Testimonial - Mike Shaw, Master's Degree Student - Security Management

Mike Shaw: Master's Degree, Security Management

Mike Shaw has a big, global job these days. He’s in charge of security at factories and facilities worldwide for Lenovo, the company that bought IBM’s PC division in 2005. He must keep 25,000 Lenovo employees in 60 countries safe. He must ensure the company’s technology and intellectual property are secure.

Shaw didn’t become Lenovo’s worldwide director of security by accident. He did it with a plan, and American Military University was crucial to carrying out that plan.

“A lot of people, if they work hard and put in some good work, they can get into management. But to get to the top level, the competition gets pretty steep for those jobs,” Shaw says. “To be considered for the next level, I knew I needed to do something more.”

“You have to have something else to bring to the party, in addition to being a good guy and working hard, something to distinguish you from the other guys,” Shaw says. That something was getting a master’s degree in his career field.

It wasn’t going to be easy, because he works long hours. These days, he’s up at 5 each morning, sending emails and checking in with colleagues around the globe. Shaw’s work world is technology-driven, so he knew online learning fit his needs and schedule.

“I sought out AMU after hearing a news report on their security management studies. I thought that was a great opportunity because I had a good undergraduate experience online,” he says, referring to his bachelor’s in criminal justice from Columbia Southern.

Shaw compared AMU and other online offerings and discovered that AMU’s program was most relevant and valuable to his career and company. Because he travels more than 100,000 miles a year, Shaw knew he needed to develop his international skills. AMU’s international management course helped do that. Organizational skills and analysis class and other courses broadened his knowledge as well. He found the emphasis on case studies valuable.

Some weekends, Shaw had to disappear into coursework at home, and he appreciated that AMU’s instructors understood that students had to juggle work, school and family responsibilities.

“Dr. Jeffrey Fowler, who was in charge of my program, was very helpful. He was very understanding of my travel. I could structure my time to be on nights or weekends. If I had a connection to the Internet, I could work, and that’s really, really important to a job like mine,” Shaw says.

AMU’s online library further facilitated his coursework and accommodated his schedule. There, whether at home in North Carolina or visiting a factory in China, he could access all the materials he needed.

As busy as he is, Shaw appreciated AMU’s straightforward, consistent approach across a range of classes over the three years he was in the program.

“They really were well organized. You had your syllabus and agenda. Lesson plans and testing were standardized,” Shaw says. “You knew what you needed to do to be successful in that class.”

 “It was a terrific experience because I have a super demanding schedule,” he says. “They clearly defined their program and expectations and they allowed me to be successful. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”

Fast Facts:
►Residence: Wake Forest, N.C.
►Service branch: Police officer in Atlanta for 14 years
►Occupation: Worldwide director of security for Lenovo, an international technology company that acquired IBM’s personal computing division. Previously was a police officer in Atlanta for 14 years, working in patrol, investigations and management
►Degree path: Security management, master’s degree; graduated in 2006
►Career goal: Earning a degree that would gain him access to upper management