When Shay Boyd gets the golden bars of an Air Force second lieutenant pinned on her shoulders this spring, it will be the second time the Washington State University Online MBA student swears the military oath to defend the Constitution.
The first came shortly after she graduated high school in 2017, when she decided to follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. She wanted to serve, see the world, and earn a college degree — and the Air Force offered all three. What began as a way to travel and build a future evolved into a calling to lead. That calling led Boyd to WSU, where she joined Air Force ROTC, earned her business degree, and was recognized as a Top 10 Senior for the Class of 2025.
Boyd is among a small but growing group of prior enlisted service members who come to WSU to earn degrees and become commissioned military officers through ROTC. Her husband, Noah Boyd, is also part of the program, serving as wing vice commander. The couple met while serving on active duty and will be commissioned together this spring.
“Noah was actually the one who first planned to do ROTC,” she said with a laugh. “His dad was prior enlisted and went officer through ROTC, and he recommended it. Once I saw what it could offer, I thought, ‘Well, I can do that too.’”
According to Lt. Col. Jeramy Norland, professor of military science and head of WSU’s Army ROTC program, that background gives future officers valuable perspective.
“It gives them an understanding of what life is like for the people they’ll lead — of mutual respect and dignity regardless of rank,” Norland said. “That perspective is key to developing the highest-quality leaders.”
WSU values its veterans
At WSU, Boyd found a community that understands the unique challenges of military life. The university serves hundreds of veterans and active-duty service members each year through flexible online programs, dedicated advising via Veterans & Military-Affiliated Student Services (VMASS), and leadership opportunities in its Air Force and Army ROTC detachments.
U.S. News & World Report considers WSU among the best in the nation for its veteran support, this year ranking the university’s Global Campus 10th in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, while also giving nods to its online MBA and engineering programs. For Boyd, that support made the transition from active duty to student life seamless.
“WSU overall has been super helpful throughout my education journey,” Boyd said. “VMASS made sure all my benefits were processed correctly, and the Carson College of Business has been really accommodating whenever I’ve had drill or training. Everyone’s been so understanding of the military side of things.”
Boyd graduated early with her undergraduate degree but needed to remain a full-time student for one more year to complete her ROTC program. Taking the advice of Carson College’s Director of Master’s Programs Matt Beer, she enrolled in the Carson College of Business Online MBA program. The decision allowed her to continue ROTC training on the Pullman campus while gaining management and finance skills she expects will serve her well as an officer.
“It’s flexible enough to balance with ROTC and Guard commitments,” Boyd said, “and I can already see how what I’m learning — from leadership to budgeting — will apply to the Air Force.”
Now in her final year with WSU’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 905, Boyd serves as training group readiness commander, overseeing the preparation of first- and second-year cadets. The role has pushed her to grow as a leader and mentor.
“We have labs every Thursday where we teach the freshman and sophomore cadets what they’ll need for field training,” she said. “I’m in charge of making sure everyone is ready to go — and it’s been fun and challenging. It’s a lot of learning, but it’s also rewarding to see how much progress they make.”
A new mission ahead
Boyd’s next step will take her into acquisitions management, where she’ll be responsible for purchasing and managing equipment and resources for the Air Force — overseeing all aspects of the process, from implementing engineering to securing final shipping, to ensure that necessary equipment and supplies get where they need to be anywhere in the world. “Essentially, I’ll be buying things on base — everything from helmets to weapons contracts depending on where I’m stationed. I love shopping, so I think it’s going to be a great fit,” she joked.
She and her husband recently learned they will be stationed at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Before that, Noah will attend training at Hurlburt Field in Florida while she trains at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
Her decision to pursue a commission, Boyd said, came from a desire to make positive changes within the service she loves and to help others, especially enlisted servicemen and women whose shoes she once filled. “There were things I thought could be improved, leadership-wise,” she said. “I saw some gaps and thought, ‘Why not try to fix those for people coming in later?’”
Growing up in a multigenerational Air Force family, Boyd was inspired by her grandfather’s stories of traveling the world and always had a profound respect for the military. Her own enlisted service deepened that connection — especially her time in the base honor guard, where she participated in ceremonies honoring veterans and fallen service members.
“It was incredibly meaningful,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the family’s first or last impression of the military and being part of that was something I’ll never forget.”
Boyd sees her upcoming commission not as an ending, but as the beginning of a new mission — one built on leadership, service, and the lessons she’s learned at WSU.
“WSU has been there for me every step of the way,” she said. “I’ve met so many incredible people through ROTC and my classes. Being part of that Cougar spirit — especially at the football games, holding the flags on the field — has been amazing. I couldn’t have imagined a better place to prepare for what’s next.”
