Military & Veteran Community
Minnesota Carlson ranks among the Best Colleges for Veterans, according to U.S. News & World Report in 2026.¹ That ranking comes from the same support you'll get here: real resources, real people, and a path from service to business leadership.
Students and Alumni From Every Branch
You'll join students and graduates from every branch of the military. Here's what our typical military student looks like:
31%
23%
12%
12%
The Military and Veterans' Club
Members of the club include all aspects of military service: Active, National Guard, and Reserves. They also come from all branches of the military: Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard.
Join to attend:
- Networking events with organizations interested in hiring veterans
- Professional development workshops to translate work experience and prepare for interviews
- Fun events to broaden the Carlson student body's understanding of what it means to serve
Military Experience, Business Impact: Our Students & Alumni in Action
Your military service equipped you with invaluable skills. Meet Carlson students who built on their service experience to become business leaders. Their stories demonstrate how military expertise creates exceptional business careers.
Airman Lujana Thapa, ’24 MBA
Although Lujana Thapa, '24 MBA, is thousands of miles away on deployment in the Middle East, she remains dedicated to her academic goals at Carlson.
In this interview, she shares how her military experience inspires her, what it takes to balance her service and school, and offers advice for veterans or service members who are considering business school.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Matt Pilla
U.S. Navy
'23 MS in Supply Chain Management & '26 Executive MBA
After eight years of Navy service, Matt Pilla transitioned to the medtech industry seeking to expand his impact. Combining his military logistics experience with advanced business education, Pilla is pursuing dual degrees at Minnesota Carlson to accelerate his corporate leadership journey.
Jim Palmer
U.S. Navy
’25 MBA
In his distinguished 20-year Navy career, Palmer rose from nuclear mechanic aboard the U.S.S. Minneapolis-Saint Paul to surface warfare officer and lieutenant. His service spanning six deployments, nine states, and 18 countries developed his global perspective. Now at Minnesota Carlson, Palmer is translating his extensive military leadership into business excellence.
Brittany Gray
U.S. Army
'26 MBA
As company commander for the Minneapolis Recruiting Company, U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant Brittany Gray brings 15 years of military leadership to her MBA studies. While maintaining her active-duty responsibilities, she's pursuing her MBA to amplify her command experience with advanced business expertise. 1st Lt. Gray demonstrates how military service and business education create an exceptional leadership foundation.
Jason Lee, '22 MSSCM
After 20+ years in the military, including a 2-year deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jason Lee, '22 MSSCM, transitioned to logistics with Minnesota’s Army National Guard, managing 50+ personnel and $261M in assets. Seeking to bridge military and civilian supply chain expertise, he joined Carlson, where he quickly found a strong veteran community.
Shannon Gregory
U.S. Marine Corps & National Guard
'18 MBA, Executive MBA Program
During his 25-year military career, Shannon Gregory has served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the National Guard and was deployed overseas five times in 15 different countries. Gregory now works as the Chief of Flight Operations at the John F. Kennedy Space Center.
Katie and Colin Robertson
Officers in the U.S. Army
'19 MBA, Full-Time MBA Program
Katie and Colin Robertson both had fathers who were in the military, which gave the couple a “sense of service.” The Robertsons spent 10 years as officers in the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars apiece for distinguished service.
Jack Schneeman
Minnesota National Guard
'19 MBA, Part-Time MBA Program
Jack Schneeman is currently serving an active duty tour in East Africa. That doesn’t mean he’s stepped away from Phraze, a healthcare company he co-founded while in the part-time MBA program that helps physicians digitize their notes to save valuable time. In 2019, Schneeman and Phraze were named one of the Most Disruptive MBA Startups by Poets & Quants.
Expand your professional network. Join our LinkedIn community.
Supporting Your Career
Minnesota Carlson strives to be one of the best graduate schools for veterans ready to advance their careers. Our Career Center has extensive experience working with students on forging successful career paths in the business sector.
We understand your unique challenges and the singular strengths you will bring to Carlson. So, we offer tailored career programming, workshops, and one-on-one coaching to help you translate your skills for a successful civilian career. You’ll be supported every step of the way during your program and for your lifetime after you graduate.
Career services include:
- Individualized coaching with staff experienced in guiding veterans’ career exploration and preparation
- Networking with organizations like MBA Veterans and Eagle Group of MN and alumni in the Twin Cities and nationwide
- Workshops, self-assessments, and job search tools and resources to help you build strong application materials
- Connections to local, national, and global companies with experience hiring veterans
Life in the Twin Cities
With the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Join Air Reserve Station nearby, the Twin Cities and nearby counties have veteran services that can help you access support beyond Minnesota Carlson and University of Minnesota campus.
Veteran Services Resources
- Hennepin County Veteran Services
- Ramsey County Veteran Services
- Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (located in the Veterans Service Building in St. Paul)
For Veteran families
- Art Museums & Centers for active duty military installations (interactive map)
New to the Twin Cities?
From a thriving and diverse business community to sports, music, food, the arts—discover all the Minneapolis-St. Paul region has to offer.
Join the community
We are proud to serve you
The University of Minnesota's support of our military community goes back to the founding of the University in 1851. One of the original nine faculty members was Major General Richard W. Johnson and the University's first Professor of Military Science. Since then we have grown our military community, especially within graduate programs at Minnesota Carlson. We're proud to have strong representation, resources, and career outcomes for those who have served our nation.
Sources and Disclaimers
- U.S. News & World Report. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Rankings.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.