Growing up in Philadelphia, Gregory Schmidt spent a great deal of time offshore fishing, back bay fishing and being outdoors in Southern New Jersey.
“The Coast Guard has always been there, too,” he said. “It is unique because it has 11 statutory missions. One of the biggest ones is law enforcement.
“Being able to combine law enforcement with being on the water was a sell for me. I’ve been in the Coast Guard for 14 years this fall. It’s been great. It’s taken me all over the world.”
The military branch also guided him to Boise State University’s online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) program. Schmidt is set to graduate in August 2026.
“As part of the Coast Guard’s post-graduate program, they allow officers to apply for these master’s degree programs, go back into the Coast Guard and apply what they’ve learned once they’re done,” he said. “I have always been interested in furthering my education.”
Schmidt will also begin a new role as the training officer for the Coast Guard’s Maritime Law Enforcement Academy in Charleston, SC, in August. He added certificates in workplace performance improvement and workplace instructional design to his OPWL degree.
“Within the Human Performance Improvement field, I’ve always been interested in the training aspect and how it applies to all walks of life,” he said. “The topic has been on my radar since 2016 or so since I gained my commission and saw the direct impact this field has on organizational performance.”
With an option to pick between four schools for his degree, Schmidt said Boise State was the obvious choice.
“Boise State is No. 1 in working with the Coast Guard for over 20 years,” he said. “I have a lot of peers who went through the program at Boise State and spoke very highly of it. They said it aligns very well with the Coast Guard.
“I’m excited to go back into the fleet and apply the knowledge gained from the OPWL program and give back to the performance realm, which directly impacts our readiness. And it’s all free. I have three years to pay back the Coast Guard, which isn’t bad. I’ll take it.”
In good company
Schmidt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bob Jones University in 2010. He added a master’s degree in homeland security from American Military University 14 years later.
Since enrolling at Boise State in 2025, Schmidt has had company in the OPWL program. Two fellow Coast Guard members are his online classmates, including Blake George.
“There are three different time zones there, but it’s been good because it allowed us to work on some Coast Guard projects, specifically,” he said. “That’s been a really big benefit.
“It’s a little different from the first master’s I got, which was kind of piecemeal. The great thing about this program is it’s fully online. It’s been very flexible in terms of being able to get coursework done with a full-time schedule.”
Adult Learning, taught by Seth-Aaron Martinez, is Schmidt’s favorite course in the OPWL curriculum because of its real-world applicability.
“I like the way Professor Martinez teaches,” he said. “He uses the book he wrote for the course. Everything integrated so much into all of the aspects of the program. It was a great foundational course. There were a lot of things I was able to pull out of it that can be applied to the military.
“One of the biggest things is getting to know the OPWL program because I have no background in it. I have seen how a lot of the academic models, frameworks and mindset — especially in adult learning — are all interwoven. It’s easily transferable, so it’s very flexible. You can adapt it to your own framework, which I’ve already started to do.”
The information from the course provided Schmidt with the foundation for the next chapter of his military career.
“I’ve been able to see how the Coast Guard does it and how I will apply it personally to the military,” he said. “There are definitely differences between the military and civilian worlds. Our return on investment isn’t necessarily money; it’s people and productivity. Little things like that are good to see woven through. Adult learning has been a part of the entire process.”
Growth-centered education
Schmidt hasn’t ruled out attending Boise State’s commencement ceremony, although it’s the same month he starts his new position at the Coast Guard’s Maritime Law Enforcement Academy.
“This is one of my first shore duties I am going to, so there may be an opportunity,” he said. “The Coast Guard asks a lot from us sometimes, so when you have this opportunity to get an education, have a full year to learn it, then go back to using it, it’s neat to tell my family and friends about the opportunities the military provides.”
Whether or not he remains in the Coast Guard after his three-year commitment, Schmidt believes the OPWL degree will continue to provide opportunities for him in the future.
“I will have a lot of exposure to the managerial side, along with curriculum development and police development for law enforcement,” he said. “We will make sure we are instructing properly to meet the needs of the learner.
“Down the road, there could be a possibility of me going back and doing that in the Coast Guard. There’s a lot of networking through the Coast Guard and Boise State. I like being in the fleet and giving back. This degree and two certificates will open up those opportunities.”
Schmidt, who enjoys hunting, fishing and running marathons in his free time, is already enjoying his personal return on investment from the OPWL program.
“There are a lot of people in the program who have a lot of experience,” he said. “You can tap into their knowledge. It’s important to go in with an open mind and learn from others in the program. They’ve also been curious about the military.”
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.