By Kathy Hieatt | 05/05/2026
When Henry Giammarco Jr. joined the Philadelphia police force in the mid-’90s, he – like many cops – didn’t consider a college degree a necessity for success in law enforcement. Thirty years and five degrees later, that attitude has totally changed.
“Without the education, I wouldn’t be sitting where I’m sitting at now,” said Giammarco, who now serves as Chief of Police and Director of Emergency Management in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.
Giammarco shared his insights and how his pursuit of higher education propelled him forward during the March 25 “Education in Action: An AMU Alum Spotlight” webinar hosted by American Military University (AMU).
Giammarco earned his bachelor’s in criminal justice, master’s in criminal justice, and master’s in emergency and disaster management from AMU, all while working full-time and raising a family. He’s now working on his doctorate.
Takeaway #1: “Just Do It”
“There’s always the excuse not to go,” Giammarco said. “If you want to stand out in interviews or if you just want to learn, you know, just do it.”
The convenience and flexibility offered by AMU was critical to balancing work, family, and higher education, he said. Courses are online* with weekly class schedules and no set login times, which means students can set their study schedule around work and family obligations. A late-night search warrant or early-morning court appearance won’t interfere with coursework. Classes start monthly, and most courses run eight weeks.
Time management is the key to success – a skill that wasn’t always Giammarco’s strong suit, he said.
That changed when he enrolled at AMU. He would log on each Monday and schedule time for reading, assignments, and class discussions. That paved the way for him to earn his degrees, one week at a time.
“I’m a procrastinator,” Giammarco said. “It whipped me into shape where now I don’t procrastinate.”
Takeaway #2: Learn from Experts and Peers in Your Field
“Academia is important, right? But I wanted to learn from people in the field … people [who] wore a badge, people [who] knew the same struggles I had,” Giammarco said.
AMU instructors are scholar practitioners with both distinguished academic credentials and real-word experience. They bring professional insights from defense, national security, public safety, and related communities.
Its students do, too.
AMU attracts dedicated, service-driven adult learners who share a commitment to service and bring their own unique experiences in the field. Those perspectives were invaluable to Giammarco.
“I gained so much knowledge out of discussions,” Giammarco said. “Learning from students throughout the world … it’s just something you can’t put a price on.”
That is one of the primary reasons why Giammarco chose AMU: it brings together faculty and students worldwide to create an engaging, immersive learning experience grounded in real life.
Imagine learning from a faculty member – or collaborating with a fellow student – with credentials from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, or NASA. AMU’s over 1,700 faculty members include instructors with relevant, real-world knowledge. They act as both guides and mentors, helping students build skills applicable in the today’s workplace.
Giammarco said that education and those connections helped prepare him to climb the ranks at his department.
Takeway #3: Translate Your Studies into Real-World Results
Two academic achievements stand out most to Giammarco: the capstone projects for his master’s degrees, which he put into action at his department.
At AMU, each master’s program culminates with an end-of-program assessment, which can include a comprehensive exam or a capstone project. A capstone project provides the opportunity to take a deep dive into a degree-relevant topic through a research thesis, creative or applied project, practicum with a critical reflection/integration paper, or portfolio with a critical reflection paper.
First, for his master’s in criminal justice, Giammarco produced a study about transitioning his department to 9mm firearms. The topic directly applied to his role as SWAT leader and head of firearms training for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
“I actually wrote a 62-page capstone project on why we should go to 9mm, and they have 9mms today,” he said.
Second, for his master’s in emergency management, Giammarco studied how to better form an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). An EOC is the lifeblood of emergency response, serving as a physical and/or virtual hub for coordinating resources and information before, during, and after a critical incident.
“I got to visit an Emergency Operations Center, which [I] kind of thought I was Jack Bauer in an episode of ‘24’ when you see all these screens and you're like, wow, this is cool,” Giammarco said. He was able to translate that into real-world solutions for his department.
When he looks back, he’s amazed at what he accomplished.
“Some of the stuff I did was unbelievable,” he recalled. “I look back to some of those papers … wow, I can't believe I did this.”
Higher Education That Helps Prepare You to Lead
Reflecting on his career, his education made the difference and prepared him for the leadership positions he holds today, Giammarco said.
“I had great jobs, but I'm like, I really want to lead,” he said. When he looked at police chief positions, one differentiator stood out: a master’s degree.
Now he has two of them and his “eagles,” the rank worn by police chiefs.
“Every day I wake up, I'm like, I get to be a chief. I get to work with great people. I get to deal with the community. I'm truly blessed,” he said. “They can take away my eagles, but they can't take away my degrees and my education that stands behind me.”
With over 200 asynchronous degree and certificate programs to fit any busy schedule, quality education is available through AMU wherever you choose to live, work, and learn. Programs include criminal justice, emergency and disaster management, cybersecurity, intelligence, and more.
“AMU has so many different opportunities,” Giammarco said. “Just step out of your comfort zone and do it.”
Emergency services professionals, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers, may qualify for a grant through the University's Everyday Heroes Grant. For more information, visit PublicSafetyatAMU.com.
*Some programs require in-person activity, including doctoral residencies, internships, practicums, proctored comprehensive exams, or class projects with in-person assignments. View your program of interest for specific requirements.
Graduate success stories are not a promise of career expectations for other students. APUS cannot guarantee the career success or specific income level of any future graduate.