Falcon Futures: From military service to public service, veteran finds new career path at UW-River Falls

Ronald Owen has had to chart a new course more than once in his life. After graduating from St. Croix Central High School in Hammond in 2009, Owen enlisted in the U.S. Navy, working as a Navy corpsman at medical centers in Virginia and California and serving two deployments to Afghanistan. His path then took some twists and turns before he earned his bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in May and began a new career in late August as a geographic information systems (GIS) analyst for the Southwest Florida Water Management District. 

After he was discharged from the Navy in 2014, Owen enrolled at a university, majoring in health and human performance and joining the football team. But just two plays into an early scrimmage, he suffered a serious concussion.

“That ended my contact sport athletic career right there,” Owen said. 

Feeling he was more an athlete than a scholar, he put his education on hold for a bit and joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

While living in Eau Claire, Owen began taking classes at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC), but he decided return to active duty in the Army in 2018 and put school on hold again. Owen served three years with an infantry division in Georgia before injuries to his back and knee led to medical retirement. 

“At the ripe old age of 32, I had to kind of rediscover what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Owen said. “I had invested so much in myself in military service that I had to really think about what the next step would be for me.” 

Owen decided to make another go at his education and enrolled at CVTC in River Falls. While taking a class in environmental science, his instructor recommended he read a book by biologist, naturalist, ecologist and entomologist E.O. Wilson titled “Letters to a Young Scientist.” 

“That book sparked my curiosity about how humans interact with the Earth,” Owen said. “It got me thinking not only about earth science and the animals that inhabit our planet, but also about people and why they make the decisions they do.” 

Graduating with honors in 2023 showed Owen he was capable of more than he originally thought.

“Graduating from CVTC that first time was kind of this feeling of, ‘I can do this. I can apply myself. I’m more than what I had labeled myself before,’” he said.

Through CVTC’s University Transfer Program, Owen then applied and was accepted at UWRF, majoring in geology. But his course took yet another turn while he was on a trip with the geology program to Joshua Tree National Park. 

“I had deployed to Afghanistan in largely desert regions,” Owen said. “For the first time ever, I had a pretty severe flashback. It shook me up pretty badly.”

Owen withdrew from school for a short period but he found his professors were very supportive in helping him figure out what would be best for him. He kept thinking about a way he could pursue his interest in the ways humans interact with the earth. A professor suggested geography with a GIS emphasis. The discipline would allow him to study the ways GIS data can be used to make better choices and help solve problems like food deserts or water shortages. 

“I took the introductory GIS course and just thought, ‘I think this is it. I’m pretty sure this is what I want to do,’” Owen said. “I have a background in wanting to provide a service, to give to somebody else. It has kind of always been that way.” 

While his studies were going well, Owen felt unprepared for a civilian job search. His most recent resume had been created on a floppy disk in high school. Owen turned to UWRF Career Services, who helped him update his resume and cover letter and practice interviewing for jobs.

After graduating in May, Owen applied for a position as a GIS analyst with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, a government agency whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks and ensure the public's water needs are met. The job, based in Brooksville, Fla., just north of Tampa, seemed a good match for his new skills and his desire to serve. As one of over 100 applicants, Owen was skeptical that he would be selected, but his efforts paid off with a job offer.

“I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity,” he said. “One, I get to begin a new career in service. Two, I get to put to work the education that I worked hard to get.” 

Owen said he hopes his story will encourage others who may be struggling to keep moving forward, especially those who think it is too late to finish their education.

“You can step away from it for years and when you come back, there’s going to be somebody who’s excited that you’re there,” he said. 

Read more Falcon Futures stories.

Photo: 2026 UW-River Falls graduate Ronald Owen stands near the Kinnickinnic River in downtown River Falls in August. Owen, a U.S. Navy, Wisconsin National Guard and U.S. Army veteran, recently began a new career as a geographic information systems (GIS) analyst for the Southwest Florida Water Management District. UWRF photo.