Trust. Dignity. Respect. These are some of the principles that guide Business Affairs’ new vice president and chief financial officer Casey Wyman. Wyman, who took over the position in November 2023, has a track record for providing world-class, award-winning leadership for national projects and initiatives.
He is a former CFO of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a military veteran who brings a value-added approach to leading a division that touches every aspect of UNLV life.
The youngest of three children, Wyman was raised in Maine by his entrepreneurial mother and blue-collar father. Despite having a family history of military service — his dad and uncles served in the Army and Navy, respectively — Wyman wasn't always certain about joining the military. However, he realized early on that he thrived in structured environments.
“They told me to join the Air Force,” says Wyman. “My dad taught me the importance of right and wrong, so I needed structure. I learned that I could adapt well to military structure, and when I did, it empowered me.”
Wyman, a father of three, values creating memories and rewarding moments with his family and is committed to the university’s Top Tier mission, bringing the same energy and empowerment to UNLV that led him to a field grade officer in the military ranks.
Share a little about your family dynamic growing up.
I have an older brother and sister whom I love dearly. Growing up, I learned a lot from them — both what to do and what not to do.
My family moved frequently because my father, who was formerly in the military, supported the Walmart expansion across Maine. As a result, he instilled a sense of drive and structure in us from an early age. When I turned 18, he woke me up and broke a plate in front of me, which was his way of urging me to make my own path in life. While he didn't kick me out of the house, I understood that I had to choose a direction for myself. I eventually decided to enlist in the Air Force and discovered that a career in the military was indeed the right path for me.
How did your upbringing influence your professional career?
Military service has been a long-standing tradition in my family. When I entered the Air Force as a young man, I was entrusted with key responsibilities, such as overseeing aircraft, deploying mobile radars, and other important duties that involved tracking friendly and hostile aircraft. Being accountable for these aspects of my job filled me with pride and helped me understand the importance of effective leadership. It made me realize that I had the potential to be an asset to my teammates and make a real difference for those who relied on me.
Having grown up accustomed to moving around frequently, one of the most rewarding aspects of my military career was the enduring relationships I developed, which I still cherish to this day. Additionally, my time in the military exposed me to diverse cultures, personalities, and ways of doing things that were vastly different from my own. These experiences helped shape my worldview and ultimately transformed me into the versatile leader that I am today.
What is your leadership style, and how are you incorporating that style into leading Business Affairs?
My leadership style is versatile and adaptable, guided by a set of principles that I apply to every situation. Trust is a key element of my approach. I believe in creating a work environment where trust is the foundation and everyone starts with a clean slate. I view each day as an opportunity to learn and improve.
Dignity and respect are two fundamental values that I hold in high regard. They are pillars of strong character. This is a dynamic environment. Maintaining the high standards I set for myself and my team during my military career has been crucial in my transition to higher education. While I have had to adjust these standards to suit my new role, doing so has helped me grow and develop, allowing me to rise to new challenges.
When it comes to my team, I expect them to be attuned to the needs of their people and to communicate that information to senior leadership. I give my leaders the freedom to make decisions based on their situational awareness and follow through on those decisions.
How did your military service prepare you for your role as VP and CFO?
My military career has instilled in me a strong sense of adaptability and focus. The latter of which has helped me hone skills that add value to my work. I believe that building on your competencies is essential with each level of achievement you reach. Every accomplishment or promotion has taught me valuable lessons about how to handle conflict, make important decisions on the fly, and the importance of gaining a thorough understanding before making adjustments.
Conducting a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a practice that I find helpful in gauging the knowledge base I'm working with. I am not afraid to take risks and believe that they can offer a high level of return or no return at all. However, I am willing to experiment because I think that this often leads to innovation.
What drew you to UNLV?
As the chief financial officer at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, I reached a point in my career where I needed to make decisions that were in the best interest of my family. This realization prompted me to explore new options and, as my wife and I discussed our next move, she shared a few non-negotiables. We sat down together and created a list of what we wanted for our family, which included:
- Access to robust international travel opportunities.
- A diverse community. Diversity is always at the top of our list. It matters to us. Vegas provides that.
- Good shopping and world-class restaurants (we are low-key foodies)
I began searching for positions that would allow me to leverage my leadership experiences and make a meaningful impact. I feel incredibly fortunate and honored to have found a position at UNLV that aligns with my goals and values.
What do you appreciate most about your time at UNLV so far?
I find the enthusiasm and passion that people have for being a Rebel at UNLV to be incredibly contagious. The school and community are closely intertwined, with a variety of motivated individuals, events, and connections that integrate well into the Vegas scene. I have a deep appreciation for President Whitfield's leadership and the way he inspires others.
During the unfortunate events of Dec. 6, President [Keith] Whitfield and I were in a meeting when we received reports of the situation. We immediately went into lockdown and began strategizing next steps. Drawing on my military experience, active shooter training from a leadership perspective, and commanding military installations experience, I did everything possible to add value to the unfolding situation at that moment.
Tell me about your experiences partnering with other units.
I have extensive experience working with cross-unit partnerships, having collaborated with other branches of the U.S. military on projects. During my time in Tucson, Arizona, I was responsible for preparing the Air Force base for 2,000 soldiers arriving within 48 hours for the commencement of a national initiative. I received an Army decoration known as a citation for the work I led during that time.
More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, my family and I received a waiver to move to Anchorage, Alaska, where I worked closely with the base commander to implement guidance and restrictions for an entire base, including housing, schools, and recreation centers. I also led a command team when a suspicious vehicle was found on the base. In these moments, it's all about rallying everyone in the room to get the job done.
You emphasize family often. Tell me about your family.
My family is everything to me, and I am forever grateful for them. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with my kids and hear about their day during dinner and family time. Helping them prepare for school each morning is one of the most rewarding things I do daily. My wife is an amazing mother, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive and loving family.
What is one of your favorite things to do with your family?
My wife and I make a conscious effort to expose our three children, two girls and a boy, to a diverse range of experiences. Anything that gets them moving and expends energy is considered a win in our book.
We prioritize reading and spend a lot of quality time together as a family. During "dad time," it's usually three-on-one wrestling in the family room. We also enjoy exploring what Las Vegas looks like beyond The Strip. Our family is keenly interested in learning about the city and discovering all it has to offer.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have been investing since I was 6 years old, when I saved up enough money to buy my first bond. When I was 12 years old, I bought my first stock. As a boy, I also began collecting sports cards. Among my most prized possessions is a mint condition Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Steve Nash 1-of-1 Los Angeles Lakers trading card. Additionally, my brother gave me an unopened box of Classic Shaq trading cards that are still unopened to this day.
Who are your top three greatest athletes living today?
The top three greatest athletes living today are Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Michael Jordan. I love competitive sports. I can appreciate how people play the game. I grew up idolizing Magic Johnson.
Name the most exciting place you’ve been and your favorite thing to do there.
Washington, D.C., will always be one of my favorite places because that’s where I met my wife. I also enjoyed my assignment to Korea, where I fell in love with the culture and learned some of the language, which I’m sure scored me points with my wife when we met since she is Korean. She was very impressed.
What is one of your biggest goals for the division/UNLV?
I have several goals that I am working toward, including balancing the budget with the appropriate amount of risk and providing unwavering support for our Top Tier 2.0 strategy. Developing a sound strategy can be challenging, but I firmly believe that everything we do should align with it.
To accomplish these goals, I rely on the foundational principles that helped me succeed in my military career. There are many similarities between being part of the leadership team at a military installation and a higher education institution or division. Both require careful attention to detail and a focus on taking care of the troops or students, respectively, so that they can achieve their goals.
