The attacks on September 11, 2001, left the United States changed forever and set Joshua Lawton-Belous, BA History ’10, on his future path. Lawton-Belous had ambitions to serve in the armed forces after completing the Reserve Officer Training Corp program while attending college. But, the events of that fateful day set his military plans in motion sooner, and, though he was only 17 years old, he enlisted in October 2001.
Lawton-Belous served in the U.S. Army in the 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment of the 1st Armored Division and 6/9 Cavalry Squadron of the 1st Cavalry Division. Deployed to Baghdad, Sadr City, Karbala, and the Diyala Province. He served as an airborne medic with reconnaissance units. After seven years in the Army and two combat tours of duty, he was injured and returned to Northern Virginia.
Lawton-Belous deferred enrollment to Mason while he was in Iraq and admits that he considered attending other schools. Originally from Vienna, Virginia, Lawton-Belous had concerns that Mason was still considered a commuter school and found the high cost of living and traffic deterrents.
Looking back now, he is proud he chose Mason and boasts about the quality of the education he received. As a young man who experienced more than a typical 23-year-old, Lawton-Belous was grateful that many of his professors recognized that their students were older and encouraged them to bring their real-world experiences into the classroom thus creating a richer education for all.
Originally, Lawton-Belous planned to apply his medic experience to study nursing, but scheduling difficulties delayed enrollment in nursing classes. In the meantime, he took many history courses. A natural interest in the field grew, and Lawton-Belous began studying about Africa. He eventually switched majors.
While a student, Lawton-Belous was active in programs designed to assist veterans returning to school and raising funds for the Veterans Scholarship Endowment. He recognized the need for a scholarship that would assist with the tuition gap many veterans face. The G.I. Bill provides veterans with funding comparable to in-state tuition at most state schools, but the dramatic increase in tuition at most universities means that funding from the bill may fall short.
Lawton-Belous realized in as few as five years, veterans might no longer have access to the same resources that he did. He began cultivating donors and directing gifts to the George Mason University Foundation to grow the endowment. Lawton-Belous was a recipient of private support scholarships, and his experience with the Student Financial Aid Office influenced his decision. His hope is that the award will help veterans transition to civilian life and get back to their lives as quickly as possible. “It was the right thing to do, it was the smart thing to do,” he says.
Today, Lawton-Belous works as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, focusing on project management for research and development. He is also pursuing an MBA at Johns Hopkins University. He recently was married, and in his limited free time he enjoys travel, reading, and kayaking. In 10 years, he would like to own his own business or be a partner in a larger firm. He admits that an ambitious goal would be to apply both his degrees toward aid development work in Africa. He sees a need for individuals who understand how to pair a business model with the culture and history of the region in the hope of providing infrastructure where none existed before.
Lawton-Belous says, “Aim high, hope for the best.” If the previous 10 years are any indication of the future, it is safe to say that Lawton-Belous will find success.