The Faces of CSU
Deric Richardson
Winston, Georgia
...he can serve in the U.S. military and earn his degree at the same time.
Deric Richardson has been a member of the U.S. military for the past 20 years. He currently serves in the Georgia Army National Guard and is working towards a degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University (CSU) – all at the same time.
While under traditional guardsmen status, Richardson worked weekends for the military and served as a firefighter for the Henry County Fire Department near Atlanta, Georgia during the week. When he returned to active status guardsmen, he was no longer able to work for the fire department; instead, he applied for Tuition Assistance through the military and began searching for universities with fire science degrees. CSU was the perfect fit. Not only did Richardson receive academic credit for his military and civilian experience, but he was able to work on his degree in the field he loved while serving his country.
“As I inch closer to retirement, I wanted to have a degree to back me up as for potential job opportunities,” Richardson said. “After I complete my bachelor's degree, I look forward to beginning a master's degree in public administration with CSU.”
Recently, Richardson was chosen as the Non-commissioned Officer Academy Distinguished Honor Graduate and is an Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army Chemical School.
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