Where Will Your Degree Take You?

Challenging Herself Beyond the Military

Chaney Brooks

Before pursuing her MBA through KU Leavenworth, Chaney Brooks served as a Chief of Fires and Battery Commander in the U.S. Army. She enrolled in the program to challenge herself outside of the military and continue her commitment to lifelong learning. Along the way, she strengthened her critical thinking skills, built lasting friendships and gained new confidence in her abilities.

Today, Brooks serves as an Operations Officer with U.S. Army Forces Korea. She says her KU education helped her grow both personally and professionally, opening doors to new opportunities and giving her a fresh perspective on what she could achieve.

“I can honestly tell the difference in my logical reasoning, critical thinking, and social resolve following my education at KU. I had phenomenal professors who inspired their students to dig deeper as the program advanced. I’m forever grateful for their stewardship and love of teaching. My KU degree is more than a credential. It helped me rewrite my story.”

Chaney Brooks
MBA | Operations Officer, U.S. Army Forces Korea

From Army Officer to Strategy Consultant

Ryan Lee

After serving as an Army infantry officer, Ryan Lee knew he wanted to build a successful career in the private sector. He chose to pursue his MBA through KU Leavenworth to strengthen his business credentials and prepare for new opportunities beyond military service.

That decision helped open doors to the post-MBA job market and ultimately led to his current role as a senior associate in strategy consulting at KPMG.

“KU Leavenworth’s MBA program enabled me to realize my potential and transition successfully into an impactful role as a strategy consultant. The degree gave me the confidence to transition into the private sector and opened up the post-MBA job market.”

Ryan Lee
MBA | Senior Associate - Strategy, KPMG

A Unique Leavenworth Opportunity

Melissa Edwards

For Melissa Edwards, the KU experience stood out because it offered a rare opportunity to earn a second master’s degree while attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. The accelerated format, supportive faculty, and international cohort created an experience she says would be difficult to find elsewhere.

Through KU’s Interagency Studies program at Leavenworth, she found both academic rigor and a uniquely international learning environment. While balancing the demands of military service, she completed her master’s degree in just 10 months.

“Choosing KU for grad school was one of the best decisions I made because it helped me obtain a second master’s degree within a 10-month period in conjunction with my Army Masters of Operations Studies degree. I can’t think of any other opportunity in the world that can help students achieve two master’s degrees in such a short period.”

Melissa Edwards
M.A. in Global & International Studies, Interagency Studies | U.S. Army Major

Bruce T. Leuthold, Jr.

As an Army engineer officer, Bruce pursued his MBA through KU’s graduate program at Leavenworth to broaden his understanding of business and organizational management beyond the military. Today, he serves as a program manager at Freese and Nichols, helping public-sector clients plan and manage infrastructure and capital improvement programs.

“My MBA helped me build on the leadership and engineering experience I gained in the Army by expanding my understanding of business strategy and financial management. That perspective has been especially valuable in my transition to engineering consulting, where I work with clients to plan and manage facilities and infrastructure programs.”

Bruce T. Leuthold, Jr.
MBA | Program Manager, Freese and Nichols

Preparing for What’s Next

Deron Arnold

As retirement from military service approached, Deron Arnold enrolled in KU Leavenworth’s MBA program to strengthen his leadership capabilities and prepare for future opportunities.

The experience helped him translate his military expertise into business settings and opened new professional doors, including a mentorship and internship opportunity with a Fortune 500 wealth management company.

“Having the MBA drastically improved my credibility with local employers. My KU degree is more than a credential. It helped me deepen my understanding of leadership and financial resource management while broadening my perspective on executive decision-making. It has also equipped me to evaluate opportunities in finance, operations and strategic management with greater clarity as I pursue a career beyond military service.”

Deron Arnold
MBA | Tactical Air Control Party Officer (TACP/JTAC), U.S. Air Force

Learning Never Stops

Steve Wallace

After retiring from 22 years in the U.S. Army, Steve Wallace chose KU Leavenworth’s Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program to continue learning and prepare for the next chapter of his career.

The experience challenged his perspective, strengthened his leadership skills and reinforced the value of learning from people with different backgrounds and experiences.

“I was the only retiree. Most of my peers were younger than me and had so many great insights I had not considered. Don’t do it because you feel like you need a piece of paper to justify the next thing in your profession. Do it because you want to learn.”

Steve Wallace
M.S. in Organizational Leadership | Director of Business Development, Detroit Defense