Captain Ryan Jacobs, call sign “Turtle,” is a dedicated member of the United States Air Force who excels with honors wherever he lands. When he was ready to earn his master’s degree, he knew The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business had the reputation to match his ambition, and UA Online was the vehicle to get him there.
As a high school football player in Arlington, Texas, Ryan was an excellent kicker, which gave him a choice of a few Division I schools for college. He chose the United States Air Force Academy, earning the Distinguished Management Major Award with his bachelor’s degree.
Ryan’s first duty station was Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. While there, his leadership dubbed him “Turtle” for his similarities to a memorable character in the 1987 film “North Shore.” More than a character, it’s a name reflective of his character — humble, dedicated, steadfast.
Turtle’s youngest sister and a high school teammate were both attending The University of Alabama, and he regularly made the 4.5-hour drive to Tuscaloosa for games and visits. It was during these visits that Turtle began to experience UA’s standard of excellence.
“I wanted my master’s degree for career progression. It was important to not only invest in myself but to have that stamp of approval. I wanted to be a part of Alabama. It’s very affordable and offers good benefits to military members, both active duty and veteran.”
He was introduced to Dr. Buster Allaway, former director of the MS in Marketing program and a fellow USAFA cadet and football player. With Dr. Allaway’s guidance and familiarity with his needs, Turtle enrolled in the MS in Marketing, concentration in Marketing Analytics program through UA Online.
“He and I started connecting right off the bat. We were talking all the time, and he got me super fired up. He gave me a lot of good direction. I was more comfortable doing the MBA route, but Dr. Alloway challenged me: ‘You might be a little uncomfortable doing some of the stat stuff, some of the coding stuff, but I think there’s more value added for your specific situation.’”
The UA Online format proved to be the perfect fit.
“I have to travel a lot for my job. The teachers were super flexible and accommodating,” Turtle recalled. “Most of the time we met at night if we met at all, or they provided the material well in advance so that folks can tune in, watch it later or get ahead of the curve.”
He completed his degree within two years. It has made him competitive in a field of highly educated, highly qualified officers, many with engineering backgrounds in the USAF acquisition world. He was restationed in Baltimore and moved into a new joint acquisitions program manager role with the Army, feeling more confident and well rounded in what he brings to the organization.
And he stayed in touch with the professor who challenged and encouraged him along the way.
“I've kept up with Dr. Allaway. It's been years since I was in his class. Then he puts me in for the 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Awards. It’s a huge, huge honor. These professors put a lot of effort in — late nights, early mornings — to try to help you learn.”
Turtle continued to soar above the rest in 2024, receiving a distinguished one-year appointment as aide-de-camp to the commander for Lieutenant General Donna D. Shipton in the Air Force Life Cyle Management Center at Wright-Patterson AFB.
As aide-de-camp to the commander, Turtle employed the knowledge gained through his master’s degree to serve the general, translating technical and analytical information into effective decision-making.
The center oversees 5,100 programs with a budget of $367B. Turtle, in support of Lt. Gen. Shipton and the Center team, understood the size and scope to adequately manage taxpayer dollars for the Department of Defense — a responsibility he felt prepared for due to the critical thinking skills developed at UA.
“It requires me to think through a statistical lens to make sure we’re making data-driven decisions. But I also have to think through a marketing lens to ‘sell’ the program, whether for appropriate Congressional funding, to leadership for prioritization or to end users to fulfill capability gaps.” As Turtle’s appointment neared its end, he prepared for a competitively selective special deployment. He plans to foster the relationships he’s made along the way, continuing to be mentored by Lt. Gen. Shipton, Dr. Allaway and even the officers who dubbed him “Turtle.”
“I learned from UA that even though I had professors for a semester, I can always call them. You can always reach back if you need help. Or if you're a veteran looking for a new opportunity. Or you have a sibling that is potentially interested in UA. You learn stats, you learn marketing, but it's the people that make it so great and special.”
It's a quality that was evident when his youngest sister introduced him to The University of Alabama and one that also attracted both his other sister and his wife, who are now enrolled in programs through UA Online.
Are you ready to take off like Turtle? Step toward your opportunity with UA Online.