Kellogg Launches Veterans Program Honoring Stanley Cup-Winning CEO Alum

Florida Panthers CEO Matt Caldwell, Kellogg MBA Class of 2010, celebrates after his team won its first-ever Stanley Cup in a thrilling Game 7 finish in June 2024. The Panthers are vying for a repeat this spring

Kellogg is putting serious weight behind its commitment to military veterans — with a program that carries the name of one of its own.

Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management has launched the Matt Caldwell Veterans Program, a comprehensive initiative aimed at attracting, supporting, and connecting military veterans throughout their MBA journey and beyond. Named after Matt Caldwell, a decorated U.S. Army veteran and 2010 JD-MBA graduate who now serves as president and CEO of the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers, the new program is one of the school’s most visible investments yet in veteran talent.

“Veterans come to Kellogg with valuable experience in leadership, teamwork and the ability to thrive in an uncertain environment,” says Kellogg Dean Francesca Cornelli in a news release. “As students, military veterans bring their unique background into the classroom, with a strong work ethic and desire to learn and lead. We are proud to expand the resources we offer to these important members of our community.”

FROM COMBAT TO THE C-SUITE TO LIFTING LORD STANLEY’S CUP

Caldwell’s path — from West Point and military deployments in Iraq and Kosovo to the helm of a professional hockey franchise — makes him a fitting namesake for the program. A former Army captain, Caldwell earned a Bronze Star Medal along with several other honors before enrolling in Kellogg’s joint JD-MBA program with the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

In 2016, he became the youngest CEO in professional sports at age 36, taking over the Florida Panthers and leading a dramatic transformation of the team’s business and performance. Under his leadership, the Panthers have seen record-breaking growth in ticket sales, sponsorship revenue, and media viewership — culminating in back-to-back Prince of Wales Trophies and the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup win in 2024. (The team is currently vying for a repeat, competing in the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes; they won Game 1 on May 20.)

Caldwell credits his Kellogg education for helping him make the leap.

“I’m deeply honored by Kellogg’s recognition and thrilled to see their strong commitment to supporting servicemembers as they transition to civilian careers through this new veterans program,” he says in a news release from the school. “The Kellogg curriculum was instrumental in my own development after retiring from the military, and I hope this initiative inspires more veterans to pursue enrollment at Kellogg.”

A STRONGER ECOSYSTEM FOR VETERANS 

The new program will build on existing veteran-focused offerings at Kellogg, including access to career education, job interview prep, and a dedicated veterans association that supports students through the admissions and recruiting process. In recent years, Kellogg has secured over $6.2 million in philanthropic support for veteran scholarships, including the Janet and Craig Duchossois Veteran Scholarship Fund and other alumni-backed gifts, and offers dedicated admissions guidance, resume support, and career coaching tailored to military backgrounds.

Kellogg also supports veteran families through the Joint Ventures Club and provides full-time students with access to on-site mental health services.

The Matt Caldwell Veterans Program will take that foundation further. New offerings include expanded scholarship support to lower financial barriers for military applicants. It will also enhance veteran alumni engagement through mentorship and networking events. In addition, Kellogg will launch a newly formed Kellogg Veterans Council, bringing together prominent alumni to advise the program’s growth.

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