From Overseas to the Shores of Malibu: Honoring Pepperdine Community Members Who Have Served Our Nation

As Armed Forces Day approaches, Pepperdine’s deep connection to the military community is reflected in the individuals who have helped shape the University and who continue to do so today. From former Marine Corps officers and Navy radar technicians to student-veterans bringing their unique experiences and leadership skills into the classroom as they pursue their next chapter. Pepperdine is honored to be a part of their stories.

Natalie Trogus

For retired Lieutenant Colonel Natalie Trogus (’99), Pepperdine served as the foundation for a military career that spanned more than two decades and included six combat deployments. Although her journey in the Marines began shortly after graduating from the University, the calling itself took shape while she was still in Malibu. Trogus recalls encountering a Marine recruiter on campus as an almost holy experience, saying, “It seemed like he had a glow over his head, like a saint,” a moment she now views as pivotal in her decision to pursue military service. That inspiration, coupled with the mentorship of faculty and the resilience developed while struggling through challenging physics courses, gave her the resolve to devote herself to others’ welfare in the armed forces. ”

That same spirit of adaptability and perseverance defines the current generation of students walking those same paths.

Bailey Steele

Navy veteran and Seaver College student Bailey Steele, for example, found himself at a crossroads after a traumatic brain injury forced him to leave the service. His transition to civilian life was, in his words, a "nonlinear process." Yet, in the classrooms of Seaver College, he found more than just an education; he found a space to discern his "next mission." Though their paths to service were discovered in different ways, Steele, like Trogus, came to understand the value of transferable skills and how the discipline learned—whether on the high seas or in the classroom—can be applied in extraordinary ways.

"Pepperdine found me," said Steele. "The institution took me in at a time when I needed it. Now I’m going to my dream school—a place that aligns with my values and my aspirations."

Brothers Ricky and Philip Husband

This culture of "mission-minded" scholarship is echoed by brothers Ricky and Philip Husband. Navigating the rigorous demands of Seaver College and the School of Public Policy, they embody the fraternal bond that often defines the military experience. For them, Pepperdine is a place to trade the rigidity of command for the intellectual curiosity of the scholar, discovering that the values of loyalty and persistence are as essential to academic success as they are to national defense.

“I need to know there is meaning behind what I do,” says Philip. “The military provided that for me. Now with studying policymaking at Pepperdine I am able to pursue something that is higher than myself. I find peace in that.”

What unites these stories is not only a shared sense of calling, but also the ability to transform their training, education, and experiences into lives marked by purpose, both in active duty and beyond it. These veterans and their stories remind the entire Pepperdine community that their education is not an end in itself. It is a preparation for the next phase of service.

Learn more about Pepperdine's commitment to supporting veterans and available resources on the University website.