OVMAE Spotlight Series: Bob Beard
PRESTON SWAN
August 31, 2026
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, Bob Beard was looking for his place in the community. That search ultimately led him to ASU, where his drive as a Marine was turned into curiosity. That curiosity turned into the Veterans Imagination Project, a community program designed to improve the military-to-civilian transition process with the tools of futures thinking, speculative narratives and visual art.
At the core of Bob’s work and leadership is a simple but intentional framework he calls CHEA. “It starts with curiosity. That’s what fires everything up,” he said. “Then humility. Are we the right people to do this? Then empathy. Who are we doing this for? And finally, action. If we’ve done those steps right, we move forward and build.”
As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and first-generation college graduate, Bob Beard’s journey to higher education began long before he ever stepped onto a college campus. “My grandfather was a WWII veteran,” Bob shared. “About a year before he passed, he sat me down and said, ‘I need to tell you some stuff.’ No one else in the family had ever heard those stories. That moment stayed with me. I knew, even at 10 years old, that I wanted a story like that.”
That sense of purpose led Bob to enlist in the Marine Corps in 1995, serving until 1999, primarily at Camp Pendleton. Like many veterans, his transition out of the military came with an abrupt shift in identity and pace. “The military is all about operational tempo,” he explained. “When you leave, there’s nowhere for that energy to go.” For Bob, that energy found a new direction. “I went to college right after discharge, and that operational tempo turned into curiosity,” he said. “Suddenly I had access to people, ideas and resources. I never imagined I’d end up at ASU, working here, pursuing a PhD. I just kind of fell into it.” What he discovered in higher education was something many veterans don’t expect. Time and space to think. “Academia gives you the opportunity to fully explore,” Bob said. “There are so many paths, which can feel overwhelming, but that’s also the point. You get to figure out what actually matters to you.”
That exploration eventually led to his work in research and innovation, including the creation of the Veterans Imagination Project (VIP). The idea emerged from his work helping organizations think about the future. “I realized we were helping organizations plan for what’s next,” he said. “But the people who could benefit most from that kind of thinking are those leaving the military.” VIP uses storytelling and concept art to help veterans envision their futures in entirely new ways. “We pair participants with an artist who creates visuals of their future,” Bob explained. “And the response is always powerful. People say things like, ‘I didn’t know I had the capacity to think like this,’ or ‘I didn’t have permission to imagine this way.’ That’s when something really shifts.”
Beyond creativity, the program fosters connection in a different way than many veteran spaces. “There’s not a lot of military talk,” he said. “It gives people a chance to be around other veterans without having to retell the same stories. You can just exist, create and think forward.” One moment that stands out came when a Navy veteran in the program presented an idea at a local Chamber of Commerce meeting. His idea was about turning vacant buildings into vertical gardens to support local food systems. “The entire conversation shifted,” Bob recalled. “It went from talking about programs for veterans to asking how we could make his idea real. That’s when you see what’s possible.”
At the core of Bob’s work and leadership is a simple but intentional framework he calls CHEA. “It starts with curiosity. That’s what fires everything up,” he said. “Then humility. Are we the right people to do this? Then empathy. Who are we doing this for? And finally, action. If we’ve done those steps right, we move forward and build.” That approach reflects both his time in the Marines and his work in large-scale creative and research projects. “In both spaces, success depends on the team,” he said. “It’s about creating an environment where people feel supported enough to bring their best selves.”
For veterans considering higher education, Bob offers a perspective that is both honest and encouraging. “It’s easy to feel like you’ve already lived a full life in the military,” he said. “But your story is not done being written. Education and creativity show you there’s still more ahead.” He also speaks candidly about the loss of community many veterans feel after service. “You leave the military and those bonds are suddenly gone,” he said. “You might not recreate that exact same connection, but that doesn’t mean you stop trying. And it doesn’t have to come only from other veterans. There’s value in expanding your circle and learning from people with different experiences.”
Bob Beard’s journey to higher education is not a straight line. It is a transition shaped by curiosity, reflection, and a willingness to imagine something new. His story is a reminder that stepping into the next chapter is not about leaving the past behind, it is about building on it in ways you may not yet see.