{"id":22392,"date":"2018-06-14T13:04:19","date_gmt":"2018-06-14T17:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=22392"},"modified":"2018-08-01T15:59:44","modified_gmt":"2018-08-01T19:59:44","slug":"interim-provost-robert-dooley-to-skydive-from-14000-feet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2018\/06\/interim-provost-robert-dooley-to-skydive-from-14000-feet\/","title":{"rendered":"Interim Provost Robert Dooley skydives from 14,000 feet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dr. Robert Dooley, attached to a member of the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, leaps out of an airplane at about 14,000 feet.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Interim Provost Dr. Robert Dooley, left, and Capt. Kevin Beavers, head of UTC’s Department of Military Science, just prior to Dooley’s skydiving.<\/p><\/div>\n

Interim Provost Robert Dooley jumped out of a perfectly good airplane while it was about two-and-a-half miles above the ground.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, he was\u00a0 strapped to a member of the Army\u2019s Golden Knights parachute team then leapt out of a plane flying at about 14,000 feet. It will be the first time he has ever skydived.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super-excited about the jump and honored that I was asked,\u201d Dooley said a couple of days prior to the jump. \u201cI have no trepidation about the jump; I will be jumping with the best of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well \u2026 maybe a little trepidation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am interested to see what my emotional reaction will be as I stand in the airplane doorway ready to jump,\u201d he acknowledged.<\/p>\n

Taking place at Addington Field in Elizabethtown, Ky., the jump was intended to bring attention to the ROTC program at UTC, which \u201chas really excelled\u201d under the leadership of Capt. Kevin Beavers, Dooley says.<\/p>\n

It was Beavers who approached Dooley about taking part in the skydiving event. \u201cI was fortunate enough to be asked to participate and did not hesitate to say \u2018Yes,\u2019\u201d Dooley says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is something special about voluntarily exiting a high-performance aircraft and pumped that Dr. Dooley bravely volunteered to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,\u201d Beavers says. \u201cHis commitment to free falling from 14,000 feet is synonymous with his commitment to veterans in our community and \u00a0the Army ROTC program here at UTC. \u201c<\/p>\n

The invitation to jump is part of an annual event in which ROTC cadets and university leaders from around the country have something of a meet-and-greet, giving them a chance to get to know each other and also discuss ways for schools and ROTC to work together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be a focal point of why students choose UTC for its leadership excellence and reputation for providing our nation\u2019s next generation of leaders,\u201d Beavers says.<\/p>\n

While many folks discuss solutions and collaborations while \u201cbreaking bread,\u201d he says, \u201cwe choose to create our solutions while jumping out of airplanes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dooley says his leap of faith also can promote the College of Business\u2019 Veterans Entrepreneurship Program.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the jump will also bring attention to VEP, which is a good additional benefit,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Established in 2012, the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program offers free training, mentoring and management expertise for small businesses founded by disabled and distinguished veterans.<\/p>\n

The program, hosted each year in July at UTC, veterans receive a week of entrepreneurship courses taught by College of Business faculty and guest experts. Veterans also meet with community leaders and top military officials.<\/p>\n

Free of charge to all participating veterans, the program includes travel expenses, lodging, meals and all course materials. The costs of the VEP are underwritten by sponsors, including Walden Security, and private donors.<\/p>\n

The Veterans Entrepreneurship Program offers an accelerated learning program using online education and a classroom-style \u201cboot camp\u201d followed by comprehensive mentorship with Chattanooga business professionals.<\/p>\n

After graduation, veterans receive 10 months of support from entrepreneurs at the College of Business and online peer networking. Participants receive feedback about their specific ventures and can ask questions from professionals.<\/p>\n

In six years, 95 veterans have graduated from the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program. About 40 percent of them now own their own businesses, including several who operate in the Chattanooga area.<\/p>\n

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Coming in for a landing.<\/p><\/div>\n

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