Michael Hart

Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

“Army Veteran, former DUSTOFF pilot and father pursuing his MBA to start the next chapter.”

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: Growing up in Austin, I spent most of my free time on and in the water. My earliest memories are of sailing in the Highland Lakes that dot the Texas Hill Country. While I was in high school, my family transitioned from activities on freshwater to sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, participating in multi-day races. The longest race we completed was the Regata de los Amigos, which is a five-day, 600-plus nautical mile race from Galveston, Texas to Veracruz, Mexico.

Undergraduate School and Major: B.A. in History from University of Texas at Austin; Master of Public Service Administration from Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Captain, U.S. Army, Aeromedical Evacuation Officer

What has been your favorite part of Houston so far? Why? My favorite part of Houston is — and always will be — the food. Houston’s cultural diversity is shown in the number of first-rate eateries. There is always a new happy hour to explore, a new restaurant to experience, or an old favorite to revisit. Recently, six local restaurants earned a Michelin Star, which only adds to the number of places on my list to visit. The strong food culture also offers an excellent backdrop to catch up with classmates.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the one key part of the Rice Jones MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Since my career in the Army involved healthcare, I was drawn to Rice Business because of the number of classes focused on the healthcare industry. These classes give me the opportunity to align my Army experience with the business side of healthcare. Houston also offers many business-related opportunities in health, as it is home to the world-renowned Texas Medical Center.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Rice Jones? Rice Business Veterans Association (RBVA) has been an incredible resource during my MBA journey. Because we have so many shared experiences, campus veterans groups often feel like ready-made friends — and RBVA is no exception. Arriving on campus knowing I already belonged to a supportive group with my best interests in mind was a great feeling. RBVA is also unique as it is the only group on campus that is dedicated to helping veterans transition and achieve their professional goals.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I earned the Sikorsky Rescue Award — an award given by the Sikorsky Aircraft Company — for flying a lifesaving mission while piloting a Black Hawk. This honor encapsulates many accomplishments from my time in the service, which also included a deployment to Afghanistan and a rotation to South Korea, by acknowledging the real-life impact of my work.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? I competed in the Deloitte Case Competition at Rice and the team I was on finished as finalists. Throughout the MBA program, I have participated in multiple case competitions to build my business acumen. Having our efforts recognized was gratifying and was a milestone in my MBA journey.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Partios (party on the patio), which are open to all program students and occur every Thursday as classes wind down for the week. It’s a great opportunity to socialize with those in the program that you might not see often otherwise, due to everyone’s busy schedules. Also, because of Rice University’s central location in Houston, Partio serves as an excellent launchpad for other social engagements across the city.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE RICE JONES MBA CLASS OF 2026

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