John Barr

John Barr

United States Army
MBA Candidate, Class of 2025
Owen Graduate School of Management

“The Bass Military Scholars Program is an excellent program and a great way to help pay for business school as well as a great opportunity to get plugged into the veteran’s network and to give back to the community.”


Tell us about your military service. What did you do? Where did you serve? What do you value the most about your military service?

I commissioned from West Point as an infantry officer in 2013 before becoming a Special Forces Officer in 2018. I served with the 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and 5th Special Forces Group in Fort Campbell, KY. I deployed to Northeastern Syria as a Special Forces Detachment Commander in 2021. I value the bonds that I formed with fellow soldiers and the sense of purpose and focus on growth that accompanied military service.


What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?

I would be very open to mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt. The values that I would share mainly have to do with leadership and personal growth.


While at Vanderbilt, what will be the focus of your studies and how do you plan to use this knowledge in your future career?

I plan to focus on business management and operations and to find an internship in this field which will hopefully lead to a job in this field. I want to learn how to help run a business, and how to improve systems within the business.


What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?

I would tell other veterans that the Bass Military Scholars Program is an excellent program and a great way to help pay for business school as well as a great opportunity to get plugged into the veteran’s network and to give back to the community.