Rady School Expertise Sheds Light on Military’s Economic Impact to San Diego Region

The Military Economic Impact Report was released in conjunction with a press conference on Oct. 16 Admiral Kidd Club in San Diego.

The Military Economic Impact Report was released in conjunction with a press conference on Oct. 16 at Admiral Kidd Club in San Diego.

Increased defense spending in San Diego created nearly 20,000 new jobs in the region for the 2024 fiscal year, according to a new report from the UC San Diego Rady School of Management.

The report, created in partnership with the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), revealed the military contribution of the local economy grew at roughly 12% from 2023 in Direct Spending and Gross Regional Product, contributing 23.7% towards the total economy in San Diego.

Every year, a Rady faculty member leads the analysis of the data provided by SDMAC with the support of several Rady School Full-Time MBA students to develop the Military Economic Impact Report (MEIR). The report examines how government defense spending — from the U.S. Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs — impacts the local economy.

Rady School Dean Lisa Ordóñez at the Oct. 16 press breifing for the Military Economic Impact Report.

“We are proud of our partnership with the San Diego Military Advisory Council and the contributions our faculty and students make to the Military Economic Impact Report, which is a vital tool for understanding the immense contributions of the military to our local economy,” said Rady School Dean Lisa Ordóñez. “This partnership is testament to Rady’s commitment to active duty service members and veterans.”

The report finds that the $40.5 billion in direct government spending contributed more than $63 billion to the local economy, which is almost 25% of San Diego's total gross regional product.

“We at SDMAC are immensely grateful for the expertise that Rady has provided each year on the report,” said David Boone, President & CEO of SDMAC and a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral. “The data analysis helps stakeholders here in San Diego, in Sacramento and in Washington D.C. understand the vast contributions the military has on the regional economy and beyond.”

Michael Meyer, an associate teaching professor of design at the Rady School has served as the faculty sponsor of the Military Economic Impact Report since 2021.

Michael Meyer, an associate teaching professor of design at the Rady School who has served as the faculty sponsor since 2021 says that the report highlights how the defense sector continues to be an incredibly strong and resilient economic force that benefits the entire San Diego community.

“What’s particularly exciting in the 2024 MEIR is the deeper dive into the innovation economy,” Meyer said. “The report highlights new defense-related ventures in San Diego that are at the forefront of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and drone technologies. One standout example is the $1.2 billion in venture capital investments that defense startups have attracted over the last four years, significantly boosting the region’s status as a tech innovation hub.”

Rady Welcomes Active-Duty Military and Veterans

Veterans and active duty military are valued members of the Rady community.

“We welcome service men and women with open arms,” Ordóñez said. “Our graduate programs provide a strong foundation of knowledge and career readiness that is uniquely suited for members of the military, as they already have leadership skills and field experience. We help them leverage their background and thrive in fields as varied as tech, consulting, finance, marketing, healthcare, supply chain and operations.”

Jesus Gonzalez (left), FlexMSBA ’24, served in the Air Force for more than seven years.

Rady provides veterans and active-duty military with an array of services, available through deployment and leaves of absence, to help them navigate the school’s programs and prepare for new careers.

These services range from free GMAT prep, to application fee waivers, academic advising, career counseling, and financial support.

“The Rady School of Management is committed to supporting veterans and active-duty military students with fellowship support,” said Jon Masciana, assistant dean of graduate programs at the Rady School.

In addition, the school is part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps pay for tuition and fees that exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The program is a partnership between the school and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

It helped students such as Jesus Gonzalez, MSBA ’24, who served in the Air Force for more than seven years, most of which were spent at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

“Not worrying about costs and knowing that resources like the Yellow Ribbon Program would kick in if needed has been particularly helpful,” Gonzalez said.

"Veterans bring a different level of grit and initiative,” Jesus Gonzalez (center) said.

After Gonzalez completed his military service, he went to work at PlayStation. Recognizing the need for a deeper understanding of data to advance his career, he chose to pursue the Master of Science in Business Analytics degree.

“Originally from El Centro, California, and having spent seven years in Germany, I wasn't well-connected in San Diego,” Gonzalez said. “Rady seemed valuable for connecting with people from San Diego or those coming to San Diego with a similar mindset of impacting the local community.”

Gonzalez is on track to earn his graduate degree from Rady in December 2024. He has already taken the next step with his career, landing a job at Apple as senior engineering program manager in app analytics.

During his free time, Jesus volunteers with Candorful, a non-profit providing free interview prep for transitioning service members and their spouses, where he has assisted over 40 people in the past year.

“Veterans bring a different level of grit and initiative,” Gonzalez. “Most veterans, through exposure to challenging situations, have adapted an ability to prioritize the things that really matter.”

He advises veterans to embrace uncertainty, find veteran mentors with similar interests, cherish the veteran network and always be willing to pay it forward when it’s their turn to help.

For more information on how Rady supports veterans and active duty military, see the school’s information page for current and prospective students.