Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral, is president of The Ohio State University.

This week, Americans are coming together to honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces.

Veterans Day is particularly meaningful for me and my family. My 38 years of service in the U.S. Navy has been one of the great callings of my life. We can’t say thank you enough to all those who are willing to put their lives on the line for our country.

My post-military life as a university president has given me new opportunities to consider how we can turn our expressions of gratitude to America’s veterans into action.

We can be proud in this country of how we have supported our service members on their educational journeys. Some 1 million Americans receive GI Bill benefits, and nearly all U.S. postsecondary institutions enroll student veterans. Many campuses — like the one I lead, The Ohio State University — offer a range of services and financial aid options to meet the unique needs of military learners and their families.

I’m convinced we can do more. I’m certain Americans can unite around a commitment to ensuring every veteran has an opportunity to transition to civilian life, earn a degree and build a career. And I am proud to say that Ohio State, already one of the nation’s top-ranked institutions for military friendliness, will lead the way forward in becoming the destination of choice and gold standard for veterans seeking higher education and lifelong success.

There is a clear and compelling case for higher education to answer the call to serve those who have served us.

Intuition tells us that America’s 17 million veterans are among our country’s most service-oriented citizens. They enjoy high public trust, with 70% of Americans reporting confidence in veterans to “do what’s right.” They gravitate naturally to careers in leadership and public service that position them to create good in our communities while shoring up trust and confidence in American institutions. While the share of veterans who hold at least a bachelor’s degree is lower than that of the overall population, student veterans persist and graduate at similar rates to their non-veteran peers, evidence of their strong work ethic.

At the same time, we must be attuned to the unique profile of America’s military learners.

Two-thirds of student veterans are the first in their families to attend college, well above the average among all students. Compared to traditional students, student veterans are more likely to be married, have children, have a disability, and hold a job. They may interrupt their degree programs for military or family obligations. And many report feelings of isolation as they transition from military to civilian life.

Here in Ohio, as is the case nationally, we know costs can be a challenge: One in 5 student veterans enters Ohio State with a gap between their GI Bill benefits and the total cost of attendance.

Meeting these needs requires our attention, commitment and investment. At Ohio State, we are ready to act.

We’ve placed veteran education among our highest priorities, part of our new strategic plan to elevate academic excellence across our institution. It’s our honor and privilege to enroll close to 500 veterans and employ 1,600 veteran faculty and staff. National security and defense are strong components of our growing research enterprise, and we enjoy trusted partnerships with veteran-friendly companies across our state that hire Buckeyes as interns and full-time employees.

We’re now building a bold strategy to elevate our work and become the No. 1 university in the country for every veteran looking for a place where they’ll be welcomed, where they’ll be supported in and outside the classroom, and where they can change their life with a college degree.

We in higher education have a special opportunity and responsibility to help America’s veterans thrive. When our veterans succeed, we all win: Our workforce, families and communities are led by public servants who believe in a mission to serve the greater good.

As a veteran whose life was transformed by higher education, I couldn’t be more honored to be engaged in this work.

Our deepest gratitude to those who have served, and we look forward to supporting them in their next chapter.