By John Robert Morton, Student and Alumni Affairs Liaison, and Shawn Seguin, AMU Graduate
Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor the men and women who have served our nation and recognize the many ways they continue to make a difference long after their military service ends. For some veterans, that means transitioning into an entirely new career. For others, it means finding new ways to carry forward the mission of serving others.
After serving over 13 years in the United States Marine Corps, AMU alumnus Shawn Seguin has found a new way to serve former servicemembers. As an alumni manager with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), he helps his fellow veterans navigate and transition to life beyond their military service.
A Commitment to Supporting Fellow Veterans Began at Home
Shawn’s commitment to supporting fellow veterans is deeply personal. Due to his family legacy of serving the armed forces, he chose to join the Marines.
In 2010, Shawn was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. What followed was an incredibly difficult period in his life, one that brought him to the brink of suicide. During his recovery and care at Wounded Warrior Battalion–East, he witnessed the life-changing and potentially lifesaving support organizations like Wounded Warrior Project can provide.
“They changed my life and now I get to pay that forward every day.”
Following his medical retirement from the Marine Corps, Shawn knew he still had something meaningful to contribute. He applied for several positions with WWP, determined to continue serving the military community in a different capacity.
“I applied to multiple positions with WWP because I knew I still had something to give. My first manager took a chance on a Marine still out-processing during the interview period. Let’s just say I wore a suit jacket and tie up top, but my utility trousers and combat boots below.”
Seeking An Education
To build on his high school education, Shawn chose American Military University part of American Public University System (“AMU”). The flexibility of online learning allowed him to balance his military responsibilities, family life and personal goals.
“Balancing work, family, and personal goals isn’t easy, but the class scheduling and assignment timelines have been a huge help. The structure allowed me to keep learning without sacrificing my responsibilities,” Shawn adds.
Shawn is committed to lifelong learning. From AMU, he earned a bachelor’s degree in technical management with a concentration in project management and an undergraduate certificate in human resource management.
His educational journey is far from over, however. Shawn is currently working toward an undergraduate certificate in Microsoft® Office® Applications and a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. Shawn has also earned certifications in suicide intervention and event planning.
Each accomplishment has helped him grow professionally and strengthened his ability to support other people, including fellow veterans.
“Each new skill that I’ve learned directly improved how I support our warriors. I started as an outreach coordinator with WWP and advanced to outreach specialist. Now, I manage a team covering programs across six states.”
Some of his favorite courses at AMU were the courses focused on human resources (HR). Those courses provided valuable insight into the differences between military and civilian workforce environments.
“Coming from the military, HR was run very differently. I realized it was a blind spot in my leadership toolkit. AMU helped fill that gap, allowing me to apply my new knowledge immediately and support my team more effectively.”
Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders
For Shawn, leadership is about more than holding a position or achieving professional milestones. It is about helping others recognize their potential and succeed in achieving their own professional goals.
When asked what he finds most rewarding about his career, Shawn points to mentorship. “Seeing the people I’ve trained and led succeed whether they’re still serving in uniform or working in the civilian sector is the most rewarding part of my career.”
He also offers several pieces of advice for the next generation of servicemembers and professionals:
- “Be humble and a servant leader.”
- “Lead by example, put people first, and recognize that strong leadership is built on supporting others.”
- “Never stop learning.”
- “Sweat the small stuff, and the big stuff will fall into place.”
For Shawn, attention to detail matters. Taking care of the small things along the way can prevent larger complications and help create a foundation for success.
Finding New Challenges
Outside of his professional life, Shawn’s passion for cycling continues to push him toward new challenges. He recently completed a 350-mile ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., traveling along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal trails and ending at the Iwo Jima Memorial. The following day, Shawn participated in the Marine Corps Marathon.
Whether supporting fellow veterans, pursuing another educational milestone, mentoring others or challenging himself on the open road, Shawn embodies a commitment to keep moving forward.
His journey is a reminder that service does not end when military uniforms are retired. Sometimes, it simply takes on a new mission in supporting fellow veterans.
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About the Author
John Robert Morton is a Student & Alumni Affairs Liaison and has been with the University for 17 years. His bachelor’s degree in European history is from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He also completed master’s degrees in political science and sports management from American Military University. As a liaison, John Robert enjoys helping students and alumni achieve their personal and professional goals.
About Our Department
The AMU and APU Alumni Affairs Office is dedicated to sustaining lifelong relationships with university alumni by providing engaging opportunities to stay involved and connected. We work closely with various stakeholders to strengthen the alumni experience and offer numerous benefits, services, activities, and events throughout the year.
As a team, the Alumni Affairs team works to build and sustain relationships with alumni along their personal and professional journeys. We actively look for ways to recognize and showcase alumni, telling their stories to motivate and encourage students to pursue their goals.
If you are an alumni community member and looking for ways to remain actively involved, please get in touch with alumni@apus.edu and speak with a team member.
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