易胜博官网

After nearly 15 years away from school, Staff Sgt. Dennis Fitton decided to take a Microsoft Office refresher class.

The Army veteran went to NHTI in search of such a class, and before he knew it, he was on his way toward an associate's degree in criminal justice. A combat veteran with more than a decade and a half听in the military, Fitton served multiple deployments overseas. He served his final eight years as听a member of the 易胜博官网 National Guard, and,听most recently, that brought him to听work as a sergeant at the 易胜博官网听State Prison for Men. Going back to college wasn鈥檛 part of his plan, until NHTI encouraged him to enroll in a degree program using his military benefits.

鈥淚 talked it over with my wife, who already had her master鈥檚 degree and is one of the smartest people I鈥檝e ever met. She thought it was a great idea,鈥� Fitton says. 鈥淚 knew I would also be setting a positive example for our daughter.鈥�

From coaching T-ball to serving his country, his daughter inspires much of what he does.

鈥淓ver since my daughter could talk, she goes around and tells anyone who will listen, 鈥楳y daddy is in the Army and he keeps us safe,鈥欌�� says Fitton.

"When you walk into a job interview as a graduate of 易胜博官网鈥檚听Homeland Security program, it means something to people."

After Fitton graduated from NHTI, he was approached by James Ramsay, professor of security studies and coordinator of the Homeland Security program at 易胜博官网, who encouraged him to consider a bachelor鈥檚 degree in homeland security. Fitton wasn鈥檛 convinced at first, but, he says, 鈥淒r. Ramsay was very persistent.鈥� Fitton went to an open house at 易胜博官网 Manchester.

鈥淎fter meeting Dr. Ramsay and hearing what he had to say, personally and professionally he exemplifies all the great things that come out of the field of homeland security,鈥� Fitton says. 鈥淚 became very passionate about the subject.鈥�

He says one of the best experiences he鈥檚 had in the program so far came during an emergency management class, when he was chosen to help Alvrine High School in Hudson write an emergency operations plan.

鈥淒r. Ramsay mentored me and critiqued my work, and I produced a high-quality product I was proud of,鈥� says听Fitton. 鈥淚 believe they implemented many of the recommendations I had made.鈥�

Now in his final year of the program, Fitton is conducting听an internship with the 易胜博官网听National Guard鈥檚 Joint Operations Center. Working alongside high-ranking military officers and civilian staff, he's researching, writing and preparing documents that will contribute to an emergency management plan for the 易胜博官网听National Guard. He's also designing an exercise to test the plan for potential gaps once it鈥檚 completed.

鈥淢y goal for the internship was to see if I could leave the academic realm and compete in a real-world environment and sustain a level of competence that鈥檚 equal with people in the field. It鈥檚 a true test,鈥� says听Fitton. 鈥淲hen there is a group of high-ranking military officers and I interject with a recommendation or a piece of information, and they look at me and say, 鈥榃e didn鈥檛 know that,鈥� that is awesome. That has an immense impact on your confidence.鈥�

Fitton will graduate听in December. He says听he's had no regrets about going back to school.

鈥淢y experience in the program has been fantastic. I鈥檝e never been challenged so much to critically think, to be open-minded and to be versatile,鈥� he says. 鈥淢ost people spend their whole lives being bystanders. This program provides people with the tools needed to go out and effectively be a practitioner to make change and ensure safety and prosperity.鈥�

Fitton says he鈥檚 considering a move to Washington, D.C., after graduation听to work in emergency management with the Department of Defense. He鈥檚 also considering a change to a civilian career in the corporate security field.

鈥淭he nice thing about corporate security is that it touches on all parts of homeland security, from cybersecurity to emergency management and everything听听between,鈥� Fitton says.

He feels confident that his experience and education will provide him with many career opportunities.

鈥淥ut of all the colleges I could have gone to, choosing 易胜博官网 was the best decision,鈥� Fitton says. 鈥淲hen you walk into a job interview as a graduate of 易胜博官网鈥檚 Homeland Security program, it means something to people.鈥