Andy Blanco
The time requirements of an active-duty couple with family life are not easy, but the reputation of Norwich to both demand rigorous academic effort while also accommodating the demanding schedule of an active-duty professional was tough to ignore.
Q: “Tell us about yourself.”
A: “I am a dual active-duty Naval Officer, with both my wife and I serving as Surface Warfare Officers. We have a 3-year-old son, and we love skiing and baseball whenever we aren't at sea or enjoying well-deserved time at home. I have completed operational sea tours in the INDOPACOM, EUCOM, and NORTHCOM theaters as well as a shore duty production tour as a Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) in Fallon, NV.”
Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: “Completing not only a professional development milestone but also accomplishing a personal goal of completing an advanced degree [in strategic studies] to enhance my professional knowledge in the field of international relations and strategic policy development. I plan to pursue command at sea of a guided missile destroyer in active duty naval service followed by continued service thereafter.”
Q: “Why did you choose Norwich?”
A: “Norwich was highly recommended to me by both my wife and my best friend, who both completed their international relations master’s degrees with Norwich while on active-duty naval service. The time requirements of an active-duty couple with family life are not easy, but the reputation of Norwich to both demand rigorous academic effort while also accommodating the demanding schedule of an active-duty professional was tough to ignore.”
Q:” Did you have any uncertainties with choosing an online program?”
A: “I had no uncertainties as an online program was my first choice, and it has proven to be a perfect fit.”
Q: “Prior to beginning your courses, what were some of your expectations for an online degree program?”
A:” I did not expect the amount of autonomy afforded to me by my professors, which was both empowering and daunting due to the amount of independent study and product generation required to complete the program.”
Q: “What is one piece of advice you would give to future students enrolling into one of Norwich's online programs?”
A: “Evaluate your work and home-life balance to ensure you are giving your best to every facet of your life and not crunching any of your responsibilities because of personal, professional, or academic deadlines.”
Q: “What has been your biggest personal or professional success since starting your degree?”
A: “Selecting for Command at Sea. The academic reputation of Norwich helped get me over the top, and the knowledge I garnered through the coursework has prepared me extremely well to perform at all levels of the defense enterprise.”
Q: “Please tell us about a time you could put the knowledge you gained in the classroom to work immediately at your job.”
A: “I was providing a classified briefing to Naval Academy Midshipmen on the conduct of operations in the Red Sea. They were asking very substantive questions on the "cost of war" and the conduct of our nation's operations, which required a deft comprehension of all levers of national powers, an understanding of current events, and the application of historical context to best inform them on the "how" and "why" of modern events.”
Q: “What aspects of your Norwich experience will you carry most strongly with you?”
A: “The clear guidance and high standards expected of me to complete my degree.”
