For many, the path to an engineering degree follows a predictable timeline. For Kain Greeno, a senior chemical engineering major, that path was forged through a decade of service in the United States Navy. Greeno transitioned from managing nuclear reactors under the sea to mastering thermodynamics in the classroom. His experience at UD highlights the strength of the veteran community and the power of a non-traditional perspective in the School of Engineering.
After graduating high school in 2010 and spending two years at Arkansas State, he enlisted in the Navy and served for 10 years as a nuclear mechanic. Specializing in chemistry and radiological control, he served as a lead engineering laboratory technician on the “Blue Crew” of a submarine. After transitioning out of the military in 2023, he was looking for the next step in his professional career.
“The Navy provided me with the discipline and the ability to learn at an accelerated pace,” Greeno said. “Chemical engineering was a natural fit. It’s about the big picture: understanding how reactors work and how processes drive industry.”
After a recommendation from a neighbor and University of Dayton alumnus, he applied in July and was enrolled in classes by August. Now, despite entering with significant transfer credits, he is on track to complete his four-year degree in just three years, graduating this May. Greeno credits much of his success to the robust support system at UD.
Working closely with the Military and Veteran Programs and Services at UD, Greeno found a team dedicated to removing administrative hurdles.
“They move mountains for us,” Greeno said. “You don’t have to worry about what needs to be done because they’ve already handled it.”
As a Yellow Ribbon school, UD offered the financial flexibility and support necessary for him to balance his education with the responsibilities of being a husband and a father of two.
Greeno highlights the mentorship of professors like Drs. Mike Elssas, Kristen Krupa, Don Comfort and Dr. Tony Saliba.
“The faculty is incredibly supportive that I am choosing my family alongside my education,” Greeno said. “They are always asking, ‘What can we do to make your education simpler?’”
As a non-traditional student, he often finds himself in a unique social position — serving as a mentor to his younger peers who may be navigating the rigors of engineering for the first time.
As an engineering ambassador for the Military and Veteran Programs and Services, Greeno’s mission is to bridge the gap between military service and academic life.
“Be prepared to work. Pay attention to the little things. The concepts you learn in Calculus will return in your senior Thermodynamics courses," Greeno said. “Most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for help. It is always better to know someone who knows how to do it than to struggle alone.”
For Greeno, the most rewarding aspect of returning to the classroom is witnessing the growth of his peers. He finds professional fulfillment in facilitating “lightbulb moments” for fellow students and leveraging the technical expertise he gained in the fleet to help them master complex engineering principles.
Upon graduation, he intends to pursue a career in process engineering. His long-term goals are centered on family, providing a stable foundation for his children and supporting his wife as she eventually returns to her own education.
