Alumni Testimonials

Video transcript:

"Norwich program in military history has enabled me to perform even better at the job I have now, because the job I have now, my job as an intelligence officer, requires me to perform lots of reading, and research, and writing, and persuading. Not only am I presenting information about the current state of the world, but I'm trying to persuade my leaders to act in a certain way, or to show them the benefits of a particular course of action. And, using the evidence-based argumentation methods that I've employed in my history papers, and my history projects, has translated directly to my work as an intelligence officer, in advocating the risks and benefits of certain courses of action."

Q: “Tell us a bit about you as a person, Kevin.”
A: “I grew up in southern Arizona and graduated from college in 1992. My career in the Army moved my family and me for 15 years. My wife and I have been married for 22 years. The war has kept me pretty busy. I’ve published a number of brief history articles and book reviews over the years. When I wasn’t studying or writing history, I would visit historic sites and national parks.”

Q: “What does your professional life entail?”
A: “I am an active duty Army Military Intelligence Chief Warrant Officer Four Human Intelligence Collection Technician. This summer, I will retire after 22 years of service to the nation. I have worked in a number of conventional and special operations units conducting and managing human intelligence operations from being a collection team leader to policy advisor for corps and theater commanders. My three assignments at Fort Bragg made me responsible for overseeing national and international programs, ensuring they complied with current doctrine and all the various policies, regulation, and laws which guide intelligence operations. Most recently, I have served with the 101st Airborne Division, Eighteenth Airborne Corps, United States Special Operations Command and U.S. Army Special Operations Command. I was recently hired by the Department of the Army to undertake my next career as a civilian intelligence officer with the Army G-2 at the Pentagon.”

Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: “I wanted to apply my love of history toward a rigorous degree from a recognized and highly-reputable school. When I started, I was not certain what direction I would take after the Army. As I’ve said, throughout my career, I go where the work is. Right now, the nation needs me to stay in intelligence policy.”

Q: “What makes Norwich unique?”
A: “Norwich is seriously intense - in the best possible way. I’ve seen some of the programs my peers undertook at other institutions, and they were pretty simple. I wanted a program that I could brag about completing, as well as a university with a long and renowned history. I wanted a degree from a university, not an educational corporation.”

Q: “How have you grown personally or professionally as a result of your education?”
A: “Applying evidence-based argumentation to historical events to assess their causes trained me to apply the same techniques to my duties of evaluating draft policies to ensure they are logical, organized, and remain consistent with existing law, policy, and regulations. My hiring board at the Pentagon cited my Norwich degree as an important factor in setting me apart from other qualified candidates for my position as an intelligence officer for the Army G-2. I look forward to a long encore career serving the nation and applying the training in argumentation that Norwich’s program in military history gave me.”