Supply Chain: A Great Career for Veterans

Richard Jones Supply Chain Management a great career for veterans

By Richard Jones, Supply Chain Management Student

Since I can remember, I’ve always known I wanted to be a part of something bigger; I have regularly strived to make an impact and grow in every situation. That is why the world of business fascinated me from an early age; it never ceases to present you with challenges and opportunities.

I chose to specialize in supply chain management. I thought it was best for me because not only does every company have a supply chain, you also have the real opportunity to make a difference for your customers, your company and, if you do it right, you can even help the planet too!

But upon graduating from high school, I decided to join the military instead! After 10 years of decorated service without ever having scratched my itch to jump into business, I made the tough decision to pivot, and I haven’t looked back.

Where to go, who to trust

Once multiple universities sent me an acceptance letter, my next tough decision presented itself. Who would I trust to enhance my skill sets and equip me to achieve my aspirations and truly make an impact? I set three bottom-line goals for myself when I separated from service: to further my education, expand my professional network and challenge myself to grow every day.

One university fit the bill, and I am proud to say that after choosing The University of Texas at Dallas, I am now pursuing my BS in Supply Chain Management with a minor in innovation and entrepreneurship.

I couldn’t be happier with my decision as the faculty, staff and student body have exceeded every expectation and more! Not only have my professors, directors and cohorts furthered my education and challenged me to expand my outlooks; the passion and dedication that they all bring both in and out of the classroom have made me very excited, optimistic and confident about my decision and my future in supply chain management.

A choice that fulfilled my expectations

Once at the Naveen Jindal School of Management, I chose to specialize in supply chain management. I thought it was best for me because not only does every company have a supply chain, you also have the real opportunity to make a difference for your customers, your company and, if you do it right, you can even help the planet too! This is truly a position that impacts the triple bottom line: people, profits and the planet. When disasters like COVID-19 strike, having efficient and effective supply chains even enables us to save lives.

UT Dallas, and more specifically, the Jindal School, are what I like to refer to as an “iron sharpens iron” ecosystem — built to bring the best out of everyone. Time after time, my directors and cohorts have pushed me outside my comfort zone, resulting not only in driving up my value in the industry but also leading to the honor of being a finalist for the Texas Business Hall of Fame Scholarship, and more. I also proudly hold officer positions with both INFORMS and APICS student organizations.

I would like to finish with a key piece of advice for others who are thinking about other careers and who are not sure what to do: network, network, network! The networking events and workshops that are facilitated through student organizations, program directors and our top-notch Career Management Center here at the Jindal School have directly set me up for success and helped me to gain insight and an introduction to the professions while building meaningful and lasting connections with industry leaders and like-minded professionals. Networking has presented me with more opportunities than I could have ever imagined and a handful of lifetime friendships and mentors too.

“Nothing is more a waste of your time than to be inspired and not take action.” — Kevin Ekmark

Cheers,

Richard Jones

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Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Operations Management?

Bachelor’s Degree Program

Build the skills to do rigorous analysis of operational information through various courses in supply chain and logistics. These skills are in high demand across the corporate world and prized in government and not-for-profit sectors.

Master’s Degree Programs

Find the Operations Management graduate degree that matches your interests. Visit a program below for more information.

PhD Concentration in OM

Develop strong research skills that are especially relevant for students interested in an academic career. Research seminars are held weekly, and each year the Operations Management area sponsors a seminar series to bring researchers from other universities to UT Dallas.