The Veteran Edge

In this episode, Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. talks to AMU graduate student, James Hodgman, about his 20-year career in the Air Force. Learn how he pursued multiple degrees and certifications while on active duty, and why education has been such a focal point in his life. As he prepares to transition out of the military, James shares advice for other servicemembers and also reflects on the incredible personal and professional benefits from serving in the military.  

On this episode, Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. – Lt. Col (retired), U.S. Marine Corps and Department Chair of AMU’s School of Business – talks with U.S. Navy veteran and AMU faculty member, D.J. Gurley about her military career, her education and her transition to civilian life.

Hear from graduates and faculty members as they celebrate the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022!

While a controversial figure, General Douglas MacArthur was a talented and outspoken military leader. In this episode, Wes O’Donnell talks to AMU military history professor Dr. Kelly Jordan about the leadership traits, and pitfalls, of General MacArthur and where he ranks as a military leader.

Being successful, whether in the military or the civilian world, often involves the same formula. In this episode, AMU professor and retired Marine Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. talks to General Larry Spencer about the driving forces behind his 40-year career in the U.S. Air Force. Learn about the role of education, the value of mentorship and being surrounded by positive people, the drive to try new and difficult things without fear of failure, and much more.

Why is strength still associated with masculinity? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to professor Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. about his 24-year career in the Marine Corps and the connection between strength and masculinity. Learn how cultural changes are changing the perception that strength, power, and strength are masculine traits and why it’s so important to emphasize that masculinity and maleness are two different things.

Military servicemembers have skills and training that can be extremely useful in the civilian workforce, however, it’s challenging to figure out how to translate those skills to the commercial sector. In this episode, Wes O’Donnell talks to AMU professor, retired U.S. Army Reserve Army Colonel Larry Dietz, about his military service and experience in psychological warfare, cyber warfare and information operations. Hear how servicemembers must work to define the hard and soft skills they learned in the military including the ability to identify credible sources of information, make decisions under pressure, and present complex situations in a direct and simplified way.

Greatness as a military leader isn’t all about battlefield victories, it’s about understanding a leader’s strategies, circumstances, and tactics. In this episode, Wes O’Donnell talks to AMU Military History professor Dr. Kelly Jordan about what qualifies Frederick the Great a great military leader. Learn about his focus on training his soldiers, which enabled them to have the skills and discipline to respond quickly when Frederick recognized opportunities in battle, thus outmaneuvering his often much larger opponents and losing fewer soldiers in battle. Learn how Frederick himself prepared relentlessly by studying war, developing fundamental principles of battle, and employing unique strategies like the oblique offensive. Also learn what today’s military leaders can learn from Frederick the Great’s strategies and tactics.