Navy veteran Brendan Pigott ’25 earned an MPA online through ODUGlobal while serving at Military Sealift Command and raising his young son.
For Navy veteran Brendan Pigott ’25, graduate school had to fit around a full-time mission.
As a civilian with Military Sealift Command in Norfolk, Pigott coordinates Navy logistics worldwide. He earned a master’s in public administration through ODUGlobal on December 13, 2025, while working and raising his 6-year-old son.
“Without the online option, there’s no way we could have done this during the workday,” Pigott said. “I never felt like a number. Faculty knew my name and background, answered questions quickly and made time by email, phone or Zoom.”
Pigott served six years on active duty as a surface warfare officer, deploying on the destroyer USS Chafee out of Pearl Harbor and later the Norfolk-based frigate USS Kauffman.
He completed a shore tour as an instructor at Officer Training Command in Rhode Island, then moved to the reserves. Pigott has now spent a decade at Military Sealift Command as a civilian.
“Without MSC, the Navy can’t operate efficiently,” Pigott said. “We have ships positioned globally to deliver water, fuel, food and equipment to (service members) wherever it’s needed.”
These years of practical experience now shape how he approaches decisions today.
“Having worked on ships, I understand what crews are considering,” he said. “When we make maintenance or scheduling calls, I can carry my own in conversations and think about how to help from shore.”
Pigott, who grew up in Medford, Massachusetts, commissioned after graduating from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He has lived in Norfolk for 10 years and said Old Dominion University’s presence is felt far beyond campus.
“ODU is part of the community,” he said. “I appreciate that the community leans on ODU, and ODU leans on the community in a good way.”
Pigott was part of a recent cohort of federal employees encouraged to pursue graduate study to bring new skills back to their commands. He noted that starting the program online allowed him to balance work, life and coursework. During this period, his coworker, David Schaeffer ’25 from Military Sealift Command, became a built-in study partner.
“We took the same classes at the same time and compared notes,” Pigott said. “Having that support helped a lot, and we’re paying it forward to colleagues who are just starting.”
Now, with his new degree, Pigott is seeing its impact at work.
“As a federal employee, you are in the thick of public policy and budget decisions,” he said. “The MPA gives me tools to do more for MSC and, by extension, for the Navy.”
Celebrating this achievement with family, Pigott’s sister, nephew, and son joined him for commencement celebrations. Pigott said his son was proud that his dad “goes to school,” even if it looks different from elementary school.
“Online learning made taking care of him very doable,” Pigott said. “I could study, do my normal job and still have time with my family. It was a very positive experience, and I felt the fullness of the program.”