 |
After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1998 with a degree in industrial distribution, Trent J. Corcia (MBA '07) he went directly into the United States Air Force, where he served until 2005.
A Captain in the Air Force, Corcia served as an instructor and evaluator navigator. He flew numerous deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and South America. During his deployments he air lifted cargo, trucks, dignitaries, personnel and mail.
After the birth of his first child and finishing his commitment to the Air Force, Corcia's focus changed from serving his country and seeing the world to providing for his family. He knew that obtaining an MBA would help him provide a more stable life for his family.
For Corcia, the decision to attend SMU Cox proved quite easy.
"The choice was clear. No other school combines the national prestige and name recognition with the local ties to numerous companies and industries throughout Dallas/Fort Worth," he said.
Once enrolled in Cox, Corcia chose to concentrate his studies in marketing and strategic leadership. One of the most useful skills he acquired at Cox was the ability to tackle business problems analytically. He also benefited from the many case studies that involved solving business problems with a team. For Corcia, the Cox coursework taught him a full skill set.
"The core classes taught the basics of business; the electives built on this knowledge using more advanced frameworks and hammered home the lessons," he said.
Through his participation in the school's Associate Board executive mentoring program, Corcia met Chris Knight of American Airlines. Knight served as his mentor and gave him advice on internships and his job search. In addition, Corcia tapped into the Cox network by utilizing recent alumni, current students and the MBA Career Management Center in researching target companies. During the first year of his MBA program, he also participated in the school's Global Leadership Program in which he visited a number of leading companies throughout Europe and witnessed firsthand the international scope of the school's professional network, something he says is invaluable.
For Corcia, while transitioning from the Air Force to Cox, he felt unsure of which industry or job he really wanted to pursue after graduation. He credits the MBA Career Management Center with helping him attain an internship and eventually full-time employment after graduation.
Corcia currently works for American Airlines as a strategy analyst in the company's Cargo Revenue Management department, where he is able to combine his love of aviation with business. Although he was initially unsure about the specific industry he would be most interested in after graduate school, American Airlines has proven to be the perfect fit.
Transitioning from his life as an Air Force Captain to a business school student was a big adjustment for Corcia, but he is glad he took on the challenge. He offered advice to anyone who might be considering a similar change.
"Don't wait to jump start your career. Take the leap; you'll be glad you made this investment in yourself! As a husband and father of two small children, I learned that getting an MBA is possible for anyone with the drive and determination to excel."
|
