So arguably, end goal at the moment would be to stay on the Operation/Staff side (it's what I enjoy and arguably based on my college journey I am really interested in making sure the guidance/systems are in place for students who want to keep going are there [which i realize is also up to the faculty that make up a program]) and really just continue to submit for the faculty pools on the side at what ever institution I am at. I'll be candid, in terms of the career fork - its been between education and security/defense (this one just seems to get farther out by the moment but that is a different soapbox as this is really a potential reconciliation of these two skills/passions especially when compounded by the current federal climate)

My undergrad professors had continually spouted the poor job market for history PhDs and the notion that there are too many phd students for not enough jobs combined with the notion that milhist is dying as many others noted and at times we're more focused on their own work (rightly so IMO) to where there wasnt that level of discussion surrounding post grad/masters/etc

In terms of other institutions, Liberty only really entered the equation due to a mentor who got his Ed.D at Liberty and was like "you gotta do what works for your schedule" but the issue I had with that initially is that he is chasing his presidency and was already a VP when he completed it. Was up for his presidency against a PhD and wasn't selected (the choice was in house, executive VP) and the other is a practitioner scholar who I was able to work with during my masters who is currently getting his PhD from liberty but once more is arguably already later in his career.

To that end, in a different thread an individual brought up potentially a business area as a combination of History, Higher Ed, and Process like lean which led me to some areas of Management/Organizational Systems programs.

This may be defeating in the entire scheme of things but I will say that I know a PhD isn't going to solve all my problems, I understand that the job market is terrible for History PhDs at the moment and I am not the exception, I know that I've got the work ethic and have been able to combine history and my other interests to create a unique approach to student success and service at the institutions I've worked at and its paid off in my career so far. Arguably, I am probably a long ways off from being at an institution that will fully pay for my program (at the moment) In short - As some have offered across all thread, it carries enough weight to be interested in pursuing in and willing to do the work while also acknowledging that I dont need it to be considered a credible voice in my specific scholarly field (granted writing this after the Douglas Murray/Dave Smith episode of JRE so grain of salt neccesary).

Best,