Southern Illinois University, a dual mas-
ter's degree in aviation safety and man-
agement from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, a master of arts in national
security and strategic studies from the
Naval War College, and a Ph.D. from
Northcentral University.
"After I got my bachelor's degree, I
decided I wanted to get my Ph.D. Again,
I had big dreams. In order to get that, I
had to get my master's and I did at Embry-
Riddle. It was my intention to do my Ph.D.
there too, but I got sidetracked to go to
Naval War College," says Hartney. "Going
to war college was not an opportunity
that maintenance officers usually got.
It was a two-year detour and I enjoyed
it and learned a lot. But once that was
completed, I went back to my goal to
earn my doctorate."
The bachelor's degree was what was
needed to further Hartney's career in the
military. "Usually the military doesn't
look beyond that. For my career path it
wasn't advantageous, but it showed that I
was ambitious and that I was a hard work-
er," he says. "It would also give my com-
manding officers a good feel about me
because I was going above and beyond
what I was required to do."
A career decision cut short Hartney's
original tour with the Blue Angels. "I
didn't regret the decision, but I always
wanted to go back," he says. "It took me
three times to apply and get the job again,
which was not an easy thing to do. I
started again in September 2013." His
retirement from the Navy was official at
the end of February.
U.S. SAILORS
assigned to the
U.S. Navy Flight
Demonstration
Squadron, the
Blue Angels,
maintenance team,
practice a ground
demonstration at
Naval Air Station
Pensacola, FL,
May 9, 2013.
U.S. NAV Y
PHOTO BY MASS
COMMUNICATION
SPECIALIST 2ND
CLASS K ATHRYN
E. MACDONALD/
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