Leading A Career Pointed ‘Toward Public Service'

Giving back and being an advocate has always been part of Secretary Anthony Woods’, EMBA ’15, career. 

“My mom was a housekeeper when I was growing up, so she wasn’t going to be able to afford for me to go to college, so West Point was my opportunity to get a great education in exchange for service,” Woods says. “I walked out of there feeling I have a debt of gratitude to my country which has paid for my education, and so I feel that my career always needs to point toward public service in some way. That doesn’t mean I won’t have stints in the private sector but it always does need to come back to how am I giving back and paying this forward.”

As part of Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s cabinet, Secretary Woods leads the Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) for the state. He is also a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, working as a military intelligence officer assigned to the Pentagon and serving on the Joint Staff. 

After attending West Point, Woods earned his Master’s in Public Policy while serving in the U.S. Army, but knew that in order to continue to grow as a leader, he would have more to learn. That is how he found himself at the Robert H.Smith School of Business.

“I knew that there were elements and lessons about the private sector that I didn’t understand, about leading organizations, about culture, about strategy, that an MBA experience would really be helpful. So, the EMBA provided exactly what I was looking for in that regard,” Woods says. 

As Maryland's Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Woods has a staff of 130 and almost another 400 who are employed by the management operator at the veterans home the state oversees. His day-to-day work includes operations and financial strategy. Every day he also works to meet with veterans across the state as well as MDVA partners in the legislature. 

“Maryland has the largest veterans caucus in the country of any legislature at the state level,” Woods says. “We’re collaborating because when you do that, the outcomes for veterans and their families are even better.”

While attending a Smith Vets alumni event, Woods talked with Smith School Dean Prabhudev Konana about a “hard problem in government” he was hoping to solve. A partnership was born, creating a new experiential learning opportunity for current MBA students. 

“That is the power of the alumni network in action, that literally resulted in solving problems,” Woods says MDVA can now be more targeted in following up on the issue because a Smith MBA consulting team helped narrow the scope.  

Believing that he should be a “lifelong learner of leadership”, Woods also credits the Smith EMBA program with helping him continue that journey.

“One of the most powerful components [of the EMBA Program is] that real investment in executive coaching/executive leadership. It was exactly the boost that I needed to let me know I had some things to work on.” Woods is thankful to Rachel Loock, associate director with Smith’s Office of Career Services, who was a great resource as he earned his EMBA. He says she continues to be an available resource as his career progresses.  

Using his leadership role to help build community is something Woods and Governor Moore are working to do in Maryland. Having both served in the military, they are hoping to inspire Marylanders to get involved and encourage people to serve in “a way that works for them.”

It’s Woods' belief in service, advocacy and working with communities that has brought him to where he is now. He believes his personal journey can help him empathize and “build bridges.” 

“As a black, gay, vet, I’m sort of used to navigating the world with a multitude of perspectives or vantage points,” says Woods. “My hope is to be authentic and open about who I am in a way that provides people an opportunity to hear from someone who maybe they wouldn’t have expected to see in a role like this.” Woods views his role as a privilege and wants to pay “that privilege forward” while also doing his best to “make sure that folks from various communities know that they have an advocate in this role and a champion.” 

The state Veterans Affairs chief hopes to make Maryland the “best state for a person to be a veteran, a service member and member of the military-connected community.” He says his education has helped to prepare him for this mission. 

“The Smith School has really helped equip me with the tools necessary to build a strategy, to build a team, to look for opportunity.” He’s grateful to have attended Smith. “The education is continuing to pay off in real, tangible ways every single day.”