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Aims Community College Veteran Services


Dr. Ross Atkinson is a U.S. Army combat veteran and oversees daily operations in the Veteran Services Department at Aims Community College where he dedicates his career to supporting military-connected students as they transition into academic and civilian life.

Having discovered his passion for education while deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as an enlisted communications specialist, he went on to become a high school English teacher before earning both his Master's in English and his Ph.D. in Education Sciences from Colorado State University's School of Education. 


Jared Polito serves as the Veteran Services Specialist and School Certifying Official for Aims Community College. In this role, he helps students navigate VA education benefits, including certification, enrollment changes, program eligibility, and questions about how benefits may apply to their courses.
Jared served in the Army as a mechanic, including a year in South Korea, before returning to civilian life and spending more than a decade in blue-collar work. After realizing he needed a change, he returned to college, first as an Aims student and later at the University of Northern Colorado, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology. Through that experience, he discovered a passion for helping fellow veterans navigate their own transitions and challenges.

Book an Appointment with Jared:

- General Intake Appointments

- VA Benefit Questions

- Navigating Aims as a Student Veteran

- Clubs and Honor Societies

- Document Submission


Christian Porter, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, joined Aims in 2025 as a Professional Pilot student. Now Christian supports Aims Veteran Services by providing student-centered support for our veteran students who are looking for support from a fellow veteran student, specializing in supporting incoming flight students. 

"My goal, along with getting my degree, is to give back to the veteran community the best that I can."

Book an Appointment with Christian:
- General VA Benefit Questions
- Document Submission
- Aviation Program Questions
- Clubs & Honor Societies