C.J. Paredes Found His Perfect Path at Embry-Riddle Worldwide

Landing in the Right Place at the Right Time

After graduating from high school in 2014, Christopher “C.J.” Paredes (’26) enrolled in an associate degree and did freelance media production on the side. His plans did not originally include earning a bachelor’s degree.

Everything changed when he joined the U.S. Navy in 2018 as an electronics technician. He quickly realized how important being sufficiently qualified for his position was and wanted to supplement his abilities with another degree.

C.J. initially enrolled in a media studies program at another institution, but he later transferred to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Communications program through the Worldwide Campus.

“Having grown up in South Florida, I was long-familiar with Embry-Riddle’s prestige and reputation — especially within the world of aviation,” he said. “I told myself that a school like Embry-Riddle was out of reach academically and financially until things aligned toward the end of my active-duty service.”

Compatibility with C.J.’s schedule and professional goals made Embry-Riddle a perfect transition. A decade after graduating from high school, C.J. finally felt certain about his ambitions and was ready to complete a program that would meet his needs.

“I realized that the university checked all the boxes for what I wanted out of my undergraduate experience, and it seemed that things finally aligned for me to take my academic goals off the back burner.”

Communications Degree Improves Leadership Skills

C.J. found that the communications discipline would complement his creative background and tendencies while preparing him for a diverse pool of career opportunities. He added a minor in Homeland Security to his degree plan to support his future career aspirations.

During his service, C.J. interacted with a variety of leadership styles — some he preferred, and some he did not. He was certain that studying Communications would equip him with the skill set necessary to become the kind of leader he wanted to work with.

“Communications seemed to be the ideal path to equip me with the tools to properly lead individuals, resolve crises and drive teams to success,” he said.

C.J. noted that courses such as Nonverbal Communication and Rhetorical Strategies and Analysis positively influenced his communication style while serving in the Navy and in various learning contexts.

“Empathy is a key component of my leadership style, and studying how the nuance of human movement can amplify or neutralize emotion without words helped me become a better leader.”

Maintaining Balance Between School and Work

From working on navigation systems to observing flight operations and everything in between, C.J. cherishes the memories made while serving on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.

"The coolest thing I ever did was steer the ship while we launched F-18 Hornets at night in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,” he said. “Feeling the ship in my hands and watching a fighter be catapulted into the night sky with its afterburners trailing in its wake was nothing short of surreal.”

At the same time, he remained disciplined with managing his role, commitments and classes each term.

“During my last term, I moved to a new city and began a new career, all while working on my capstone project and two other rigorous classes,” he said. “But I made it happen.” 

Receiving Support from Embry-Riddle Advisors

Having access to Embry-Riddle's academic advisors as a Worldwide student helped alleviate the hardships that C.J. faced.

Although C.J. managed a full-time course load and active-duty obligations, his advisors were proactive and solution-oriented, determined to help him graduate on time. He recalled a time when an advisor assisted him through the process of updating his courses for a term to keep him on track after going through scheduling changes.

“[One advisor] offered to sign me up for an alternate class [I needed] before it filled,” C.J. explained.

Academic advisors guide students through the degree-planning process and provide invaluable insights into Embry-Riddle's offerings for students at every campus and location.

Plans to Expand Intelligence Expertise

After completing his active-duty service in late 2025, C.J. began working as a technical writer and editor for a shipbuilder.

“I love working in any role that encourages critical and out-of-the-box thinking to accomplish a mission," he said. “I also have a strong fascination for ships of all sorts, so working for a shipbuilder seemed like the logical next stage of my career.”

C.J. hopes to work for a global security or public policy research think tank down the line. He plans to expand upon his Homeland Security background and was recently accepted into an applied intelligence master’s program.

“The realm of global security is full of multifaceted and ever-evolving problems,” he said. “To work in a field that lets me help solve these problems, educate the public and advise policymakers truly sounds like a dream — and the perfect use of my professional and academic experience.”

After earning his degree from Embry-Riddle, C.J. feels more prepared than ever to make a positive impact on the people he works with and the world at large.