A Force for Students
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Adreana Freeman-Irons, is earning a Master of Public Administration and Leadership to prepare her for a civilian career after she retires from the military.
By Joan Slattery Wall
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Adreana Freeman-Irons’ core values and beliefs have always aligned with those of a public servant — integrity, commitment and a desire to give more than she takes.
Meet the 2025 Service to Service Fellows
This fall the college welcomed its first cohort of Service to Service Fellows, who will gain access to exceptional public service education, personalized career support, internship opportunities and a national network of passionate, talented individuals who are seeking to drive positive change.
Freeman-Irons also is among the first cohort of Glenn College Service to Service Fellows, who will gain access to exceptional public service education, personalized career support, internship opportunities and a national network of passionate, talented individuals who are seeking to drive positive change.
She serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 72d Mission Support Group at Tinker Air Force Base, providing leadership to nearly 1,500 personnel across three squadrons: the Force Support Squadron, Logistics Readiness Squadron and Security Forces Squadron. Together, these units deliver installation support functions including security and law enforcement, logistics, supply, transportation, readiness planning and military and civilian personnel services.
I believe in the power of local leadership to create real, lasting change — and I want to be a catalyst for that.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tim Donohue, John Glenn College of Public Affairs student, is a Service to Service Fellow and recipient of support from the General Dynamics Scholarship Fund
Another Service to Service Fellow, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tim Donohue, an instructor of military strategy and policy at the United States Military Academy at West Point, also received a scholarship from the General Dynamics fund. He plans to retire from the military in 2028 and transition into the public or nonprofit spaces.
“I am pursuing a Master of Public Administration and Leadership degree. This support affords me the flexibility to pursue the maximum course load and make the most of my time here,” said Donohue. “I know that this program will help me successfully transition from the Army to the public management sector, in which I intend to work following graduation. I am building knowledge and an understanding of the public sector roles I will be entering.”
About Endowed Scholarships
Once established, an endowed fund is a dependable and perpetual source of support, since the principal is invested and only a portion of the earnings is spent annually.
Discuss your gift with Glenn College Development Director, Stephanie Mohr, and learn more about ways to support the Glenn College.
Through employment, community investment and employee engagement, General Dynamics maintains a reputation as an industry-recognized, military-friendly employer. The company dedicates specific outreach to thousands of veterans, reservists, National Guard members, military spouses and caregivers. Military veterans make up 19% of the U.S. workforce at the company.
“As a military-friendly employer, we have long recognized the incredible skill and dedication to the mission that former servicemembers bring to the workplace,” Berg said.
We are honored to partner with the Glenn College to continue developing this important source of talent.
Abby Cumming-Vukovic, an undergraduate honors public management, leadership and policy student
Last spring, Abby Cumming-Vukovic, an undergraduate honors public management, leadership and policy student, was a government relations intern for General Dynamics through the college’s Washington Academic Internship Program.
“As I began to understand the wide range of issues the Government Relations team worked with, I felt incredibly grateful that they were willing to take a chance on me,” Cumming-Vukovic said. “The combination of a close-knit team and engagement on Capitol Hill made it clear that this was exactly the kind of environment where I could perform at my best. In this position, there was significant room for professional growth, mentorship and responsibility for me, which was something I was searching for throughout placement.”
Abby Cumming-Vukovic, fourth from left, takes a tour of a General Dynamics Electric Boat facility in Groton, Connecticut, with the Government Relations team she worked with during her internship, including Betsy Schmid, senior vice president of government relations and communications, fourth from right.
“Abby did a tremendous job working in our Capitol Hill office and bringing a work ethic and level of knowledge that made her a valuable part of our Government Relations team,” said Betsy Schmid, senior vice president of government relations and communications. “She hit the ground running and was able to make significant contributions to our mission of keeping Congress informed about the vital national security programs that General Dynamics is a part of.”
“We are now in our fifth year of having Ohio State interns working here and have been extremely impressed with the quality of students,” Schmid added. “Clearly, Ohio State has prepared them well to be successful in the fast-paced D.C. environment where there is very little time for on-the-job training.”
After she graduates this spring, Cumming-Vukovic, currently a legal intern with the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center, will begin her MPA-DC degree with the Glenn College.
“My long-term career goal is to work at the intersection of law and public policy in a role that advances equitable outcomes,” she said. “I’m drawn to positions that let me take what I’ve learned about how decisions are made at the federal level and connect it to the local communities those decisions affect.”