Military Applicants

The Penn State Smeal MBA Program promotes discipline, team orientation, and practical skill building much like the training that you have experienced in your military career.

The Penn State Smeal MBA Program promotes discipline, team orientation, and practical skill building much like the training that you have experienced in your military career. Our program is well-suited for students furthering their education during or following a military career.

Highlights

We have nearly every US military branch represented in the Penn State Smeal MBA program. Several are army logistics officers returning to active duty roles following graduation. Many are those separating and entering civilian professional careers.
Our dedicated Office of Veterans Programs supports your application, transition, and tenure here at Penn State
Penn State offers every imaginable resource and research on a massive scale of 40,000 students, yet the class itself is only about 100 members. We are tight-knit and individually focused.
Our culture is team oriented with a philosophy of "compete outside, collaborate inside." We help each other develop and count on each other's support. This is a network built for a lifetime.
Our MBA recruiters all in the top 100 for government contractors - aligning your past experience and future opportunities.
Smeal participates in the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) "military-friendly" school program. We are also a member of, and listed on the MilitaryMBA Website.

In funding, research, and support, Penn State is extremely military and veteran focused.

Our Office of Military and Security Programs, supports the Homeland Security Initiative and aims to "position Penn State in the lead among academic institutions for military, homeland security and defense, and information operations research and technology development."
Penn State does over $355 million in military research. Penn State's Applied Research Laboratories is one of the U.S. Navy's top civilian research facilities, as well as Penn State's single largest research unit with well over 1,000 employees.
We consistently rank among the nation's top universities for federal investment. We were 18th in the nation overall in the 2007 National Science Foundation ranking (last on record). And we are 4th behind only MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Carnegie Mellon in the Top 100 DoD Contractors Receiving Contract Awards for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E).

Eligibility

Any United States military personnel who have been on active duty within three years prior to applying are eligible for the Smeal MBA Program.

Application Fee

Your application fee of $65 will be waived. Simply contact us at smealmba@psu.edu to request the military fee waiver code.

Financial Support

We commit to making financial aid available to qualified military personnel who have transitioned from the service in the two years prior to enrollment with the Smeal MBA Program. The amount of support offered will be based on the criteria used for our merit-based awards of scholarships and assistantships.

Post 9/11 GI Bill and The Yellow Ribbon Program

Fully qualified U.S. veterans who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, and who wish to attend Penn State are eligible for assistance with tuition costs, thanks to Smeal's participation in the U.S. Government Yellow Ribbon Program, part of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

"Penn State recognizes the tremendous contributions being made by our servicemen and women and wants to ensure they have access to a Penn State education, regardless of their state of origin," said Brian Clark, director of Penn State's Office of Veterans Programs. For more information, log onto: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm.

Smeal MBA Military and Veterans' Association

The Smeal Military Veterans Association provides MBA Admissions, the MBA Student Body, and veterans at the Smeal College of Business with support for recruiting, professional development, and leadership service throughout the academic year in order to create and sustain a mutually beneficial relationship between the College and its veterans.

Lion Partners

Many military students come to Smeal with their families. Lion Partners provides support to significant others, spouses, and families. As an official Smeal organization, the group plans activities such as weekly dinners, hikes on Mount Nittany, and outings to local cultural and athletic events.

Deferral

We will provide up to two years of enrollment deferral if your MBA plans are delayed by your military service.

