Paul Kennedy
U.S. Army Medical Command
San Antonio, TX USA
"We ourselves are our own worst critics. We perceive ourselves in a way that others don’t perceive us. We look at our shortcomings and beat ourselves up for them, but we have to let that go because everybody is doing it."
Career Roadmap
Paul's work combines: Technology, Armed Services, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Information Technology Management
Western Governors University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Chief Technology Officer:
Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology Management
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
After high school, I started working full time, got married young, and started a family—I eventually tried to go back to school part time after work, but the balance was too much of a struggle.
2.
I spent some time working in both manufacturing and sales, but those jobs seemed like they wouldn’t lead anywhere or be fulfilling in the long term.
3.
I decided to join the Army and learn a skill—I pursued telecommunications for six years in the Army.
4.
After leaving the Army, I decided not to continue with school and instead work my way up from within the workforce—I spent years working for various information technology companies.
5.
When a startup I was working for dissolved and I was left unemployed, I didn’t have a degree to fall back on.
6.
Some friends recruited me to work at the U.S. Army Medical Command—I started as a contractor and worked my way into a government job, but was still held back by the fact that I didn’t have a degree.
7.
When my kids moved out, I finally decided to enroll at Western Governors University—balancing school and work was a struggle at times, but WGU’s program provided the flexibility and support I needed.
8.
I graduated from WGU in information technology management and now work as the chief technology officer for the U.S. Army Medical Command.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You need a degree in order to move up.
How I responded:
I didn't go to college after high school because I didn't know what I wanted to do and it seemed like it would be a waste. However, there have been many times that I've hit roadblocks in my career because I didn't have a degree. At first, I tried to prove them wrong. I still thought I could do it without the degree. But sometimes you get to a point where that degree is actually very helpful. If possible, I do recommend pursuing a degree because it can only help...it can't hurt.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
About 2 years into my WGU courses, I got a new job and had to move back to the US from Germany. I was stressed with work and moving and then my boss quit, so I was left in charge. The stress almost made me quit school but my mentor helped me through.
After high school, I started working, got married, and started a family. I tried to go back to school but balancing work, family, and school was too much of a struggle. It took a while, but I eventually made it back to school once my kids moved out.
After years of working in IT, the .com bust left me without a job. I didn't have a degree to fall back on and my technical skills weren't enough to get me a job, so I was unemployed for a while. The power of networking eventually landed me a job.