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. 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.

1. 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."
2. 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. 
3. 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.

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
	Renee Huber Class of 2011 Supply Chain Management rmh277@psu.edu Renee graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in January 2001 with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. She served as an enlisted member of the New Jersey Air National Guard while pursuing her undergraduate degree. In 2004, She commissioned into the 108th Intelligence Squadron, part of the 108th Air Refueling Wing located at McGuire AFB, NJ. She was mobilized for two years in support of Operation Noble Eagle and performed two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. One tour was performed overseas where Renee led the Intelligence Watch Desk at the Joint Operations Center, Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-1) Headquarters in Baghdad.
	David Jones Class of 2011 Supply Chain Management dkj129@psu.edu David graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School, he completed a sea tour aboard the submarine USS NEVADA (SSBN-733) as Supply Officer followed by a Naval Acquisition Contracting Officer internship at Fleet Industrial Supply Center San Diego. His most recent sea tour was aboard the amphibious assault ship USS BOXER (LHD-4) as Logistics Readiness Officer.
	Richard McGill Class of 2011 Finance rmm364@psu.edu Richard enlisted in The United States Marine Corps right out of high school back in 1999. After completing boot camp and radar repair school, he was stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. After four years at MCBH, he opted to reenlist for another four years, but this time as a Marine Security Guard protecting American Embassies in Luxembourg, Kyrgyzstan, and Germany. While stationed in Hawaii and on The Marine Security Guard Program, he was able to finish out his bachelor's degree in business management at the University of Phoenix. He decided to leave the Marine Corps after the completion of his second enlistment in May 2008 with the intention of going on to study for an MBA at The Penn State Smeal College of Business.
	Jonathan Mezlo Class of 2011 Innovation & Entrepreneurship jjm530@psu.edu Jonathan graduated in 2004 from the United States Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in Physics. He went on to graduate from the Naval Nuclear Training Program and joined the USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN 757) in Groton, Connecticut. He completed two overseas deployments in the Middle East and one Arctic Expedition to the North Pole. While on board, Jonathan served as the Main Propulsion Assistant and the Assistant Weapons Officer.
	Peter A. Oliver Class of 2011 Supply Chain Management & Marketing pao121@smeal.psu.edu Peter graduated from Connecticut College in 2003 with a Bachelors degree in Philosophy. In 2004 he received his commissioning through Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. After completing his training at the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, GA, Peter joined the USS MAHAN (DDG 72) where he served as the Assistant Supply Officer, in charge of Disbursing, Food Service, and Sales divisions. Over 36 months he completed three operational deployments.
	Joseph Alexander Class of 2012 Supply Chain Management jca5158@smeal.psu.edu Joseph graduated from Central Michigan University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Health Care programs. He was commissioned into the Medical Service Corps and assigned to the 168th Area Support Medical Battalion, Korea. Upon his return, he attended the Army's Aviation flight school at Ft. Rucker, AL in 2001. Following his graduation in 2002 he was stationed in Germany. He deployed twice to Iraq both times as a UH-60 stationed in Germany. He deployed twice to Iraq both times as a UH-60 Blackhawk Medical Evacuation pilot servingfirst as a Forward Support MEDVAC Team Leader in 2003 and as the Company Executive Officer in 2006. He recently returned from Honduras where he served as the Medical Evacuation Commander for the 228th Aviation Regiment.
	Chad Handley Class of 2012 Supply Chain Management crh5263@smeal.psu.edu Chad graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems. He serves as an enlisted member of the Texas Army National Guard while pursuing his undergraduate degree. In 2003, he was commissioned as an Active Duty Medical Service Officer. He has deployed once to Iraq where he served as the Brigade Medical Supply Office OIC and Treatment Platoon Leader for 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He also deployed to Afghanistan where he was the Medical Company Commander and Afghan National Army Operations Officer for 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th BCT, 4th ID.
	Kory Kiefer Class of 2012 Strategic Leadership kory@psu.edu Kory graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor's of Science in Human Factors Engineering. He has been stationed at the Air Force Academy, CO, Laughlin AFB, TX, Altus AFB, OK, RAF Mildenhall, UK, and most recently at MacDill AFB, FL where he served as the 91st ARS Chief of Standardization and Evaluation. He has completed multiple deployments to the Middle East flying combat air refueling missions in support of Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM. He is an Instructor Pilot in the KC-135R with over 2,000 flight hours.
	Michael Lang Class of 2012 Supply Chain Management mgl5077@smeal.psu.edu Michael graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2004 with a Bachelor's of Science in French and Spanish. After completing officer basic training at Fort Benning, GA in 2005, he was stationed at Fort Carson, CO as a Light Infantry Platoon Leader. In 2006, Michael deployed to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as the Executive Officer of his company. Upon his return, he served as an aide to the Fort Carson Commanding General and Chief-of-Staff.
	Jorge Quezada Class of 2012 Supply Chain Management jiq5014@smeal.psu.edu Jorge enlisted in the Navy in 2001 and was stationed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1) with a home port of San Diego, CA. While onboard the Tarawa, he served as Assistant Leading Petty Officer (ALPO) for the Crash and Salvage team in the flight deck division (V-1). He completed one WESTPAC deployment (2002 to 2003) in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Jorge decided to separate from the Navy in 2005 in order to devote time to finishing his undergraduate degree. In 2006, he recieved his Bachelors of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Professional Aeronautics.
	Curtis Unger Class of 2012 Strategic Leadership and Marketing cju5014@smeal.psu.edu Curtis graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor's of Science in Engineering Mgt. After graduation, he attended flight school where he received qualification in the AH64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter. He has served in numerous operational assignments which include Platoon Leader for a flight company in Korea, Brigade Aviation Officer for an Infantry Brigade during OIF 06-08 during the "surge", and more recently a Company Commander of an AH64D Attack Helicopter Company located in Korea. Upon graduation from the Smeal Program, Curtis will serve as an Admissions Officer for Recruited Athletes and Congressional Liason at the United States Military Academy before returning back to an aviation operational assignment.
	Stephen M. Wertz Class of 2012 Finance and Supply Chain Management smw5099@smeal.psu.edu Stephen joined the United States Marine Corps in 1997. He was assigned to CAAT Platoon WPNS Co. 2nd Bn 2nd Marines at Camp Lejeune, NC. Later, he was an instructor at the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, CA. In 2004 Stephen joined the PA Army National Guard. He is currently a platoon sergeant with an infantry company in Sunbury, PA. Stephen has completed four overseas deployments, most recently to Afghanistan in 2008. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Technology with a B.S. in Technology Management, a Minor in Mathematics and an A.A.S. in Electronics Technology.