Blake George faced his share of choppy waters before enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard more than 20 years ago.
“My parents were divorced and I didn’t graduate from high school,” he said. “I dropped out my freshman year, then got a GED and joined the military. Joining the Coast Guard was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
No kidding. In August 2026, George will graduate from Boise State University’s online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) program for his second master’s degree.
“I was working with analysis and doing level 1 and 3 evaluations and liked it,” he said. “I applied for the Human Performance Technology advanced education program, and I was honored to be accepted. There was only one spot available, and I was one of six applicants.
“After I graduate, I will be placed back into the training environment and do a payback tour of three years. I had to pick between a few schools. Right off the bat, I was attracted to Boise State because it was the strongest school.”
George chose the OPWL program because after working as a flight engineer and mechanic throughout his career, he landed a special training assignment in the bay area, where his wife, Laura, is from.
“There are three major training centers in the Coast Guard,” he said, “with Training Center Petaluma being one of them. Petaluma is home to roughly 40 different ‘A’ and ‘C’ schools, which provide technical training for our enlisted workforce. I served there as the Evaluation Officer within the Performance Systems Branch, and that is where I first learned about this program.”
George and his wife have three daughters — Chloe (8), Izzy (5) and Scarlett (3), so the flexibility of the online format is key to his return to higher education.
“The online platform is great,” he said. “I have really vibed with it. I have no complaints about the OPWL program or the platform.
Ship-shape recovery
George is from Denton, Texas, and joined the Coast Guard in 2005. During his tenure, he has spent time in Alaska, North Carolina, California, Washington, D.C., Hawaii and Washington state. He worked in VIP transport while in Washington, D.C.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science and Technology in Aviation Maintenance Technology from Thomas Edison State University in 2014, George added a Master of Business Administration from East Texas A&M University three years later. He enrolled at Boise State in August 2025.
“The first couple of weeks of the OPWL program I was a bit nervous because it had been eight years since I was in school,” he said. “I fell right into it. It’s been a good experience.”
So far, Principles of Adult Learning, taught by Seth-Aaron Martinez, is George’s favorite course in the online master’s degree program.
“It was about adult learning and how adults learn new concepts, which I found very interesting,” he said. “Dr. Martinez was an excellent instructor with a very successful background, and I really enjoyed the course.”
George believes the program is preparing him to hit the ground running with the three-year commitment after graduation.
“This is going to help me enormously, especially when I return to the training center,” he said. “There are very few people, particularly in senior leadership, with a background in human performance technology. Because of that, I’ll be expected to take the lead and run with projects when I get back.”
Smooth sailing
George has a strong support system in place from his family and friends as he works toward graduation day.
“They’ve been great,” he said. “They know this is an incredible opportunity, and honestly, I still can’t believe I was selected for the program. Boise State has been outstanding. My advisor, Brigitte Cammack, has been incredibly supportive, and everyone involved has been on point throughout the experience.”
“I slowly started building up my education after I joined the military. I’m so happy to report I’m going to graduate with a second master’s degree.”
During his time at Boise State, George also earned certificates in workplace instructional design and workplace performance improvement. He plans to stay in the Coast Guard as long as he can remain in Petaluma, CA.
“I’ll fulfill my commitment,” he said. “The Coast Guard typically moves people every three or four years, but I’m not planning on moving again. I’ll stay here until they tell me it’s time to move, and then I’ll retire. We love Petaluma. It’s about 40 minutes north of San Francisco, right in the heart of wine country.”
An avid golfer in his free time, George believes that time management is key to success as an OPWL online student.
“Another thing I love about this program is the flexibility,” he said. “I hustle Monday through Wednesday, and then I make time to go play golf on Thursday. You definitely have to carve out time for yourself and maintain some balance.”
“My wife and kids know that when I’m upstairs, I’m working on assignments,” he said. “I have to close the door and stay focused.”
George knows he made the right decision by choosing to enroll in Boise State’s online OPWL program.
“I would honestly tell anyone considering the program that they’re going to love it,” he said. “I truly have nothing negative to say about the experience. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me.”
Learn more about the Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning program
Earning an online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.