SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Angelo State University invited Col. Thomas Coakley, 17th Training Group commander, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, which allows 14N students and permanent party to transfer 12 credit hours toward two master’s degrees through Angelo State University.
The opportunity is open to 14N professionals, and lets them pick between a Master of Security Studies in intelligence and analysis program or a Master of Science in global security studies.
“Today’s signing ceremony essentially validates the cooperation and the processes ASU and Goodfellow have had in place since 2011,” said Chair Department of Security Studies and Criminal Justice Angelo State University Professor, Dr. Tony Mullins. “We have had over 115 14N students transfer credits from Goodfellow courses to one of these programs since its genesis, and over 60 have completed their master’s degree. We expect continued growth as we work with the 17th TRG to ensure a quality education and relevant curriculum in support of American national security.”
The partnership between ASU and Goodfellow has seen the creation of several programs and there is still talk about future goals and hopes.
“The amount of support and outreach that the university provides to our airmen, sailors, soldiers and marines is second to none,” said Coakley. “I am an educator, I have served as a professor in the Air Force Academy…but I have never seen anything quite like the incredible partnership that ASU has with Goodfellow.”
In attendance at the MOU signing were two Goodfellow members who have already benefited from the program.
“I have been doing intelligence for a long time, but the global security studies gave me new perspectives on things that I haven’t seen before,” said Maj. Clint Ormond, 315th Training Squadron flight commander. “I had been studying the Middle East for 10 year and I was still able to learn and see how the history brought about the changes we are seeing. It also allows me to articulate it intelligently and provide some backstory on why things happen the way that they do. I have better perspective, better analysis and being able to see the overarching trends across the globe.”
The program offered by ASU is a chance for individuals to work on the whole airman concept and push themselves to never stop learning.
“If you are going to go get a degree, this degree will help your knowledge across your job,” said Ormond. “I really enjoyed ASU’s program. It is a top notch university, so I was very happy to go through this program.”