Former student and CIA veteran heads Zachry Leadership Program
The skills Seth Sullivan learned in Texas A&M’s engineering technology and industrial distribution department laid the foundation for a lifetime of leadership.
Seth Sullivan leading a ZLP retreat.
Seth Sullivan’s decision to major in industrial distribution at Texas A&M University opened doors to unique opportunities.
In high school, Sullivan was searching for direction. Unsure of where to attend college and what career to pursue, he took an aptitude test that revealed he had a technical, problem-solving mindset combined with a natural inclination for working with people. A career counselor analyzed the test results and recommended the industrial distribution program at Texas A&M. Soon after, he visited campus and found his home.
“I immediately fell in love with the way Aggies talked to each other, the traditions, the history, the values of the school and what it stood for,” he said. “It all just really resonated with me.”
Upon starting the program, Sullivan quickly knew he made the perfect choice. The attitude of the faculty had a big impact on him, especially as he navigated the transition from a small high school.
“I felt they all cared, which was something I was really grateful for, coming from a graduating class of 55 students,” he said. “They showed me what was possible in a way I didn’t realize before.”
He discovered that his career counselor was correct; industrial distribution was a great pairing of his aptitudes and interests.
“It was very hands-on. While students in other engineering majors were spending their time with paper and calculations, we were welding and machining. It instilled a mindset of not being afraid to get my hands dirty to get the job done,” he said. “Also, the business and people skills were critical. I learned how to work with people to solve problems.”
Sullivan thrived in the program and thought his career in technical sales was set, until Sept. 11 of his final semester in 2001, when everything changed. The events of 9/11 marked a pivotal turning point in his life, redirecting his future.
Seth Sullivan
Inspired by his family’s military history, which included his father and both grandfathers, Sullivan felt called to service. He enrolled in the inaugural class for the Master of International Affairs at Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. There, he discovered he brought a different perspective than his classmates, many of whom were history or political science graduates.
“Thanks to the industrial distribution program, my processing of complex problems came naturally,” he said.
Sullivan joined the CIA upon completion of his master’s and found his undergraduate skills to be a strength once again. He recounts a time his group was analyzing the shipping lines of a country, suspecting they were circumventing restrictions. His familiarity with supply chains from his education helped him become a valuable contributor to the team.
After serving as an all-source analyst, the CIA tasked Sullivan with pioneering the National Counterterrorism Center’s Domestic Representative program. He again credits his industrial distribution background for skills he applied in this role.
“The ability to solve problems, communicate well, relate to different kinds of people, have self-confidence — I got all of that from Texas A&M,” he said.
Sullivan transitioned to the private intelligence sector, earned his MBA and in 2016 learned of an opportunity to return to Aggieland. The College of Engineering was looking for a director of the newly formed Zachry Leadership Program (ZLP) to develop leadership, professional skills and character among select engineering students. He recalls that the education and experience sought for the role were a Texas A&M Engineering degree, an MBA and 10-15 years of varied experiences outside of academia.
“I think the overlap of all those circles was very small. It may have been just one person — me,” he said.
Sullivan was the perfect person for the job and has successfully led and refined the program for almost 10 years.
“I love it,” he said. “I get to empower outstanding engineering students to become future leaders.”
The position affords him the opportunity to continue his own growth.
“I am often learning from my students and am inspired by their courage, authenticity and desire to make the world a better place,” he said.
Reflecting ZLP’s commitment to lifelong learning, he is currently working on his Ph.D. in Educational Human Resource Development.
Texas A&M is where it all started for Sullivan and where his journey of impact and service continues.
