director Dr. [Kellie] O �鶹��Ʒ S�Dare and Second Alarm Project on this project and so many others. Your passion and your dedication inspire me every day. Over the years, we’ve built an incredible partnership with this team, especially during hurricanes, providing essential behavioral health and resources when and where they are needed. Together, we’ve created peer support programs and clinician awareness initiatives that speak directly to the unique challenges faced by firefighters and first responders. �鶹��Ʒ S�

�鶹��Ʒ S�[UCF RESTORES] chose to be the rescuers for us [first responders] and that is the most humbling experience that as a first responder we could ever be embraced by, �鶹��Ʒ S� Indian River Fire Rescue Firefighter Engineer Lt. Dustin Hawkins says. �鶹��Ʒ S�You created a beacon and a light, purpose built, thoughtfully and intelligently designed, to fill all the voids in the fields and prevent our members from having yet again another, �鶹��Ʒ S�we regret to inform you knock on the door. �鶹��Ʒ S� �鶹��Ʒ S�

Beidel expressed her gratitude to the Florida Legislature, Lockheed Martin, Rice and the first responder community for their support in bringing UCF RESTORES �鶹��Ʒ S� vision to life.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We sincerely hope this unit is never needed, but the reality is that catastrophic events are beyond our control, �鶹��Ʒ S� Beidel says. �鶹��Ʒ S�What we can control is how we respond. With the UCF RESTORES Resiliency Command Center, we �鶹��Ʒ S�re ensuring that when disaster strikes, the men and women who run toward danger have the resources they need for optimal physical and mental wellness. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The tour included visits with key UCF research centers, such as (IST), , and the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center).

While Grady toured UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s defense-related research, his wife, Christine Grady, visited UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success; , a clinic dedicated to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and met with UCF Army and Air Force ROTC cadets.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The visit from Admiral and Mrs. Grady underscores the vital role UCF plays in advancing national security and defense research, supporting critical DOD needs, and preparing the next generation of military leaders, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Winston V. Schoenfeld, UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s vice president for research and innovation. �鶹��Ʒ S�Over 30% of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s federal funding has come from the DOD for more than a decade, positioning UCF as a national leader in delivering key innovations to the DOD. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The Tour

Grady began his visit with a meeting alongside UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright, where they discussed UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s longstanding commitment to supporting the nation �鶹��Ʒ S�s defense through cutting-edge research and workforce development.

While with CREOL, Admiral Grady received a briefing on directed energy research and its applications for DOD missions, particularly the capabilities of the Townes Institute for Science and Technology Experimentation Facility. The institute, located at Kennedy Space Center, supports multidisciplinary research with a focus on space science, optics and other advanced technologies.

At IST, UCF showcased the latest advancements in digital twin technology, such as real-time 3D digital twins of structures and areas, and artificial intelligence for DOD-decision making tools.

Grady �鶹��Ʒ S�s visit to the HyperSpace Center focused on the integration of students into the research process and the timeline for the hypersonic technology, which would allow air travel at speeds of up to 13,000 miles per hour (Mach 17).

Commitment to National Defense and Military Success

UCF is a national leader in supporting military and defense initiatives through education, research and industry partnerships.

UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success supports more than 3,200 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty and dependents, by providing academic advising, transition assistance and tailored guidance.

UCF RESTORES offers innovative, no-cost PTSD treatment for veterans and first responders, with clinical trials achieving a 100% success rate in just 14 days for participants completing VR-assisted exposure therapy. The program has treated more than 500 veterans and 950 first responders, with the majority no longer meeting PTSD criteria.

UCF also boasts top-ranked ROTC programs, with the Army ROTC Fighting Knights Battalion and Air Force Detachment 159 preparing leaders for military and civilian careers. UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s AFROTC program, which has been developing officers for the Air Force and Space Force for more than 50 years, has earned the DOD �鶹��Ʒ S�s ROTC and Educational Institutional Partnership Excellence Award for multiple areas of excellence.

