Design What Matters for the Military

When Chad Harper chose the U.S. Marine Corps over a corporate career, he wasn’t just seeking a job — he was pursuing purpose.

Today, as a project manager and a federal marketing leader at Shive-Hattery, he’s found that purpose in the most fitting place: improving the lives of military service members through better infrastructure and thoughtful design.

His journey — from enlisted infantry Marine to a leader shaping federal projects — is one of grit, growth, and a deep commitment to service.

Chad Harper chose the Marine Corps over a corporate career, seeking purpose and service beyond self.

A Different Kind of Decision

Harper didn’t come from a military family. Raised in Indiana, he was a disciplined student-athlete who wrestled at Indiana University while studying business and finance. Job offers from major firms like American Express followed, but something was missing.

“I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself,” Harper recalls. “Wrestling gave me structure. The Marine Corps gave me purpose.”

Rather than take the typical path as an officer, Harper enlisted — a rare move for someone with a college degree. “I wanted to understand life as a Marine from the ground up,” he says. He served as both a 0311 (infantry rifleman) and later as a 0341 (mortarman), rising to become a firing chief in the Fire Direction Cell for an 81mm mortar platoon within Weapons Company — a leadership role he takes great pride in. Harper earned multiple meritorious promotions, and in his role as a career planner, discovered his passion for helping others succeed.

Turning Hardship into Impact

As Harper guided Marines through reenlistments and transitions, he started to see a pattern: facilities never quite met the needs of those using them.

“Training facilities didn’t support our operations. Housing was subpar. Chow halls weren’t reliable. We always had to make do,” he says.

It lit a fire in him. When the opportunity arose to attend Officer Candidate School, Harper accepted, transitioning to logistics — a field often overlooked, but crucial to military readiness and morale.

“I initially wanted to be a pilot, but I chose logistics because that’s where I could make the most impact,” he explains. “If the air conditioning breaks, if weapons aren’t secure, if families don’t have decent housing — it affects everything.”

His logistics work took him from Southern California to the Pentagon to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. He helped design armories, oversee construction in theater, and improve base infrastructure. Harper broke Marine Corps reenlistment records and earned accolades such as Career Planner of the Year. His work always focused on one goal: caring for his fellow Marines.

Deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan revealed how effect the lives of troops — sparking his mission to improve their facilities. — from failing chow halls to inadequate housing and armories.

Designing What Matters

After 21 years of military service — much of it was spent away from his family — Harper retired. But purpose called again. A brief return overseas as a government contractor reminded him that while he loved the work, his place was at home.

Harper continued to coach wrestling, a lifelong passion. A student’s parent, Andrew Avara, invited Harper to consider joining Shive-Hattery, a Midwest architecture and engineering firm with a long but quiet history in federal work.

“It felt like the stars aligned,” he says. “I didn’t search for this opportunity. It found me. And it allowed me to continue my mission — but in a different way.”

At Shive-Hattery, Harper brings firsthand experience to the design table. He knows how poor infrastructure can lower morale and how good design can raise it.

“What we do as designers matters,” Harper says. “When you walk into a building that’s clean, functional, and dignified, it sends a message: we care. That matters to troops, to families, to communities.”

Military discipline and teamwork became Harper’s foundation, later shaping his approach to leadership and design.

A Clear “Why”

Harper’s personal mission is unwavering: “I provide reliable, resilient, and safe facilities for our military. I bring responsive service that reflects what our clients deserve.”

He’s helped Shive-Hattery expand its presence in the federal market by building authentic, lasting relationships — not just pursuing contracts. He’s a trusted partner to National Guard leaders, a mentor to younger colleagues, and a strategic thinker who connects design with mission readiness.

Veterans, Harper says, sometimes struggle with transition to civilian life. What he’s found at Shive-Hattery — a place where he can make a difference, lead with empathy, and work with purpose — fills that gap.

“Military life is about serving something bigger,” he says. “This industry gives me a way to keep doing that — to be part of a team, to build something that matters.”

Service-Driven Leadership

Harper’s leadership style blends military discipline with empathy. “I’ve learned that focusing on people — whether coworkers, clients, or the end user — is the key,” he says. “Put people in a position to succeed, and success follows.”

He sees every project not just as a technical challenge, but also as a way to improve someone’s day-to-day experience. Whether it’s a properly functioning HVAC system or a better-designed command suite, the details matter — because people matter.

In his own words: “I lived in the ‘suck.’ I saw what didn’t work. Now I want to fix it — not just for Marines, but for all service members and their families.”

After 21 years of service, Harper retired to be closer to family, but his mission to serve didn’t end with his uniform.

Legacy Through Design

Harper’s story is far from over. He’s building more than facilities — he’s building trust, opportunity, and a future where federal design is driven by compassion and experience.

“Everything I’ve done led to this,” he says. “Now, I get to take what I’ve learned and use it to create real, lasting value. That’s my purpose.”

And with that purpose, Chad Harper continues to serve — not in uniform, but with blueprints, leadership, and heart.

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About Chad Harper

Chad Harper is the federal program manager for Shive-Hattery and a project manager for public buildings and the civic building sector. Based in the South Bend, Indiana, office, Chad has been with the firm for over 2 years. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School, focusing on Material Management and Supply Chain, and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University. He earned the Penn State Executive Planning and Logistics Program Certification, a Green Belt Lean Six Sigma, and is ISO 9000 Certified.

Chad is a retired Marine Logistics Officer with over 20 years of Navy and Marine Corps Base project experience. Chad is also part of the Leadership Development Program at Shive-Hattery. Chad is the designated Task Manager for most Shive-Hattery federal government facilities projects.