Alumni Testimonials

Q: “William, tell us a bit about you as a person.”
A: “I am a husband as well as a father to four sons and I live in Maryland. I graduated from the Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps as a Naval Aviator. I’m also an avid Baltimore Orioles fan.”

Q: “What is your current employer and briefly describe your professional life.”
A: “I am a senior watch officer for the Department of Homeland Security at the National Operations Center. I am also a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve where I am the crisis management team chief with the Office of the Secretary of Defense.”

Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: “The military does an excellent job training people as they rise through the ranks. Moving over to the civilian side of government presented new challenges for me, requiring a different way of thinking. The Master of Public Administration seemed a requisite to performing effectively as a civilian leader.”

Q: “Why did you choose Norwich University, and how did you learn about it?”
A: “I looked at many programs. Norwich has a tradition of excellence and achievement that I have been able to observe through personal experience. Norwich personnel to whom I spoke with were interested in my success.”

Q: “What makes Norwich unique?”
A: “Several items come to mind. First, the long tradition dating back to 1819. Second, Norwich has a record of excellence demonstrated by its graduates. Third, the university has established the asynchronous method of instructional delivery accommodating adult learners who work full time and raise families. Fourth, the university maintains high standards when it would be easy to lower them.”

Q: “Please describe any memorable experiences with faculty or members of your cohort.”
A: “Each of my professors challenged me, but Professor Crombie challenged me to rethink the way I looked at information and organizations. Analyzing organizations as complex systems working interdependently allowed me to understand the formal and informal relationships that existed within and between them both vertically and horizontally. This had a significant impact on how I functioned as a crisis manager.”

Q: “How have you grown personally or professionally as a result of your education?”
A: “Norwich has challenged me to break paradigms and think critically in ways I hadn’t previously considered. Personally, it has allowed me to set an example for my sons that it is possible to achieve goals if you set your mind to it.”