Brandon Villanueva isn’t someone who waits around for things to happen. At 20, he walked into an Army recruitment office with a stack of documents and a challenge: “I want to join. I can pass the PT and ASVAB right now if you’d like.” That same can-do spirit has carried him through more than seven years of active-duty service, a transition to civilian life, and a bachelor’s degree from American Military University (AMU).
Today, Brandon is the Deputy Special Security Officer for a Naval unit in Virginia Beach, where he lives with his wife and their two dogs. He’s also a budding entrepreneur launching his own golf clothing brand — and just months away from finishing his MBA at AMU.
A Foundation Built on Family and Drive
Brandon grew up in Whittier, California, the oldest of five siblings in a tight-knit family. His childhood was filled with love, laughter, and a steady rhythm of sports games and family gatherings. “We were never alone as kids,” he says. “We were always surrounded by nothing but love and laughter.” In high school, he joined a business academy which became the formative experience that sparked his early interest in leadership and entrepreneurship.
Military Experience as a Launchpad
Brandon served as a 35F All Source Intelligence Analyst, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He led soldiers, built lasting friendships, and developed a deep sense of resilience which helped him tackle everything from PCS moves to civilian career pivots. “The Army was by no means a cakewalk,” he says. “Learning to keep a calm head in a chaotic situation has absolutely been a blessing when transitioning into the civilian workforce.”
Turning Passion into Purpose
While still serving, Brandon discovered a passion for the business side of operations. That interest, coupled with the unrelenting encouragement from a friend, led him to AMU. “Once I told him I was interested in classes, he wouldn’t stop talking about AMU,” Brandon says. That insistence paid off. After digging into the university’s accreditations and program offerings, Brandon enrolled.
He earned his BA in Intelligence Studies in 2023, sometimes submitting assignments from a coffee shop overseas or after a long day in the field. Now enrolled in the MBA program, he’s leveraging those skills to lead projects at work and build his golf clothing brand from the ground up.
Making It Work Even When Life Gets Complicated
Brandon’s educational journey was shaped not just by ambition, but by resilience. While completing his bachelor’s degree, he deployed twice and experienced the heartbreaking loss of his stepfather — the man who had raised him. He juggled grief, responsibility, and school while making time to support his younger siblings. Later, during his MBA program, life threw more unexpected challenges his way. He traveled for work and took on the daunting tasks of planning a wedding and launching a business.
One particularly harrowing moment came when his then-fiancée was driving his car back from her bridal shower in Ohio. The car — packed with wedding gifts and supplies — caught fire. Brandon was four hours away, powerless to help in the moment, but grateful she was safe. “To say things piled up is an understatement,” he says. “I was very stressed out.”
Even with everything going on, Brandon didn’t quit. But he did give himself permission to pause. He withdrew from two MBA classes to focus on what mattered most: his family, his health, and getting through a demanding season of life. Thanks to AMU’s flexible course structure, he was able to step away and then resume his studies when things settled.
“Life events are going to happen,” he reflects, but “AMU has made my educational journey one of the easiest processes I have ever done.” Now, he’s back on track to graduate with his MBA in July 2025.
Looking Ahead
Brandon aims to leverage his education and experience as he steps into a career that blends service and strategy, ideally helping attract new businesses to the Virginia Beach area and creating more opportunities for the community he now calls home.
At the same time, he’s building a golf clothing brand with plans to give back to organizations making a difference. Whether through public service or entrepreneurship, Brandon is focused on work that creates momentum — for himself and those around him.
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