A Stint As A U.S. Marine Helped Chris Conley '26 Reset His Course, Find Success At Keene State
Former Combat Engineer Now A Thriving Cybersecurity Major
Christopher Conley was 20 years old and a struggling community college student when he encountered a life-changing fork-in-the-road moment.
He chose the military.
Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps helped Chris, now 28 and a flourishing cybersecurity major at Keene State, to gain the confidence he never knew, the discipline he lacked, and for the first time in his life, envision a path that offered promise, not uncertainty.
It’s a long way from boot camp to a full-time second-year college student, but every bit of the journey has been meaningful, said Chris, who imagines a career working on the frontlines for a government agency to protect data and operations.
“It’s remarkable how it has worked out,” he said. “I had a kind of dark time in my life. I didn’t have a plan … I was riding the C train. In high school, I was cruising through and not trying to get anything out of it.”
Keene State is strongly committed to helping our nation’s veterans and active duty and reserve military members reach their educational goals. Among several noteworthy 2025 rankings, Keene State was named No. 9 in Best Colleges for Veterans by US News & World Report.
To be eligible for the veterans ranking, institutions must accept GI Bill benefits, be ranked as one of the top Regional Colleges North, and enroll at least 20 full-time and part-time undergraduate veterans and active-duty service members annually.
It’s remarkable how it has worked out. I had a kind of dark time in my life. I didn’t have a plan … I was riding the C train. In high school, I was cruising through and not trying to get anything out of it.”
– Chris Conley ‘26
At Keene State, Chris discovered a passion for photography. He spends 15 to 20 hours shooting images for the athletics department. “It’s really fun … and I get paid!
But it’s a side gig only. “Class first, always,” Chris emphasized.
He’s working toward a minor in criminal justice studies and earning high grades.
“Joining the Marines changed me. I saw the same change in a good buddy of mine when he came home for a leave. One word: confidence. [The Marines] gave me new confidence to do more, to be more.”
“I’m proud of that change. The student I am today is not the student I was before.”
Homeland Security is Chris’ favorite class this semester. The class professor, Peter Stevenson, said Chris’ experience in the Marines brings real context to class discussions.
“Students seem to appreciate his insights because he has been there. He does not sugarcoat the realities of war and conflict, which grounds the material for his classmates. And it helps that he often validates the concepts I’m bringing up with real-world examples.”
After leaving the military as a combat engineer, rank of Sergeant, the Milford, N.H., native returned to community college, and immediately began racking up straight A’s. Then, he felt ready to apply to a college or university.
He was accepted to UNH but called it too big and busy.
A friend of Chris’s mother, Robin, suggested Chris look into Keene State.
Transferring as a sophomore, Chris found everything he wanted: A community with a “homey feel,” professors willing to work with students to help them meet their goals, and “an opportunity to network and work with industry professionals.”
His military pedigree is still noticeable. He regularly uses the formal honorific “sir” in conversation, and projects presence and certitude.
What irks him? Students who do not take their education seriously. He sees too many of them, he said.
“I was that student. I got a chance to get it right. I’ve become a person that can react quickly to new situations and stay focused. For me, staying ahead of your work and studying is everything.”
For this veteran and soaring Owl, it’s a brighter, promise-filled time.
