Daniel H. | Leland

Daniel H.

Military to Ph.D. Transition | Ex-Navy Nuclear Officer | MBA and MEM

Studied at Colorado State University

Works at American Systems

Available today at 9:30 PM UTC

Protected by the Leland Experience Guarantee

Available today at 9:30 PM UTC

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

Daniel's Coaching Offerings

Military to STEM Ph.D.

$1,2608h of coaching

Custom hourly · $175/hr

Get help with Interview Prep, Financial Planning, and .

Daniel also coaches for Science & Research, PhD Programs, and Publishing & Writing. View all.

Daniel’s Transitioning from the Military Qualifications

Coaches professionally

Experience level: Executive

I have an MBA and a Master of Engineering Management, which allow me to work at the intersection of strategy, operations, finance, and technical delivery. I also hold technical certifications aligned with execution and governance (PMP, CSM, ITIL v4, COP, CPCM, CFCM). Hard technical skills include SysML and MBSE (ystem modeling and requirements traceability) Python and R (data analysis and modeling), and quantitative methods for cost, risk, and performance assessment.

Daniel can help with:

Interview Prep

Financial Planning

Professional Networking

Resume Review

Personal Branding

Veterans Affairs

Job Search Strategies

Leadership Development

Career Transition

Daniel also coaches for Science & Research, PhD Programs, and Publishing & Writing. View all.

About Daniel

I'm a military veteran who followed a conventional path after service: technical roles, then an MBA to move into leadership and strategy. The MBA did its job: It put me in rooms where decisions were made and taught me how organizations evaluate risk, cost, and credibility. What it did not do was satisfy the part of me that wanted to build original knowledge and be the person others rely on for technical judgment. That realization is what pushed me toward a STEM PhD and a career as a principal researcher and subject matter expert. What I offer comes directly from that path. I help people, especially transitioning military veterans, decide if a PhD is right for them. I also help technical teams compel decision makers to fund their product or idea, having won millions in funding for clients. When I work with people, I help them decide whether a PhD makes sense, what kind of program fits their background, and how to explain their story. I care about helping people make choices they will not regret and show up prepared for what a career as a technical expert looks like (hint: it's not just boring, number crunching in a lab!).

Why do I coach?

I coach because I saw a valid, but narrow version of success repeatedly presented to veterans and technical professionals, and I followed it myself. After the Navy, the MBA path was clearly marked and widely encouraged. I pursued it because it made sense, it was legible to employers, and it translated service into business language. What was less visible was the path toward deep technical authority and long-term intellectual ownership. That gap is what led me toward a technical Ph.D. and toward coaching. More importantly, my experience in the Navy shaped how I think about work and identity. I learned to take responsibility early and to explain complex situations clearly. Leaving that environment, I saw many veterans and engineers feel pressured to simplify themselves to fit familiar corporate paths, even when their strengths pointed elsewhere. I coach because I want people to see more options, especially those whose background gives them the curiosity to do serious technical work. Sometimes the right next step is a role change, sometimes it's clearer positioning, and sometimes it's choosing a path like a PhD, that is less advertised for veterans, but highly lucrative and rewarding, when done strategically!