Military Student Profiles
	Chad Guebert Class of 2013 Supply Chain Management and Strategic Leadership cag1008@psu.edu Chad graduated from Virginia Tech in 2003 with a B.S. in Computer Science and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy where he as a submarine officer for eight years. During that time, he spent three years stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on board the USS Los Angeles and three years at the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet Headquarters in Naples, Italy as a multinational exercise planner. He transitioned from the Navy in May of 2011 and has chosen to pursue an MBA in order to couple the leadership and management skills developed in the service with a business degree to more smoothly transition into the corporate environment. His goal is to enter the Federal Consulting arena with a focus on Department of Defense projects so he can continue to use his military experience.
	Ronald Joseph Class of 2013 Finance, Marketing, Strategic Leadership ron.joseph@psu.edu Ronald graduated from USMA in 2003 with a BS in Law and a minor in Systems Engineering. He commissioned into the US Army Field Artillery and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany. He deployed to Iraq first as a MITT Executive Officer, a Fire Direction Officer, and a Brigade Information Operations Officer. After completing his Army service, Ronald worked in the legal and banking industries prior to joining the full time program at Smeal.
	Eric Layo Class of 2013 Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Leadership ericlayo@psu.edu Eric graduated from The United States Air Force Academy in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business management. He was commissioned into the US Air Force and served primarily as a Logistics Readiness Officer in a wide variety of leadership roles. Eric also served on one military deployment to the Middle East, where he managed passenger transportation operations in support of both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. After the successful completion of this deployment, he then separated from active duty service in order to return to graduate school as a full-time student.
	Brady Moore Class of 2013 Strategic Leadership and Marketing brady.j.moore@psu.edu Brady graduated from The Citadel in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in History. He commissioned into the US Army Infantry and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. He deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, first as a Rifle Platoon Leader and then as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Battalion Plans Officer. Upon returning from Iraq he attended Special Forces Assessment & Selection and the Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Brady then commanded a Special Forces ODA in Africa and South Asia. He finished his time in the Army in October 2011.
	Stephen Scattergood Class of 2013 Strategic Leadership and Entrepreneurship sxs1098@psu.edu Stephen Enlisted in the United States Air Force after High School and was trained as a Security Police Law Enforcement Specialist. He was assigned to the 75th Security Police Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah from 1997 until 2002. He then moved to the 92nd Security Forces Squadron at Fairchild AFB, Washington State. After multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Stephen Moved to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany in 2005. He served as an Airman Leadership School Instructor and Training Manager for five years until he was medically separated in 2010. While on Active Duty, Stephen completed his Undergraduate degree in Business Administration through the University of Maryland University College-Heidelberg Campus.
	Andrew Driscoll Class of 2014 Supply Chain Management and Finance asd188@psu.edu Andrew graduated from Villanova University in 2002 with a B.S. In Business Administration. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to 1st of the 36th Infantry Battalion, 1st Armored Division. He was deployed to Baghdad Iraq in April of 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom 1. After his first deployment he transitioned to the Army Transportation Corps and Commanded the 633rd Movement Control Team in support of 101st Airborne Division in Multi National Division North Iraq. After 5 years of military service, Andrew was honorably discharged and spent 5 years in New York City in B2B sales for DHL, UPS and Eli Lilly.
	Jeffrey Goff Class of 2014 Finance and Strategic Leadership jag567@psu.edu Jeff enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2004 after high school. He was assigned to the 4th MLG, 6th ESB Bridge Company Bravo as a combat engineer. Although his primary job was to build bridges, he was soon tasked to lead IED clearance convoys. He was deployed to Iraq in 2009 as the Security Chief for his IED route clearance platoon. While in the marines he successfully completed his black belt instructor certification in MCMAP. Furthermore, while in reserve status, Jeff completed his Bachelor’s of Science degree at Drexel University in Sports Management and Business Administration. Jeff successfully completed his time in the marines in August of 2011 and chose to attend the Smeal MBA program to couple the soft skills developed in the military with the business skills needed to succeed in the financial realm.
	Deramus Griffin Class of 2014 Finance and Strategic Leadership dag292@smeal.psu.edu Deramus Griffin enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 2002. His primary occupation as a United States Marines was as an Air Traffic Controller Communications Technician in Okinawa, Japan. Upon completion of this tour, Deramus was assigned to Quantico, Virginia to become a Marine Security Guard (MSG) for American Embassies and Consulates abroad. As an MSG Deramus was stationed in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bamako, Mali, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In 2007 he returned to the United States to complete his Bachelor degree in Marketing with the University of Maryland University College in College Park, MD. For the past three years Deramus has been living in Washington, DC working as a Communications Manager for the Center for Youth and Family Investment, a non-profit organization that provides out-of-school time services. He also worked as a Group Exercise Instructor for Washington Sports Club in the DC area. Deramus is currently attending the Smeal College of Business as a full-time MBA student with a concentration in Finance and Strategic Leadership.
	Thomas Impellitteri Class of 2014 Supply Chain Management and Strategic Leadership thomas.impellitteri@psu.edu Tom is a State College, Pennsylvania native, who graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications. He was commissioned as an officer into the Marine Corps in April of 1992 through the Officer Candidates Course. Upon commissioning he spent six months attending the Marine Corps’ Basic School and an additional three months attending the Infantry Officers Course (IOC). Upon graduation from IOC he was assigned to the Marine Corps’ operating forces. Over the course of his 20 plus year career he made a myriad of overseas deployments to the Western Pacific and Middle East. He conducted and/or supported combat operations in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in East Timor, Bangladesh, Louisiana, and Haiti; and trained and mentored hundreds of young Marines and Sailors. In his last assignment he served at the senior executive level of the Marine Corps as a strategic planner and policy writer. Tom is married to the former Tammy McCormick of State College, Pennsylvania. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, two gold stars in lieu of third award, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
	Sean Quinn Class of 2014 Finance sjq107@smeal.psu.edu Sean graduated from West Point in 2004 with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He was commissioned into the US Army Field Artillery. He has been stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Benning Georgia and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He has served in the 101st Airborne Division over the last eight years, with two operational deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. His last assignment was as the Commander of B/4-320th Field Artillery in the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division prior to entering the Smeal School of Business. He is now a Functional Area 51 Acquisitions Corps Officer. He is also a graduate of US Army Ranger, Airborne, Air Assault and Pathfinder Schools.

Personal tools