In research, UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s close ties to the defense industry are amplified through Central Florida Research Park, a $7 billion hub for modeling and simulation adjacent to UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s main campus, which is also home to six DOD headquarters. UCF also ranks No. 1 in Florida for VA certifications, is leading the nation in the number of cybersecurity championships, and is the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries.

Founded in 2003, Military Friendly is an organization that measures organizations �鶹��Ʒ S� commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community. Military Friendly Schools strive toward and succeed in the areas that matter most in helping veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, satisfying careers in the civilian world. Earning the designation shows a school meets the minimum criteria.

Military Friendly �鶹��Ʒ S�s final ratings for its Schools list were determined by combining each institution �鶹��Ʒ S�s survey responses, government/agency public data sources, and measurements across retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically, for student-veterans.

There are about 1,400 current student-veterans at UCF, and there are a range of services, including the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success, offered to support them.

In September 2021,��U.S. News & World Report��ranked UCF the 86^th��best college for veterans. In January, U.S. News & World Report��ranked UCF 8^th for online �����������ǰ� �鶹��Ʒ S�s programs for veterans.

UCF is also home to , a nonprofit clinical research center and treatment clinic established to change the way post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns are understood, diagnosed, and treated. The organization �鶹��Ʒ S�s unique approach to treatment �鶹��Ʒ S� combining exposure therapy, emerging technology, as well as individual and group therapy sessions �鶹��Ʒ S� has resulted in 66% of participants with combat-related trauma and 76% of first responders no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD following three weeks of intensive treatment.

At UCF, researchers are working to better understand PTSD, its effects and ways to treat it. Here is a roundup of just some of that work.

Expanding Peer Support and Innovative Treatment

is a leading nonprofit clinical research center and trauma treatment clinic that uses a dynamic approach to PTSD treatment. By combining exposure therapy using emerging technology like virtual reality, and individual and group therapy sessions, 76% of first responders no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD following three weeks of intensive treatment.

UCF RESTORES is expanding its nationally recognized peer support and suicide prevention training �鶹��Ʒ S� called REACT �鶹��Ʒ S� for first responders across Central Florida. With a $1.4 million First Responder Regional Support Grant from the Florida Department of Children and Families, UCF RESTORES will train over 300 first responders on mental health and suicide prevention, develop and train a network of clinicians in how to best support first responders, and hold summits with first responder agencies to collaboratively develop behavioral health services for first responders and their families.

Researchers have expanded REACT to support hospital nurses, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Pabst Steinmetz Foundation Arts and Wellness Innovation Award. An interdisciplinary team of researchers will train nurses to create autobiographical comics about their experiences, adapt REACT workshop materials for acute care nurses and their autobiographical comics scenarios, and use the comics in cultural competency training for mental health specialists who assist nurses.

Virtual Reality for Healing

Research out of UCF is studying how exposure therapy, with the use of virtual reality, can help patients of intensive-care experiences overcome PTSD, which many survivors of intensive-care hospital stays often develop. Led by Assistant Professor Brian Peach in UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s College of Nursing, the research will examine how exposure therapy that features virtual reality with real sounds and smells from the patients �鶹��Ʒ S� intensive-care experience can help patients reprocess their traumatic experience in the presence of a therapist. This method �鶹��Ʒ S� exposure therapy using virtual reality �鶹��Ʒ S� is used by UCF RESTORES and has proven to be highly successful in treating first responders, military personnel and veterans. Recruitment for this research is ongoing.

Help for the Helpers

Uzbekistan native and mental health counselor, Gulnora Hundley �鶹��Ʒ S�04MA �鶹��Ʒ S�08PhD, an associate lecturer in the Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology, provides free group therapy sessions to mental health professionals treating those impacted by the Ukraine-Russia conflict. More than 170 participants have tuned in virtually from Poland, Ukraine and other places nearby since she started offering the service in March 2022. Hundley is helping mental health professionals because they need their own safe space, too, with resources for coping and processing trauma. Hundley says participants have talked about grief, loss and being separated from loved ones �鶹��Ʒ S� some of whom have husbands fighting in the conflict, and some who know those who have been killed. Hundley uses a psychotherapy treatment called EMDR Group Traumatic Episode Protocol to help participants alleviate stress associated with their traumatic memories.

