Dr. Kekai Namauu Discusses the Value of Innovative Learning Platforms and “Nontraditional” Colleges
“Having the flexibility and the agility to turn and bend and readjust to changes in the technology field is critical to the way we educate now and in the future.”
– Dr. Kekai Namauu, Air Force veteran, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner who recently sat down with SBE Council to discuss the evolution of higher education in America.
Namauu’s Post-Military Career is a Model for Today’s Veterans
Dr. Namauu is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a cybersecurity expert whose businesses focuses on getting veterans the skills and professional certifications they need to succeed as they transition to civilian life. Last week Dr. Namauu joined the SBE Council “Growth Without Barriers” podcast to discuss his own educational journey and why innovative approaches to education are an important tool to help veterans and other non-traditional learners fill critical labor gaps in our economy.
The discussion also focused on the ways in which COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the widespread adoption of these non-traditional approaches, making education more attainable for those who would have previously been unable to attend college.
SBE Council views this as a great example of the market – powered by innovative technologies – meeting people where they are. With significant jobs shortages in the American tech sector, and in critical areas such as cybersecurity, it’s clear that we need to find new and diverse ways to educate, train, and certify the workforce of tomorrow. Dr. Namauu is a testament to alternative approaches.
After leaving school in the tenth grade and obtaining his GED, Dr. Namauu enlisted in the Air Force, where he availed himself of every educational opportunity provided in exchange for his service. He then built multiple successful businesses that help other veterans succeed. Learn about his company, Namauu Technological & Industrial.
But Congress and Regulators are Considering Changes that Would Limit Military Educational Benefits
Dr. Namauu is like many veterans who joined the military to take advantage of the education benefits they earn in return for their service. Many of them use these benefits to attend online schools that offer flexible scheduling options and military friendly credit options. Unfortunately, legislators on Capitol Hill and regulators in the Department of Education (DOE) are pursuing measures that would limit educational choice for veterans and other non-traditional learners.
Specifically, they are considering changes to the 90/10 rule that would target proprietary institutions that are popular with veterans, by placing new limits on the way veterans can use their earned educational benefits to pursue the education that best suits them.
We believe this heavy-handed and backward-thinking approach will stifle innovation and limit opportunities for those seeking economic empowerment through education. In addition, intrusive and unnecessary regulation will hurt our nation’s effort to build a skilled workforce, which is holding back recovery and harming competitiveness and growth in key sectors. In July 2021, SBE Council submitted testimony to the DOE communicating this important message. As SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan noted in her written testimony:
As the chief advocate for SBE Council, I see and hear first-hand the direct impact that education policies have on the small business community, and on U.S. entrepreneurship in general. Inclusive education facilitates small business growth, new business creation, opportunity and U.S. innovation. The education of all Americans – at every stage of their lives – is critical to imparting relevant and practical skills and experiences that directly support America’s small businesses. In the modern economy – and especially given the transformative changes brought on by COVID-19 – education and training must be flexible, and a variety of innovative institutions and classrooms must be encouraged to help meet new and ever-changing market demands.
Dr. Namauu also provided testimony where he noted:
The 90/10 rule continues to be mischaracterized as a “loophole” when it is a benefit that veterans have earned. Most importantly, these mischaracterizations hinder our veteran’s ability to making choices to an education program that are tailored to their needs. It should be up to the veteran to choose his or her program based on his or her flexibility and needs because every veteran has gone through different experiences while serving in the military.
SBE Council will continue to monitor developments in this space, and work to advocate for innovative education models to ensure that financial and economic security is attainable for all Americans. For now, please listen to Dr. Namauu’s motivational story, and his advocacy work on behalf of innovative businesses and opportunities for our veterans.