Serving abroad and at home

When Harwood Garland first stepped onto the UC Irvine campus as a returning veteran, he never imagined that he would someday be recognized by the California Assembly as a Veteran of the Year. However, at a Nov. 4 ceremony hosted by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris at Irvine Valley College, he was one of three individuals honored for outstanding service to their country, community and fellow veterans.

Garland deployed to Iraq in 2007 with the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed again in 2010 aboard the USS Kearsarge. He received a Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal and qualified as a specialist in both Fleet Marine Force warfare and surface warfare.

After completing his service, Petty Officer 2^nd Class Garland embarked on a new mission: higher education. A first-generation college student, he earned associate degrees in mathematics and social science at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, then bachelor's, M.A. and M.S. degrees at UC Irvine.

Today, Garland is pursuing a Ph.D. in public health (disease prevention), with a research concentration on suicide prevention among military veterans. He helped develop and lectured for UC Irvine's Veterans Studies Certificate Program and First Generation First Quarter Challenge program before starting his current doctoral journey.

"UC Irvine has given me the tools to make an impact, and I hope to keep using them to help others find purpose, healing and hope," says Harwood Garland, who's pursuing a doctorate in public health (disease prevention), with a research focus on suicide prevention among military veterans. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine

"My work focuses on veterans of the next war and how the governing draft policies and war technologies may affect the next generation of veterans," Garland says. "Every suicide we prevent also prevents that tragic loss from rippling through the social network of the deceased, potentially saving some of those lives as well."

In 2020, his brother, who was not a veteran, committed suicide. "That took the wind out of my sails," he says. "I felt helpless, withdrew from everything, especially suicide prevention research. Gradually, my family and a therapist helped recontextualize my brother's death as a reason to move forward, not stay down."

Garland recently received a mentorship award from the Public Health Alumni Association and was awarded the School of Social Sciences' Order of Merit for his participation in its Academic Mentorship Program.

His leadership and service did not go unnoticed. Dani Molina, director of UC Irvine's Veteran Services Center, nominated Garland as a Veteran of the Year for 2025.

"Harwood represents the very best of our student veteran community - service, scholarship and compassion," Molina says. "He's not only advancing critical research on military veteran suicide prevention but also mentoring students, advocating for resources and shaping programs that strengthen UC Irvine's support network for those who've served."

The Veterans of the Year Ceremony, now in its seventh year, celebrates the accomplishments of three veterans across the 73^rd California Assembly District who serve through leadership and civic engagement. For Garland, the recognition is not just a personal milestone but a call to continue the work he's dedicated his academic and professional life to.

"UC Irvine has given me the tools to make an impact, and I hope to keep using them to help others find purpose, healing and hope," he says.