Assistant Director of Veteran Services, Robert Vigneault, Discusses Benefits Afforded to Military Connected Students

As Assistant Director of Veteran Services at Westfield State Robert Vigneault manages the Military Community Excellence Center on campus, a dedicated space for military connected students. Vigneault is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he was an aircraft mechanic, primarily working on B-52 and KC-135 aircrafts.

When he entered the Reserve, Vigneault became a chef before meeting his wife, also in the military, and would relocate to where work would take them, eventually settling down in Massachusetts. Vigneault then attended Southern New Hampshire University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in in 2023, in general studies with a concentration in Essentials in Human Services.

While beginning his undergraduate studies at Holyoke Community College in 2017, Vigneault started to get involved with the veteran community there, being hired as the School Certified Official (SCO) there soon after. He additionally became the SCO at Greenfield Community College, as both HCC and GCC’s veteran programs collaborated with each other and was hired for a full-time position at Westfield State University in the following years.

During this time, Vigneault’s assistant, Justin Marques, oversaw the program in the interim period between hires. “He did an amazing job in maintaining this office,” Vigneault said. “It’s a tough job.”

Vigneault works to bring awareness to the scope of benefits offered to military connected students, as many lack information about it. “Veteran Affair’s education benefits have so many different intricacies,” he said. “It’s mind-boggling. So, our primary mission is that we certify veteran benefits for military connected students,” he said. “If they’re using veteran affairs or Massachusetts National Guard benefits, our office is what will certify them.”

Part of Vigneault’s job is outreach work, such as visiting military bases like Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westover Air Reserve Base, where he’ll give informational briefings about the G.I. Bill. “It’s a way for us to get that information to people who have no idea if they have benefits or not,” he said. “I know what the requirements are, so I educate them on how to use these benefits to their maximum capacity.”

Additionally, students using VA benefits are eligible to join the University’s work study program, where candidates can work for a veteran service’s office and earn pay without taxes. “They can work at a university, Veteran Services Office, or all the way up to Capitol Hill,” Vigneault said. “It’s phenomenal.”

For veterans on campus, Vigneault encourages those who are military connected to visit three main spaces: Vigneault’s office, Justin’s office, and the Center. Students who aren’t military connected are welcome as well, as connected students may often bring friends along with them. “If you are military connected, this is the space for you.”