From the Navy to Real Estate: How an Online MBA Helped Jeff Martino Find His Next Mission

After six years as a U.S. Navy supply officer, including two overseas deployments and a role in San Diego, Jeff Martino (MBA 2023) had already built the kind of career experience most people chase for decades. He managed logistics for Navy helicopters, worked closely with allied nations, and navigated international supply chain operations.

“I got to see the world, meet incredible people from all different backgrounds, and take on a lot of responsibility early on,” Martino says. “Serving in the Navy was a tremendous opportunity.”

But as he approached the next chapter of his career, he asked himself a new question: What’s next?

“I knew I didn’t want to make the Navy my entire career,” he recalls. “It was a strong foundation, but I wanted to explore what else I could do, maybe even have two or three different careers in my lifetime.”

Discovering the right MBA program at Foster

Martino began exploring online MBA programs while still on active duty.

“I looked at some master’s programs in supply chain and finance,” he says, “but I liked that an MBA would give me exposure to all the major business functions. I studied economics as an undergrad and wanted to continue building on that.”

Though he grew up in Atlanta, the University of Washington had long been on his radar. He identified the Foster School of Business as his top choice. Foster’s two-year Hybrid MBA is tailored for people like him: working full-time, planning their next career move, and seeking a primarily online format. Close to 95% of the program is completed online.

When Martino started Foster’s Hybrid MBA program, he was stationed in San Diego and serving as a supply officer at Naval Air Station North Island. He was also on active duty, juggling a full-time job with coursework.

“Balancing everything — military duties, school, my home life — was no small task,” he says. “There were a lot of long nights, early mornings, and weekends spent studying. My wife, Colleen, and I made sacrifices. There were social gatherings and weekend trips I just couldn’t take because I had to study.”

But the program’s format made it doable. Foster’s Hybrid MBA program’s classes are held in the evening Pacific Time. Once a quarter, students participate in Immersions, consisting of an in-person three-day weekend in Seattle, where students get to know one another in person. The format gave Martino the flexibility to earn his degree while working full-time.

“If you’re thinking about what’s next after the military, I can’t recommend Foster’s Hybrid MBA enough,” he says. “It’s the perfect balance. You can be stationed anywhere in the U.S. and still be fully engaged.”

Pivoting from supply chain to real estate

About halfway through the program, Martino completed a SkillBridge internship at Boeing to explore civilian supply chain work and then transitioned out of the Navy. But around the same time, something else started clicking.

“I kept finding myself drawn to real estate,” he says. “That’s what I liked talking about and learning about the most, and I realized I wanted to make a career out of it.”

Midway through the MBA program, Martino joined Prophia, a Seattle commercial real estate software company. Then, in 2023, he and his wife moved to Albany, New York, to be closer to family. He not only found a new hometown to love but also an opportunity to go all-in on real estate. He secured a commercial real estate broker role, focusing on multifamily, office, and industrial properties there.

“I love that real estate is both analytical and creative,” he says. “The numbers need to work, but there’s also a human side. You have to understand what’s happening socially and economically to really believe in an investment.”

Coursework that pays off

Martino points to accounting and finance classes as some of the most valuable parts of the online MBA program.

“I use what I learned in those classes almost daily,” he says. “The classes gave me the foundation I needed to analyze deals and communicate with investors and clients.”

He credits Foster Professors Tracy Seslen and Lance Young for delivering material in a way that stuck.

“They helped me realize I actually like finance,” he says, smiling. “That was a great sign I was heading in the right direction.”

In his work today, Martino frequently uses that knowledge to speak the language of investors and business leaders, whether he’s modeling a deal or understanding how a company’s supply chain influences its real estate needs.

Learning how to network

One of Martino’s most transformative experiences didn’t come from a classroom — it came from Foster’s career services.

Foster’s career management team helped him learn how to reframe his personal brand, translate his military experience for a civilian job market, and build meaningful professional connections.

“I didn’t even know how to use LinkedIn when I started,” he says with a smile. “My photo was still of me in my Navy uniform.”

The career team helped him update his profile, craft outreach messages, and develop a habit of setting up informational interviews.

“At one point, I was speaking with two to three people a week,” he says. “I never would have done that without their guidance.”

He also appreciated how the career services team shared their own networks of Foster grads to help students connect.

“They would open up their LinkedIn during a session and say, ‘Do you want me to introduce you to this alum who works in a similar role?’ That made a huge impression,” Martino recalls.

MBA immersions in Seattle

At Foster, Hybrid MBA students gather in person each quarter for a multi-day immersion in Seattle. For Martino, these sessions were energizing.

“Every time I flew from San Diego to Seattle, it felt like a mini vacation for my brain,” he says. “I’d use a different part of myself, meet new people, and come home feeling exhausted but fulfilled.”

It was also a way to feel like a “real” MBA student, even while balancing professional and military responsibilities.

“You get out of it what you put in,” he says. “And those MBA immersions gave me the full experience I was hoping for.”

Relationships built over Zoom become real

Despite the online format of the Hybrid MBA, Martino says he never felt disconnected from his classmates.

“The key is showing up,” he says. “Every Hybrid MBA immersion, I’d get there early, grab breakfast, and talk to people. I went to all the after-hours events. I connected with them first in person. That’s how you build relationships.”

He’s still close with many classmates, who regularly network and share life updates in a group chat.

“We’ve celebrated weddings, babies, and job changes together,” he says. “Those relationships have lasted. In the program, we learned from each other and relied on each other’s strengths. That has translated into strong relationships after graduation.”

One project from the program still stands out. During a marketing class, Martino’s team had to deliver a video pitch for a product. Since everyone was scattered across the country, they recorded clips remotely.  

“We were tasked with an open-ended prompt on how to brand and market a product. We put together a presentation on how to best leverage each of the five senses: touch, light, smell, taste, and feel. Joel Day, a gifted filmmaker from our team, created something that uniquely captured the essence of our team—quirky yet equally effective. The video captured the way strong teams work together. It was one of those moments that made me feel like we were together, even across distance.”

Advice for veterans: Start talking, stay curious

Martino has two pieces of advice for other active duty service members considering an MBA.

“First, talk to as many people as you can,” he says. “Some in the MBA program, some in the industry you’re curious about. You’ll learn what’s possible and start to figure out what inspires you.”

Second, he says, start a habit of reading business news every morning.

“Read the Wall Street Journal, your local business journal — whatever you can get your hands on,” he says. “Pay attention to the stories that pull you in. That’s one of the ways you’ll figure out what kind of work and what industry is the right fit for you.”

That simple advice helped him find his way from military logistics to a career in commercial real estate — one that taps both his analytical skills and creative instincts.

“I feel fortunate,” Martino says. “The Navy gave me a strong foundation, and the Foster MBA gave me the tools and the confidence to build something new.”

Learn more about pursuing an online MBA at the University of Washington Foster School of Business here.