Dogs and Their Healing Power for Veterans

After a 21-year career as a clinical social worker and mental health officer in the U.S. Air Force, Associate Professor of Social Work James Whitworth now works to understand the efficacy of dog therapy programs for veterans. Veterans can face a multitude of mental health challenges, from depression and anxiety, to PTSD, traumatic brain injury or sexual trauma, and training therapy dogs �鶹��Ʒ S� through his research �鶹��Ʒ S� has been found to improve these symptoms, as well as hypervigilance, stress and anger. Whitworth �鶹��Ʒ S�s research is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, and he �鶹��Ʒ S�s evaluated similar programs for the Florida Department of Veterans. One of his current studies identifies and examines the matching strategies used to pair veterans with the best service dog that suits their needs. By understanding the value of service dogs and related programs, he aspires to build better support for veterans.

A Silver Lining

While much research seeks to understand the negative side effects of traumatic events, such as PTSD, highly stressful events also can lead to positive psychological changes. That �鶹��Ʒ S�s what Associate Professor of Counselor Education Melissa Zeligman studies. Posttraumatic growth, or PTG, is the phenomenon where survivors of highly stressful and traumatic events gain a greater appreciation for life, build stronger relationships with their loved ones or higher power, or recognize new strengths within themselves after such events. Zeligman researches ways to facilitate PTG in clients, such as hope, optimism, gratitude, meaning making, connecting with social support groups and spirituality and religion, as applicable to the client. Zeligman also conducts research out of the , examining how clients �鶹��Ʒ S� adverse childhood experiences impact their growth throughout counseling. The Community Counseling and Research Center provides services to the public.

UCF has a long history of welcoming and supporting student veterans �鶹��Ʒ S� including more than 1,400 who are currently enrolled �鶹��Ʒ S� and partnering with all branches of the military as well as the defense industry.

The The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success’s ��goal is always to make veterans �鶹��Ʒ S� transition to civilian and academic life as smooth as possible.

The has been serving a growing student veteran population since 2011.��The resource center offers support and a sense of community to students, faculty and staff veterans on campus. Students use the space for studying and homework, and it �鶹��Ʒ S�s also where they receive guidance on the use and benefits of the GI Bill.��

UCF has received the Purple Heart University designation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The designation reflects a commitment to help student veterans succeed from enrollment to employment, recognition of student veterans on campus, efforts to preserve the stories of military veterans and the innovative aid rendered to veterans through .

UCF has also been recognized as a top 10 best online �����������ǰ� �鶹��Ʒ S�s program for veterans by U.S. News & World Report; one of the Best Colleges for Veterans by College Factual; and �鶹��Ʒ S�Military Friendly �鶹��Ʒ S� by Military Friendly Schools.

Fueling the Talent Pipeline

Students looking to pursue careers in defense will find an ideal home at UCF. They learn from world-class faculty members and benefit from UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s strong connections with industry partners as well as our location in Orlando, which is a hub for leading employers in modeling, simulation and training; optics and photonics; and engineering.

For nearly a decade, Aviation Week Network has ranked UCF as the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries. UCF also ranks as the industry �鶹��Ʒ S�s second-most preferred supplier, behind Georgia Tech.

Nationwide, Lockheed Martin employs more UCF graduates than alumni of any other university.

Locally, 27% of Lockheed Martin employees in Orlando are UCF graduates, as are 20% of Siemens employees.

This year, UCF signed a partnership agreement with the new U.S. Space Force to help the agency develop technology and an agile workforce. UCF also partners with the National Security Innovation Network to give students real-world experiences solving problems related to U.S. national security challenges.

With its strong computer science and engineering programs, UCF fields many of the best student cyber defense teams in the nation, with frequent victories in collegiate competitions sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Security Agency and others. Last month, teams from UCF took first and second place in the CyberForce Competition, led by the Department of Energy �鶹��Ʒ S�s Argonne National Laboratory.

Strengthening National Security

In Central Florida Research Park adjacent to campus, UCF scientists are collaborating with researchers from the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps to protect and prepare military personnel and to help them work effectively in teams.

