Project Management Skills Can Bridge the Gap for Job-Seeking Veterans

Many veterans possess valuable project management experience that can benefit corporate employers, according to research conducted by faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide. 

In the “Armed Forces Project Management Talent Survey,” Drs. Tracey Richardson, Matthew Earnhardt and Jim Marion also found that 70 percent of U.S. military veterans say they have experience managing a project life cycle and 80 percent of veterans with 15 or more years of service have experience in planning.

Dr. Richardson and her team’s research are highlighted in this month’s issue of the Project Management Institute’s PM Network magazine.

Historically, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans had been higher that the country’s overall jobless rate. Several initiatives have been launched in the past five years to employ more veterans by equipping them with tools and resources for success. One project is PMI’s Preparing U.S. Military for Project Management Careers, an effort Dr. Richardson played an integral role in launching.

A U.S. Air Force veteran who spent 20 years as an aircraft maintenance officer, Dr. Richardson is passionate about helping veterans cross the divide between military and corporate culture. She credits her project management experience and Professional Management Professional (PMP) certification for opening doors to becoming a full-time faculty member who teaches courses in Embry-Riddle Worldwide’s undergraduate and graduate project management degree programs

2017 U.S. News & World Report Names Embry-Riddle Worldwide No. 1 Online Educator

In recognition of its high-quality education focused on student engagement and world-class faculty, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide has been ranked No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 list for best online bachelor’s degrees in the nation.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Embry-Riddle Worldwide secured a spot on the coveted annual ranking of the nation’s top online educators. Last year, Embry-Riddle Worldwide tied for first with Penn State World Campus and was listed as No. 1 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Program for Veterans.

Other schools joining Embry-Riddle in this year’s list include: Temple University, University of Oklahoma, Arizona State University, The Ohio State University, Penn State World Campus, Oregon State and University of Illinois – Chicago. For the complete U.S. News & World Report 2017 list, go to online bachelor’s degree.

"This ranking acknowledges and honors the decades of experience and commitment to quality, real-world and innovative higher education that Embry-Riddle Worldwide has been known for since its inception in 1971,” said Embry-Riddle Worldwide Chancellor Dr. John R. Watret. “When Embry-Riddle launched its distance learning and online programs as Worldwide, it was natural for the university to leverage its global reputation of excellence and faculty expertise in aviation and aerospace. We were one of the first to do that, but we’re not satisfied just maintaining the status quo. We continue to move forward, constantly finding new ways to provide even more valuable, more personal attention to our students. That’s what sets us apart. That’s what we are most proud of.”


To publish its annual lists, U.S. News & World Report ranks online bachelor’s degree programs and graduate business programs in the following categories: student engagement, admissions selectivity (graduate business programs), faculty credentials and training, peer reputation, student services and technology.

“We are setting the standard for world-class, unparalleled online education by focusing on engagement and services critical to student success,” said Dr. Jason M. Ruckert, Embry-Riddle Worldwide’s Vice Chancellor for Online Education. “By constantly investigating and integrating new technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and virtual laboratories, we are not only preparing our students to obtain the career they desire but to flourish and be leaders in it for years to come.”

Embry-Riddle Worldwide serves more than 22,000 students online and at 125 campuses in the United States and globally.

In the past year, Embry-Riddle Worldwide has earned numerous accolades including being named one of the best online colleges in the nation by the Center for Online Education, multiple top nods for its online master’s and bachelor’s degrees in engineering programs from independent online ranking providers CollegeChoice.net, AffordableCollegesOnline.org and BestValueSchools.com, as well as being designated a top military-friendly school by Victory Media.