HONOR DUTY RESPECT - The Citadel

All of the classes are designed with the objective to teachwhat we will experience on the job in the real world. Thefirst leadership class offers an introduction to leadership,and the second dives right into applied leadership concepts.Testing this theory, we, as a class, developed a listof questions and interviewed several prominent leaders atexecutive levels or higher. We compared what we learnedfrom the interviews to the coursework we were studying.When we measured real life against the lessons and objectivesof our coursework, we determined that, withouta doubt, the concepts we were studying are consistentlypracticed by each of the leaders we interviewed.One of the most well-known interview subjects wasCharleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, ’64. A mayor in his 10thterm, Riley is credited with restoring Charleston after thedestruction caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, turningthe city into the thriving metropolis we know today. Hisvision and his leadership were awe inspiring.I then decided to enroll in the Systems EngineeringManagement class, which challenged me on a technicalfront. One of the contracts we were pursuing at work was asystems engineering contract, and much of what I learnedin the class was directly applicable to my understandingof the scope of this contract. Systems engineeringmanagement is the technical side of project managementwhich focuses on the technological processes, engineeringrequirements and people who perform these functions.These classes are particularly useful for those who work ina technical-project-management-based field.about going back to school after being out of college formore than 16 years, I felt comfortable in the classroomand was impressed that the professors would welcomeour discussion of work experiences to demonstrate theconcepts being taught. I was also encouraged to useexamples from my professional experiences in developingthe assignments, which allowed me to gain a deeperunderstanding of the material I was studying by relating itto my occupation. After classes, I actually felt invigoratedby feelings of accomplishment.If I were asked whether the project management programchanged my life for the better, I would have to say,“Absolutely.” Working through this master’s degree at aninstitution as prestigious as The Citadel has prepared meto meet the daily challenges I face in a demanding projectmanagement-basedindustry. I have grown professionallyas well as personally. The Citadel’s project managementprogram is the cornerstone of my career advancement andpersonal development.Scott Price is a deputy program manager with VT Milcom, a local defensecontractor supporting U.S. Navy programs. He earned his ProjectManagement Professional certification in September of 2010 and plansto finish his master’s degree this fall. He has worked in the defenseindustry for 10 years.The project management program is expanding to includeprogram management, decision and risk analysis, legaland contract aspects of program management, civil andenvironmental engineering, and electrical and computerengineering.I have met many interesting people, several of whomare active in the Charleston chapter of the ProjectManagement Institute and have become good friendsand work colleagues. This master’s program has alsoproved beneficial for many of my classmates. Some evenare now on their way to earning a doctorate in projectmanagement in a joint program with The Citadel andClemson University.The project management program was designed withthe working professional in mind. Because the classesare taught in the evenings, they did not interfere withmy work schedule. Though I was a little nervous at first21