Zach Navejas, a 2014 graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, will be promoted to Warrant Officer in the United States Marine Corps on April 1, according to a March 31 announcement. Navejas was recently recognized as one of KSU Alumni’s 40 Owls Under 40 for his achievements in both his military and professional careers.
Navejas said that his time at Kennesaw State helped shape his path. “KSU was the right fit,” he said. “It just took me a little while to get my wheels going before I realized school was the important thing.” After graduating from North Cobb High School in 2007 and considering law school, he initially struggled during his first year at KSU before taking a break to join the Marine Corps. He returned more focused and chose mathematics as his major.
He credits classes focused on logic and problem solving for influencing his current work. “The classes that focused on logic and problem solving are probably what I still relate to now,” Navejas said. “I use logic every single day when I’m writing script, coding, things like that.” During college, connections made through social activities led him into data analysis roles after graduation.
Navejas tailored some of his remaining coursework toward computer programming languages such as SQL, Python, and R. This decision set the direction for his career in data science and consultation. He began with an internship that became a seven-year job before moving into government contract work—a field he continues today—while also serving as a gunnery sergeant (E7) in the Marine Corps Reserve.
He has maintained ties with Kennesaw State through involvement with Lambda Theta Phi fraternity, participation on an alumni advisory board, and ongoing contact with former professors. Reflecting on recent developments at KSU, Navejas said: “There’s just so many opportunities on campus and coming back now… it’s so amazing to see what our students are doing… But now there are kids that are building rocket ships or flying these cool drones, and I’m just amazed every day at how much they’re doing.”
