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Download & print our 2011 Veteran of the Year Ticket Order Form and Information!

John J. Sbrega, Ph.D., President of Bristol Community College, has been selected as The 2011 Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran of the Year

The Board of Directors of the Southeastern Massachusetts Veterans Housing Program, Inc., better known as the Veterans Transition House, is pleased to announce the selection of John J. Sbrega, Captain, USAF (Veteran) and President of Bristol Community College, as the 2011 Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran of the Year. Dr. Sbrega is the 16th person to receive the award. Dr. Sbrega served as a C-130 pilot from 1965 to 1968 in Southeast Asia and flew a total of 1,848 missions in South Vietnam. He logged more than 1,400 combat flight time, and is a decorated veteran, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, which is awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight." In addition, Dr. Sbrega was awarded the Air Medal (with 17 oak leaf clusters), the Vietnam Service Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Expeditionary Medal (awarded for 1965 service in the Dominican Republic). Dr. Sbrega was the founder and director of the Maryland World War II History Roundtable and the Rhode Island World War II History Roundtable. He has also served as an instructor at the Armed Forces Staff College Seminars on Military History. He has written over 17 award-winning publications on Military History as well as making over 31 presentations on military history. Dr. Sbrega is extremely active within the community either as the founding chair, chair or director of over 17 agencies in the greater New Bedford and Fall River areas. His community service has been recognized by numerous civic organizations. It is education where he makes his most potent mark. He has created World War II History Roundtables and taught Armed Forces seminars. But, as President of BCC, he has embraced the need for affordable access to education for all groups, and he has taken a particular interest in veterans. He identified a specialized academic advisor for veterans, and he has established a special advising program especially for veterans. Dr. Sbrega will receive the 2011 Veteran of the Year Award at a special dinner presentation to be held at the Hawthorne Country Club, at 6:00 p.m., on November 10, 2011. For more information, please contact Sarah Dosenberg at 508.992-5313, ext. 25, or by e-mail at Sarah@vetshouse.org.



All proceeds were dedicated to the mission of the Southeastern Veterans Housing Program Inc.












Since 1996, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Massachusetts Veterans Housing Program, Inc. (The Veterans Transition House) has recognized and honored a veteran from our region who has demonstrated excellence in promoting the causes of veterans of all of the Armed Forces of the United States as well as excellence in community service, volunteerism, and veterans’ issues.

Past recipients of the award are:

Contact Information

Veteran's Transition House
20 Willis St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
Telephone: 508-992-5313
Fax: 508-999-3909
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