Veteran Spotlight: Grace Miller 25MBA, U.S. Navy

by Voice of Goizueta · Published December 15, 2023 · Updated March 13, 2024

Background: My name is Grace and I grew up in Smyrna, Georgia. Upon completing my bachelor’s degree at the U.S. Naval Academy in 2018, I was commissioned in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and served for five years on active duty in Everett, Washington, on two different destroyers, USS RALPH JOHNSON (DDG-114) and USS SAMPSON (DDG-102). I deployed once on each ship, to the Persian Gulf and western Pacific with the USS NIMITZ and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN strike groups respectively. In 2023, I transitioned from active duty to pursue my MBA at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.

Why Goizueta: When I made the decision to leave the Navy, I knew about a year prior to separating that it was time to leave; however, I did not know what I wanted to do in the civilian sector. The decision was daunting considering I had no experience in the corporate world and I struggled to see how my skill set would translate to a new profession. When I learned about business school, I started seeing how an MBA presented an amazing opportunity to hone my leadership and other soft skills while gaining critical business acumen. My plan was to move back to Atlanta to be near family, and so there were only two schools I considered—Emory University and Georgia Tech. Goizueta became the obvious forerunner because of its support of and investment in veterans. I knew through my interactions with LTG (Ret.) Ken Keen and several of the other veteran students that I would not be alone in my transition and that they were going to be dedicated to my success. I have not been disappointed!

Career Goals: As an English undergrad major and transitioning Navy veteran, I was unsure of what a future in the corporate world would look like. During my core semester and through recommendations from the Career Management Center, I learned about Leadership Development Programs (LDP). This summer I am hoping to do a LDP internship to see if that path is indeed my desire for post-MBA employment.

Hobbies/Other Interests: First and foremost, my faith is what has made me who I am today and so I gladly thank the Lord for how He has blessed me and shaped me. When not at school, my favorite place to be is outside enjoying nature, whether it be hiking, skiing, camping, playing sports, or enjoying water sports on Lake Blue Ridge, GA. I have a goal to visit every National Park in the U.S. and currently the tally is 23 out of 63!