RYAN TOWNSEND
Ryan Townsend is an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army. Currently based at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, Ryan works in the plans office for the 5th Brigade, 87th Division. The bulk of his duties concern mobilization of the units under the brigade's command and disaster relief support when a presidential disaster declaration is announced.
Although Ryan's job within the brigade doesn't involve elements of construction engineering, he plans to pursue a career in the industry when his commitment with the Army is fulfilled.
"I searched through every available online master's degree in civil engineering that I could find and decided that UW's degree fit exactly with what I want to do when I transition out of the Army," said Ryan.
Even though Ryan isn't in the construction engineering industry yet, his classroom experiences have left him confident that he will have the edge he needs to successfully enter the field.
"On several occasions I've called someone in the industry to ask questions about one of my assignments and they are always amazed that a college course is covering that particular topic."
The convenience of the online format has allowed Ryan to work full-time and still have time to spend with his family, which would be difficult to balance if he was enrolled in a traditional program.
"The online program is a wonderful way to continue to advance your education without all of the hassles involved in attending courses on campus. I'd recommend it to anyone who is working but still wants to work on a graduate degree."
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