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded UCF $21.55 million in 2021-22 for research projects, the second-highest funding source after the U.S. National Science Foundation.

The largest portions of that involve and engineering and computer science.

also has worked with military partners on developing simulation platforms for nearly 30 years. Some of the research projects designed to help keep military personnel well trained and ready focus on strengthening technology, while others are related to helping teams work more effectively together. Partners include the Army, Navy, Air Force and Defense Health Agency, among many others.

Innovative Treatments Help Those with PTSD Regain Their Lives

Over the past decade, has provided treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to active-duty military, first responders and other survivors of trauma, helping to change the way PTSD is understood, diagnosed and treated. The American Psychiatric Association estimates that one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime.

UCF RESTORES has helped more than 1,400 veterans and active-duty military personnel, first responders, survivors of mass casualty events and sexual assault, and others regain their lives with innovative treatments.

UCF RESTORES’ unique approach to treatment �鶹��Ʒ S� combining exposure therapy, emerging technology, as well as individual and group therapy sessions �鶹��Ʒ S� has resulted in 76% of participants no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD following three weeks of intensive treatment. The program �鶹��Ʒ S�s virtual reality treatments include scenarios designed to look like foreign war zones, and they also include realistic smells such as gasoline and gunfire.

Funding for UCF RESTORES has included $19 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and support provided by the Florida Legislature. Most of the services provided at UCF to veterans and military personnel are free to participants, including hotel rooms for those traveling from out of town.

UCF RESTORES also treats active-duty military personnel at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia, and Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia.

Caring for Veterans

�鶹��Ʒ S� an experience they say helps them better understand and appreciate the sacrifices of our nation �鶹��Ʒ S�s heroes.

During their third-year clerkships and fourth-year electives, medical students receive training in specialties including surgery, internal medicine, neurology and psychiatry at the Orlando VA Medical Center next door to the College of Medicine in Lake Nona and Bay Pines VA Healthcare system in St. Petersburg, Florida.

�鶹��Ʒ S�It was a really humbling experience serving men and women vets with such interesting stories, and to be able to give back to those who have done so much for our country, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Gary Saloman, a third-year UCF medical student.

The Orlando VA Medical Center opened in 2015 and is one of the nation �鶹��Ʒ S�s largest VA hospitals, serving the region �鶹��Ʒ S�s 400,000 veterans.

It also houses the VA �鶹��Ʒ S�s state-of-the-art SimLEARN National Simulation Center, where physicians can train using simulated robotic patients.

Students say they are particularly struck by how willing veterans are to share their medical and life experiences to help the learners become better physicians. Andrew Taitano, a surgeon at the Orlando VA and associate professor of surgery at the , says he isn �鶹��Ʒ S�t surprised.

�鶹��Ʒ S�It speaks to the character of the veterans, �鶹��Ʒ S� Taitano says. �鶹��Ʒ S�They are happy to be getting care and want to help students learn to help others in the future. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Collecting Veterans �鶹��Ʒ S� Stories

Launched in the fall of 2010, the honors American war veterans by giving them the opportunity to share their stories so that future generations will better understand the realities of conflict. The project, which is ran by , collects, preserves and makes to the public the experiences of Central Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s veterans before they are forgotten.

The project, which is comprised of students majoring in history and student veterans, is a collaborative endeavor led by Barbara Gannon, an associate professor of history, who is a veteran herself. She has trained and worked with students to conduct interviews with veterans for more than a decade. More than 700 veterans have been interviewed to date, with some now housed in the Library of Congress.

If you are a veteran living in Central Florida and would like to be interviewed about your time in the military, call 407-823-0242 or .

Preparing the Next Generation of Military Leaders

The UCF campus is home to two Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs that train students to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

This year, marked 50 years of partnership with UCF.

Roughly 170 cadets are currently enrolled in the officer commissioning program, led by nine active-duty cadre members. An estimated 1,500 UCF graduates have become lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force through this Air Force-UCF program.

The was established on the university campus in 1986. There are 160 cadets currently enrolled, and roughly 850 officers have been commissioned since the program �鶹��Ʒ S�s inception.