University of Houston: Ralph DeVaul
Ralph served in the Air Force on active duty from 1969 to 1973 as an Avionics System Repairman. Later, he rejoined the Air Force Reserves and has served in three overseas tours supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
In 1999, he completed his PhD in Human Services. Since receiving his MBA in spring 2007, he has used his MBA education in his work with the Air Force.
Why did you choose to get an MBA?
I knew I was approaching the end of era of employment in the public sector and had a great desire to work in the private sector again. Although I had a Ph.D. in Human Services, I wanted to strengthen my ability to market myself. When I looked at what fit with my employment before the federal government and my current employment, the MBA was a natural choice. A life-long learner, I had the practical experience in the private business sector, but the MBA gave me the ability to understand and communicate in the language that employers desire.
Why does the type of school you attend matter?
Being in the Air Force Reserves and committed to serving with today’s heroes in the GWOT [Global War on Terrorism], I looked for an MBA program that allowed me the flexibility to attended classes in person, as well as take classes online when I was deployed. My school’s campus was convenient to my home and offered classes where I knew the professor and my classmates. I sought a school where the online work actually mirrored the traditional classes.
How did your military background help you with the rigors of school?
In the Air Force reserve, most of our communications are online, so I wasn’t afraid of technology. We do a month’s work in two days, so we are used to the rigors of using technology for global communication and work. We have global conferences online that can link 100 bases to discuss a strategic plan.
Two of the most important skills the military requires are flexibility and critical thinking. These are the same skills required to be successful in an MBA program. I completed a lot of my classes while I was in Iraq. If an exam was scheduled for the afternoon in the U.S., that meant I had to take it around 2 a.m. in Iraq. I had to adjust my working schedule and I was flexible enough to do this.
Working in teams is an integral part of military duty and it requires staying focused and keeping the team moving forward to get the job done. When my MBA team was stressed, I would tell them we need to focus on the task at hand because there was a mission to accomplish.
