Golden Gate University logo above the text “U.S. Military Spotlight,” the name “Drew Austin,” and the subtitle “On both sides of the desk.” Circular photo of a smiling man in a dark dress uniform and black beret, standing in front of a white wooden wall beside a window.

Drew is on both sides of the desk

Published

November 9th, 2026

Tags

Military, Army

U.S. Army veteran · MBA, Human Resource Management and Public Administration concentrations

Drew served 20 years in the U.S. Army in both enlisted and officer roles. He started as an Infantryman and a Patriot Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer, then commissioned and served as an Armor Officer and a Human Resources Officer. His most memorable assignment was Operations/Administration Officer for the U.S. Army Northern California Recruiting Battalion, where he worked with 247 NCOs and 27 civilians and helped develop the next generation of Army leaders.

After retiring from the Army, he wanted to keep growing personally and professionally, and school was a way to build on his military experience. He’s now pursuing his MBA with concentrations in human resource management and public administration, with an eye toward leadership roles where he can keep serving others.

Drew also sees GGU from the other side of the desk. As an onboarding coach at the Helen Diller Center, he helps new military-connected students get started while going through the same experience himself.


“I’m not only one of your onboarding coaches, but I’m also going through the GGU student experience alongside you,” Drew told new students at fall orientation.


 

The message he gives them is one he lives: you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.

Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University (GGU) is a private, nonprofit university anchored in San Francisco and serving more than 19,000 students worldwide. GGU is reimagining higher education for the future of work as the world’s first AI-focused, global, multilingual university.