Colorado Tech Online Students and Alumni
Meet Senior Master Sgt Jimmie Wilks, USAF
BSBA with a concentration in Management
Senior Master Sergeant Jimmie Wilks comes from a family with a long tradition of military service. "My father spent years in the military and the only regret he had was that he did not further his education. He told me not only to do what he did, but also to do what he did not do. That has always been one of the things that inspired me to continue my education, especially after he recently passed away."
While stationed overseas, continuing his education through online learning may have been an easy choice for SMSgt Wilks, but he did not take that approach. "I looked at all my options, including ground schools, trying to find the best fit for me. After looking into almost 100 schools, reading testimonials, trying out demos of online formats and speaking with scores of advisors, I chose Colorado Tech Online because it was the best fit for me. Colorado Tech Online is very military-friendly, the Virtual Campus is second to none, the accelerated curriculum put my education on the fast track and the embedded certificates in my degree program are extremely valuable. Colorado Tech Online may not have been an easy choice for me, but I know I made the right choice."
With 24 years of experience in the United States Air Force, SMSgt Wilks already has an impressive list of accomplishments. He is currently serving in Korea as a supply officer, technical consultant and liaison between the USAF, Department of Defense, Korean Air Lines and Korean Aerospace Industries. Before that he served in a similar capacity in Turkey and at other NATO bases. In his various assignments, he has managed as many 200 subordinates at once, learning the "ins and outs" of management through experience.
SMSgt Wilks also learned from experience that the knowledge and skills he acquired through his coursework at Colorado Tech Online can be immediately applicable in his profession. "I am in a position where I manage people and resources, recognize and oversee effective business processes and interface with foreign civilian personnel. I oversee the supply chain management functions performed by two of South Korea's largest aviation industries as they perform contract depot maintenance on US aircraft and weapon systems stationed in the Pacific theater. My courses in operations management, international business practices and quality and supply chain management have proven extremely valuable in helping me recognize efficient production practices and in addressing potential flaws in operations and production."
SMSgt Wilks feels earning his Bachelor's degree through Colorado Tech Online has helped him hone his management skills and makes him more marketable in today's competitive job market. "I have been able to take on more responsibilities. I have demonstrated my ability to make sound management decisions based on my experience and the knowledge and skills I acquired through Colorado Tech Online. Attaining the educational level of the professionals I interact with on a daily basis has helped me earn their respect. I have tested the waters in the civilian job market over the years and my BSBA with a concentration in Management has already helped me get better offers than I have in the past. I am in a better position to negotiate a salary now that I have earned a degree. I have found I can enter the job market now at a higher grade than some of my co-workers that have been employed with the agency for years but do not have a degree. Thanks to Colorado Tech Online, I have more confidence because I have more career prospects now than ever before."
Yet another one of SMSgt Wilks' responsibilities may be his most important one and may be his most difficult. "The Air Force stresses education and there are many good reasons for that. I am responsible for motivating my younger subordinates to not only perform well in their duties, but also to continue their education. I believe in leading by example. Every day I look at my degree and certificates on the wall of my office as an inspiration and I can point them out to my subordinates as example of taking on a challenge and following through with it. Earning my degree through Colorado Tech Online was a challenge, but it has already paid off in so many ways. I would recommend it to anyone."
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