3 ASU leaders honored with skydiving jump for commitment to civilian-military collaborations

Ten thousand feet is a long way down, but three Arizona State University leaders who participated in tandem jumps with the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team are still riding high on the April experience.

They described it as “out of this world” and a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Cindy Parnell, chief of public service for the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions; Michelle Loposky, director of development and strategic partnerships at the Pat Tillman Veterans Center; and Liza Steele, coordinator with ASU Army ROTC, joined other Arizona public service leaders for the Golden Knights’ first-ever jump in the state. 

The parachute team’s tandem jump is an honor bestowed on government officials and celebrities as a way to foster connections and build appreciation for American soldiers. For example, former President George H. W. Bush completed multiple tandem jumps with the Golden Knights during his lifetime, including to mark his 90th birthday.

Lt. Col. Ryan Whipple, professor and chair of military science, nominated the three women for the tribute because of their commitment to public service and “exceptional leadership, passion, and unwavering service to the students of ASU and the broader community.”

“Liza Steele, Michelle Loposky and Cindy Parnell consistently go above and beyond in their respective roles by mentoring, supporting and building up those around them. Each of them embodies selfless service and dedication in a way that closely reflects the core values upheld by the United States Army,” he said. 

The nomination is a direct reflection of the work that Watts College, the Pat Tillman Veterans Center and all ASU ROTC branches do to develop future leaders committed to serving others. 

“We work with ROTC to create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect civilian and military leadership,” said Parnell, who is also the Michael M. Crow and Sybil Francis Endowed Director at ASU’s Public Service Academy. 

The Public Service Academy’s Next Generation Service Corps, anchored in Watts College and serving across ASU, acts as a key facilitator. It partners with ASU’s Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab to offer experiential learning opportunities for students visiting Arizona military installations, giving students insight into military operations and career pathways. Its Civilian-Military Committee also brings together Next Generation Service Corps students and ROTC cadets to design programming and ensure military perspectives are meaningfully integrated into the ASU experience, Parnell said.

Steele said the relationship between the Watts College and ASU Army ROTC continues to strengthen.

“We have a lot of the same objectives, so we are working together to find ways to collaborate even more,” she said. “The Next Generation Service Corp was built on the ROTC model, and we are always looking for a few students that can successfully balance the demands of both programs and be those building blocks of a civilian-military relationship.”

The Pat Tillman Veterans Center, which has its downtown offices co-located in the University Center Building with the Watts College, has worked alongside the college for years to create a bridge between civilians and the military to aid veteran student success, Loposky said.

“Watts College and the Pat Tillman Veterans Center go hand in hand since many of the majors at Watts are focused on service,” she said, noting that 85 student veterans from the Watts College have applied for spring 2026 graduation. “Public service-related careers are a popular option for our student veterans and military-connected students.”

The Pat Tillman Veterans Center partnered with the Public Service Academy in 2015 to establish the Veterans Scholar Program, a professional development and academic success initiative focused on supporting veteran students in becoming civic leaders.

Parnell added that a priority going forward is to further integrate ROTC cadets and veterans into broader Public Service Academy efforts to allow them to engage with non-military students in shared community service and leadership training.

“We look forward to strengthening our partnerships with ASU Army ROTC and other campus military initiatives to expand pathways into public service and deepen civilian-military leadership development,” Parnell said. 

When asked if they would jump with the Golden Knights again — falling at a rate of 120 miles per hour — to demonstrate their commitment to civilian-military relationships, Parnell, Loposky and Steele answered with a resounding "Yes!"

“The Army Golden Knights are the best. They make you feel safe during the entire process," Steele said. "From jumping from the airplane, to safely touching the ground, it took about five minutes — one for free-falling and four for parachuting down. I’m terrified of heights, but this experience was a 10 out of 10. I’ll do it again without hesitation."