Jon Schnauber

President & Co-founder

After graduating in 1990 from Thousand Islands High School in Cape Vincent NY I enlisted in the Air Force. I completed my basic training at Lackland Air Force base in Texas. Following basic I attended the Air Force Security police Academy and from there I was sent to Ft. Dix New Jersey for training in air base ground defense. I reported to my first duty station, Grand Forks North Dakota in December of 1991. While at Grand Forks I was assigned as a security specialist providing asset protection to nuclear laden facilities and aircraft.

In January of 1993 I was assigned to a contingency support element and was deployed to Indian Springs Air Station in Nevada where I underwent training in desert combat. Shortly thereafter in May of 1993 I was again deployed, this time in support of Operation Southern Watch and Restore Hope at Al Kharj Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Here I was assigned to duties as a security controller and area supervisor of two of the largest weapons storage areas in Southwest Asia. Eight months after my return from this deployment in August of 1994 I had fulfilled my service contract and was Honorably discharged from the Air Force.

After taking a six-year break in service I returned to the military, this time the Army National Guard where I served as a Military Policeman with the 42nd MP’s out of Chicopee Massachusetts. On September 12, 2001 the day after the attacks on America I was deployed to Westover and Barnes air bases to provide perimeter security. In October of 2001 I was again deployed this time to Vicenza Italy to augment military police operations. In February of 2003 I attended the NCO academy at Ft. Dix New Jersey. I completed this training with a 93 % GPA and was soon thereafter promoted to Sergeant and assigned as a military police team leader. In May of 2002 I volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan with the 972nd military police company. After four months of training in military police combat tactics and maneuvers at Ft. Drum New York, we deployed to Uzbekistan to take over asset protection duties at K2. Two platoons from my company then redeployed from this location to Shabaz Air Base in Pakistan where I was assigned as a security controller, patrol leader, and Air Force Raven.

In February of 2003 I returned home from Operation Enduring Freedom and again I deployed. In June of 2003 I was sent to Germany to augment military police garrison operations. In December of 2003 five months after my return from Germany I completed my service contract and was honorable discharged from the Army National Guard.

At this time I also completed an Associates of Science in Criminal Justice at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield Massachusetts. I then transferred to the University of Massachusetts where I am currently a senior majoring in Sociology with minors in psychology and military leadership.

I no longer have an affiliation with the military but I certainly treasure the time that I served and feel a deep sense of brotherhood to my fellow veterans and service members. I now spend my time like many of you attending classes and studying. When I am not in school I am making up for lost time and being the best father that I can to my three beautiful daughters.

Jon Zagami

Vice President & Co-Founder

I grew up in Needham MA where I attended high school. While in my senior year, I enlisted in the Army Reserve - Army Corps of Engineers. I attended training at Fort Leonard Wood MI, where I completed Basic Training and Combat Engineer School, I then attended the Naval Construction Training Center in Gulfport MS. Shortly after arriving home from training, I was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I mobilized at Ft. Drum, NY and spent 14 months on active duty in support of Enduring and Iraqi freedom with deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. I am now a Junior here at UMass majoring in Resource Economics with a concentration in Family Financial Planning. Currently, I am a team leader in the Reserves and when I graduate I plan to pursue a career in Financial advising.

Andy Masciola

Treasurer

I am a service member here at UMass in my sophomore year studying political science. I am from Boxborough, MA and graduated from Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. I then enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard and attended Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base. After that, I went to Tech School at Sheppard Air Force Base and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to become a Crew Chief on A-10 Warthogs. I am stationed at Barns Air National Guard Base in Westfield, MA.

Jaime Zagami

Secretary

I got involved with VASMA as I saw a need to fill a void in this organization. As the sister of a Soldier, I knew that I could bring a new perspective to the UMass community outlining the hardships of family members when a loved one is deployed and how the military effects those that are left behind when troops leave for parts unknown. I hope to see more family members and non-military members get involved with this organization to show how each student, faculty and staff member can make UMass a more welcoming place for men and women in uniform. I am currently a Junior at UMass majoring in Political Science and Psychology, and I plan to attend law school after graduation.