From Military and Veteran Services
Thomas "T.J." Beach, a doctoral student in The Ohio State University's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and an eight-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has been named a 2026 Tillman Scholar.
Beach is one of just 48 service members, veterans and military spouses selected nationwide this year for the prestigious scholarship, which recognizes military-connected leaders who are committed to making an impact through education, service and leadership.
Now entering his second year of the doctoral program, Beach studies concussions among law enforcement officers, with research focused on improving concussion recognition, treatment and return-to-duty protocols for first responders.
Beach credits Ohio State's Military and Veterans Services with helping him successfully transition from military service to college and providing the support that ultimately gave him the confidence to pursue the Tillman Scholarship.
The honor marks another milestone in a journey that has taken him from military service to graduate research, where he is working to improve the health and safety of those who serve their communities.
Read the full story to learn more about Beach's military-to-college journey, his research and what becoming a Tillman Scholar means to him.