Robins Air Force Base Graduates First Strategic Partnership Cohort from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ
Author: Alexandria Brooks
Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 12:00 AM
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School of Business | Pressroom
Warner Robins, GA
This spring, the 78th Air Base Wing at Robins Air Force Base graduated its first strategic partnership cohort from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ (MGA).
MGA and Robins Air Force Base renewed their partnership in the spring of 2024 to connect service personnel and their families with online and in-person degree programs that align with their career goals. As part of the strategic partnership, Robins covers the cost of tuition and books, while the University provides veterans and military-connected students with Warner Robins Campus resources and ongoing support services to ensure they meet their academic and professional objectives.
“The ultimate goal is for graduates to perform their job better, be more competitive for higher-level positions, and be an overall better leader,” said Alison Sheffield, coordinator at Robins.
The first cohort commenced its journey at MGA in the spring of 2024, enrolling in the University’s Master of Business in Professional Leadership (MBPL) program, a business and interdisciplinary studies degree designed for people who wish to advance as leaders and excel across multiple commercial, government, and nonprofit enterprises.
“We designed a tailored curriculum blending courses in leadership, organizational behavior, decision theory, and data-driven decision making,” said Dr. Marc Miller, dean of MGA’s School of Business and MBPL program coordinator. “This approach ensured that each participant honed their management decision-making skills while cultivating transformative leadership capabilities—key traits for their evolving roles at Robins Air Force Base and beyond.”
The degree program was the perfect fit for the cohort’s educational and career goals, equipping employees with the tools needed to become better leaders, making them more competitive for career opportunities at Robins.
“The program speaks for itself,” raved Sheffield. “This specific online degree increases graduates’ business acumen and leadership capability. These learned skills and problem-solving techniques are used to address real-world problems and issues.”
Although they just earned their degrees, graduates from the inaugural cohort, like Jonathan Pope, are already seeing a return on their investment.
“Professionally, I feel much more confident in my ability to tackle complex problems in my role as a C-130 quality assurance chief. The critical thinking skills I developed during my studies are invaluable. I'm already noticing that I'm contributing more effectively to strategic discussions and problem-solving efforts within my team.”
In addition to meeting his academic and professional goals, Pope has met an even bigger, personal goal: being a great role model for his children.
“I wanted to set a good example for my two boys. I wanted them to see that learning is a lifelong process and that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. It's given me a real sense of accomplishment and boosted my self-esteem. I feel like I'm a better role model for my sons and a more well-rounded person overall.”
MGA and Robins’ second cohort is now underway, with the third beginning their studies in January 2026.
“I’m proud to reflect on the exceptional journey of these mid-level managers,” said Miller. “Our first cohort of graduates demonstrated not only resilience and drive, but also a keen intellect and willingness to push boundaries—qualities that strengthened our faculty and enriched our entire student body. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how these leaders apply the insights from our program to create meaningful impact within their work environments and our broader academic community.”
Learn more about the Office of Strategic Partnerships at mga.edu/strategic-partnerships.