Anoop Prakash, a 1991 Tech High School graduate, would say that his career has had a lot of twists and turns and luck along the way. He has worked in multiple countries as well as served in government, the United States Marine Corps, and both private and public sectors.
“When I graduated in ’91, I knew two things,” says Prakash. “One, where I was going to college, but secondly, I accepted an ROTC (Reserved Officer Training Corps) scholarship (to attend Stanford University) with the Marine Corps. It was a four-year scholarship that came along with four years of service after.”
For him, it was the best of both worlds. Prakash could blend his interest in military service with attending a “normal” college instead of a military academy. Doing so allowed him to be in student government and get in touch with his Indian culture and heritage. He could also balance his two passions – economics and public policy.
While attending Tech High School, Prakash’s economics teacher, Norm Lindahl, a retired airman from the United States Air Force, influenced Prakash’s love of economics and encouraged him to apply for the ROTC scholarship.
Prakash clearly remembers the conversation he had with Lindahl. “Do it [military service] while you’re young,” Lindahl advised. “You’ll have the rest of your life to sit behind a desk.”
Prakash served his four years in the Marine Corps as an intelligence officer and was deployed for eight months.
Prakash met his wife, Gita, while attending college. He knew at the end of the four years that marriage to Gita would be his future.
In Boston, Prakash attended Harvard Business School where he finished his master’s degree. When his wife finished her medical training, the couple moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked for a couple of different tech companies. During the seven years they spent in D.C. for his wife’s research, Prakash was appointed to President George W. Bush’s administration as an associate administrator at the United States Small Business Administration and then later appointed the Deputy Chief of Staff for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“[Being in the Administration] was a great opportunity to serve and continue to scratch the itch I have for public service,” reflects Prakash. “I was able to put my public policy to work.”
Prakash’s wife was then given an opportunity in India, so the couple, along with their two young daughters, packed up and moved overseas. Prakash reached out to an old classmate and discovered an opportunity for himself in New Delhi working for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The family lived in New Delhi for the next six years, and during this time, Prakash was able to reconnect with his family and his heritage. Then Harley-Davidson in Canada called.
He and his family moved to Toronto, Canada for the next two years until he took a leadership role with the company and moved on to Wisconsin. More recently, Prakash served as president of the ambulance division at REV Group.
“It was great to work overseas and work in different countries and then come back,” says Prakash. “It changes your perspective.”
His latest proud achievement is being inducted as a Tech High School Distinguished Alumnus.
Looking back over his career and interests, Prakash recognizes he had great teachers at Tech High School who inspired him to follow his passions. He tells today’s youth, “The world is at your fingertips.” He encourages military service and volunteerism as well. Most of all, “be brave because ‘fortune favors the bold!'”
Fun Facts:
- Prakash earned the rank of Captain in the United States Marine Corps and was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal.
- There have been two Harvard Business School case studies written about his work and career.
- He is vice president of the Board of Directors for the Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Prakash’s two brothers, Arun and Ajay, are also Tech graduates. Together with their parents, they started the Prakash Family Scholarship in 2011. They’ve awarded $2,000 each year to one graduating senior based on merit.
- He also says, “You can’t work for Harley and not fall in love with motorcycling.” He rides a 2018 Street Glide Special.
- Prakash also loves to travel, play tennis and watch his daughters in sports.
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