Veteran Rene Anderson shares mission-focused journey at UTSA

MAY 5, 2025 — This month, retired U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Rene Anderson will graduate with a master’s degree in management of technology, capping off a journey fueled by determination, discipline and family inspiration. His decision to pursue graduate school at UTSA wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a shared mission, sparked by watching his daughter, a junior at UTSA and future Air Force officer, thrive in her own college journey.

“Just seeing all the amazing things she was doing made me want to be part of something again,” Anderson shared. “I missed the team atmosphere that I had in the military. Listening to her talk about her daily experiences on campus — that’s what brought me here.” 

With a 3.8 GPA, Anderson has excelled academically, and he’s redefined what it means to lead and learn later in life. “I love innovation and systems thinking,” he said. “When I looked into UTSA’s Management of Technology program, it felt like the perfect fit — technical, strategic and flexible for someone like me.” 

Anderson’s academic path began long before UTSA. He earned his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, but it wasn’t a conventional college experience.

“I started my undergrad in 2016, but because of deployments, moves and military life, it took years to finish,” he said. “Still, I tell people it doesn’t matter how long it takes — what matters is that you keep moving forward.” 

That same mindset carried Anderson into graduate school. Despite life’s many demands, Anderson found joy in the academic process, especially the in-person classes and group projects that allowed him to engage deeply with peers. “There’s something about learning from others that pushes you to grow,” he said. “The way UTSA fosters collaboration and critical thinking made me better, not just academically, but personally.”

Anderson’s military background continues to influence his leadership philosophy. He often refers to the S1–S4 model of leadership, a framework that empowers team members based on their skill and motivation levels.

“In the Air Force, we always said, ‘Take care of your people, and they’ll take care of the mission.’ I believe that in business too,” he said. “If you focus on the individual, the results will follow.” 

At UTSA, Anderson found ways to put that belief into practice. He volunteered to serve as a mentor in his college’s inaugural Alvarez Mentoring Program. “To me, it’s not about being called a mentor; it’s about having conversations, sharing knowledge and learning in return,” he said. “The student I was paired with, she taught me just as much as I may have taught her.” 

Anderson’s daughter inspired him to pursue a master’s degree at UTSA.

Anderson’s passion for mentorship is rooted in gratitude for those who guided him throughout his career. “I am who I am today because someone took the time to invest in me,” he said. “Now, I want to pay that forward.”

As he looks ahead to life after graduation, Anderson is focused on applying his skills and knowledge in the San Antonio area, particularly in emerging technologies like AI and continuous process improvement. “I didn’t pursue this degree just for a title,” he said. “I pursued it because I love to learn. If we can understand technology better, we can use it to work smarter and live better.”

Graduating, he said, is a moment of reflection and a launching point. “A great mentor once told me, ‘You’ve achieved this. Now what?’ It’s okay to pause and recognize your accomplishment, but you have to keep going,” he said. “A body in motion stays in motion.” 

To other veterans or nontraditional students considering a return to school, Anderson offers a powerful analogy. “Think of the safety briefing on a plane. If oxygen masks drop, you’re told to put yours on first before helping others. It might feel selfish, but you can’t help anyone else if you don’t take care of yourself first. Going back to school is that oxygen mask. It’s okay to choose growth.”

When asked to sum up his UTSA experience in one word, Anderson didn’t hesitate. “Fantástico,” he said. “San Antonio is such a diverse, welcoming city, and UTSA reflects that. Everyone here brings their own piece to the puzzle. And when we come together, we create something whole.”

— Rebekah Alegria