Chris Ledlow
Meet Chris Ledlow
Name: Chris Ledlow
Age: 40
Hometown: Milton, FL
Current Location: Chesapeake, VA
School: Troy University
Target: M.S. in Management, Summer 2008
"The Navy taught me that success isn’t something that just happens. You have to do the legwork to succeed." This lieutenant commander in the Navy has certainly taken this lesson to heart. He has already earned associate's and bachelor's degrees and is now hard at work on his master's, as well.
Christopher, a 40-year-old lieutenant commander in the United States Navy has traveled the world and put together an education on the go. Chris is currently pursuing an online master's degree in management from Troy University as he continues shore duty working as a Navy engineer in Chesapeake, Virginia.
His career in the Navy has given him the discipline to succeed at distance learning.
And now he is using what he is learning in his MSM program in his work as an engineer. As an engineer, Chris is responsible for, in his words, "mak[ing] the ships go through the water" plus providing all of the services on the ship including the electricity, water, and A/C.
Chris's education has been far from traditional, and displays his persistence and drive. He has added to his resume little by little since enlisting in the Navy over 20 years ago.
But doing it while on active duty has added challenges far beyond what most traditional college students face.
Thankfully, learning can take place anywhere there are potential learners with access to teachers. One non-traditional way that Chris has taken accessed his education is onboard ships through a Navy program called Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE). Professors onboard the ships teach classes to interested students for college credit.
In addition, Chris has been able to earn credits through the College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. CLEP standardized tests allow students to show their college-level knowledge in various fields of study.
Chris earned his Associate's degree through the University of Phoenix Online. He was then transferred overseas and continued taking classes while working towards his Bachelor's degree.
He was forced to suspend his studies for about 2 ½ years when he was sent back out to sea.
Later, while on shore duty, he received his B.S. in Liberal Studies from Regent University, located in Virginia Beach, VA.
He is now working towards his MSM online through Troy University's ecampus, a regionally accredited university located in Troy, Alabama. He expects to graduate in the summer of 2008.
Troy University was one of three schools that Chris considered for his master's degree. He also looked at his alma mater, University of Phoenix Online, as well as Virginia Beach, VA-based Old Dominion University.
Scheduling flexibility was the key criterion for him when choosing. Though he is currently on shore duty, he is still on the go, travelling nearly every week for work.
He travels to places like Texas, Key West, and even overseas, to inspect the ships' engineering plants to ensure they meet established standards. He says, "The class flexibility allows me to work [on my coursework] in a piecemeal fashion around other commitments."
For Chris, what made Troy stand out from other online programs was the staff.
One counselor in particular whom he encountered while researching programs went "out of her way to assist me in my course selections and in the completion of the required paperwork," he says. She and others at Troy have understood "what it means to be a working adult that is trying to obtain a degree," he added.
Overall, Chris has been very happy with Troy and with his experiences as a distance learner. He has been pleasantly surprised by the level of discussion among his classmates. "I don't feel as if I am just one of many," he states.
He has found that the professors at Troy are accessible and responsive. "The instructors reply to questions so quickly it is just like being in class," he says. "I can call a professor if I need to and they are always available."
Many of the professors are also work in the business world in addition to teaching online. Chris thinks that is an added benefit.
"The instructors are in some very high level positions in the community so they can impart real world applications to the classroom discussion," he says. "Invaluable!"
Troy uses Blackboard software to deliver its courses and Chris has no complaints. He finds the technology easy to use.
That doesn't mean the program is easy, though. Chris wants to dispel the notion that an getting an online degree is "easy" or "not a ‘real' degree." In fact, he warns sternly, with a laugh, "you must be focused and self-disciplined."
Not surprisingly, Chris credits the Navy with giving him much of that focus.
"The Navy has taught me how to establish a plan and methodically work through the plan to achieve the goal. Working on a long-term degree is similar to working through any given process in the Navy. The goal is clear and you find the resources to achieve the goal."
The Navy has helped shape his education in practical ways, as well. Through their Navy Campus program, the Navy assists service members in planning and meeting their educational goals.
Chris explains, "Navy Campus really helped provide clear direction when I first started out. The process can seem overwhelming at first but Navy Campus helped me focus on one step at a time."
Now that he's come so far and accomplished so much, what is his next step? Chris isn't completely sure.
He's scheduled to receive his master's in the summer of 2008 and plans to retire from active duty but says he may still complete one more tour.
After that he hopes to bring his drive to succeed, and everything he has learned, to a position as a project manager. Says Chris, "I feel good. Really good, in fact. I know I can do it."
