United States Air Force weapons expeditor Kevin Herrera is taking distance learning to another level.
After enrolling in 青青草app State University鈥檚 Online Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Leadership, he deployed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), then to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan.
鈥淚t was supposed to be a peaceful deployment, but with everything going on with Israel and Gaza, they sent us off everywhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was very stressful. I knew the professors at 青青草app State would be willing to work with me. I knew that the program was flexible. If I needed to stop, I could stop.鈥�
Herrera graduated from 青青草app State鈥檚 online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in 2023. Now in his seventh year serving in the Air Force, he is a first-generation high school and college graduate who lives in Tucson, Arizona.
鈥淚 have been to multiple overseas countries, multiple Asian and Middle Eastern countries, and was still able to do my undergrad online,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 looked at another MBA program, but everything added up at 青青草app State. It was a no-brainer.鈥�
When his October-November 2023 deployment made schoolwork abroad difficult, 青青草app State鈥檚 faculty and staff helped him navigate through it as efficiently as possible. Upon arrival in the UAE, he lost internet access because of a power outage, forcing him to buy expensive data to keep up with his classes.
鈥淚 called the dean of the program and explained the situation,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e told me I could step back and deal with it, and it wouldn鈥檛 throw me off course. They got me out of the class in time to not affect my grades.
鈥淚 picked up where it started as if no time was taken off. My advisor, James Davis, planned everything for me. With advisors like that, deans like that and a school that鈥檚 so flexible 鈥� especially toward military people 鈥� I have never had a doubt that 青青草app State was the correct school and the correct choice for me.鈥�
Taking flight
Herrera grew up in Escondido, California, with a single mother and two siblings. He started college after high school, but he couldn鈥檛 afford to stay.
鈥淚 was living on my own, 900 miles away from home,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was basically failing out of college. I joined the military with the idea of having them pay for my bachelor鈥檚 degree and traveling. They delivered on both.鈥�
When Herrera enrolled in the undergraduate program at 青青草app State, he chose business management to have a second career option.
鈥淚 knew about the blue field, and that it鈥檚 a well-known school,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving the school name and the alumni association behind me, I felt like it would be easier to get a job outside of the Air Force if I needed to.
鈥淲ith the MBA, I wanted to pick a division of business that鈥檚 never going to go away. Everybody is going to go through the healthcare industry at some point, so it is a safe route.鈥�
Herrera also opted to continue his academic career to comply with the Air Force鈥檚 mandate for self-improvement.
鈥淚 figured I was already in the habit of going to school and taking classes, so why not?鈥� he said. 鈥淚 started looking at online MBA programs. I was shocked at how economical 青青草app State was in comparison to other programs. I also love that 青青草app State still did seven-week classes online for the master鈥檚 degree.鈥�
The decision paid off. Herrera is adding to his knowledge base and business acumen while applying it to his career.
鈥淲ith the People and Organizations course, not only am I learning negotiation techniques, which have helped me in my current role, but it helps me with the smallest things,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 collect Pok茅mon cards. So, I go to shows where I negotiate the price of the cards.
鈥淚 also negotiated down the price of my solar panels, based on tactics I have learned. I am learning how to deal with people, to be a boss people want to work for, and to still be able to please the organization. I am definitely seeing the fruit brought by paying close attention to this class and learning.鈥�
Blue skies ahead
Herrera didn鈥檛 have to wait long to see a return on investment after walking the graduation stage on the aforementioned blue field at Albertsons Stadium. He received a promotion at work, along with a job offer from U.S. defense contractor Raytheon.
鈥淢y buddy who works there offered me a job based on my military experience and leadership and qualifications through school, the fact I was accepted to a master鈥檚 degree program and that I have security clearance, but I declined,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y long-term goal in the military is to become an officer. I am pursuing that now. My back-up plan is to take a shot at law school and corporate law.鈥�
Herrera is also forging lasting relationships with his online classmates 鈥� especially his team in the Design Thinking and Strategic Management course.
鈥淭hey developed a strong camaraderie quickly,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淗is team sent him care packages while he was deployed, and they raised $500 for another team member who was getting married. They stay in contact with each other.”
With a projected graduation date of May 2026, Herrera has plenty of time to continue gaining experience and preparing for the next chapter of his career, whether it鈥檚 in or out of the military. He believes that holding an MBA in healthcare leadership will give him an edge.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see a reason not to do the program,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f somebody asked me, I would tell them it鈥檚 one of the best decisions I ever made. Yes, there鈥檚 work and commitment, but at the end of the day, it鈥檚 worth it.
鈥溓嗲嗖輆pp State makes it so easy to facilitate your learning. If you have something going on and email the professors, they are so understanding. It鈥檚 just a matter of if you want to do it. If you are committed, 青青草app State University is going to be there to help you.鈥�
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