"An old warrant officer" has written a regular opinion column over the past five years for the High Country Journal (HCJ), "a twice-monthly local news publication that serves the High Country Corridor in unincorporated Riverside County." These columns combine the writer's historical insights, sharp political analysis, and a ready wit for the HCJ's readership in Anza, California. They also bring to bear the "old warrant officer's" ethos built on a life of military service that took him around the globe for just about every branch of the armed services, and they incorporate the locally-rooted experiences of a former firefighter and Southern California native. This "old warrant officer" is Terry Brennan, a recent graduate of the CSUSB History Department with his Bachelor of Arts, and a current member of the CSUSB Master of Arts in History program. 

The High Country Journal serves over 3,000 regular Anza subscribers in print and across social media platforms. These subscribers have heard regularly from Mr. Brennan, beginning with his first column that came shortly after the attempted insurrection and violent overthrow of election results led by supporters of US President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, following his election defeat to President Joe Biden. For many, like Brennan, this assault on American democracy revealed a deep divide in American culture that needed to be framed in a longer context so that readers could contemplate the aspirational ideals of the country alongside its darkest moments.

Since that first column, Brennan has illuminated important topics for his readers, sometimes teasing out the rhymes in our history, and helping to contextualize the bewildering upheavals of a polarized nation. These themes have included troubling comparisons to authoritarian rulers, and insights that challenge our deeply ingrained narratives of American history. In his studies as an undergraduate and now as a graduate student, Brennan's interests have ranged widely from the early Americas and the contested historiography of the conquistadors to the current American politics of the far right. His military service taught rough lessons of the potential for human cruelty in extreme circumstances, and also the urgency of care and community extending across social and political divisions.

These days, Brennan tends his farm, reads and writes, and enlivens graduate history seminars with his measured and thoughtful contributions. Almost every week, Brennan's classmates and faculty are also treated to a cornucopia of produce from his farm in Anza, as he brings lemons, guavas, avocadoes and more, shared by the cartload with the only caveat that he'd appreciate a slice of any treats made with the bounty. Brennan relishes the opportunity to discuss and debate history with his classmates, joking that it’s welcome mental exercise after several health episodes threatened to slow him down in recent years. These days, he shows no signs of slowing down. Brennan's faculty and classmates benefit from his diligent reading and sharp reasoning, as well as his wise perspective, through the lens of a rich life, fully lived and deeply examined.

California State University, San Bernardino serves the Inland Empire to empower and enrich the people in a diverse region. Students like Terry are among those attracted to CSUSB and its mission and work. CSUSB consistently earns its place among the top institutions nationwide in serving military veterans and non-traditional students who return to their education bringing a world of experience and enriching the learning environment of our campus.