While many teenagers are still navigating their first year of college, Avery Cloutier is already on the cusp of completing a master’s degree and gearing up for a new chapter with the U.S. Navy. This 19-year-old prodigy from the University of Michigan is set to graduate with a Master of Applied Data Science degree and has his eyes on becoming a Navy intelligence officer.
Cloutier, who has attended six different colleges, shared his unique journey with Military.com, stating, “I may be the youngest to ever receive an intel slot.” With a background deeply rooted in a military family, he was drawn to the Navy but sought a role that matched his extensive academic achievements.
“All of those are excellent,” Cloutier said regarding common career paths like consulting and banking, “but I think it came down to narrowing it to what I really wanted to do instead of following the more conventional career path out of grad school.”
Cloutier’s decision to join the Navy after attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Rhode Island surprised many of his classmates. He noted, “I would have to verify this, but I don’t think anyone from my master’s program has ever joined the military.” Despite the surprise, Cloutier emphasized the importance of taking the less traveled path.
College at 12 Years Old
Cloutier’s educational journey began early. Homeschooled, he began earning college credits at the age of 12 through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). This allowed him to bypass traditional classes by passing standardized tests.
“Essentially, I just wanted to progress through my classes faster, so it was a self-motivated thing to get that done,” Cloutier explained. He quickly demonstrated his capability by passing college-level biology, which set the stage for his accelerated academic journey.
Throughout his college years, Cloutier attended Columbia College, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Canyon University, and Liberty University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree at 17. He described his experience as largely remote for safety reasons, noting that most classmates didn’t know his age, but he was always treated well.
The Navy and Beyond
At 18, Cloutier began working in analytics consulting, where he discovered a passion for the information science field. “I’ve always really loved the information science field,” he said, highlighting how his graduate studies at Michigan aligned perfectly with his career interests.
Charlie Rose, a recruiter who played a role in Cloutier’s journey to the Navy, praised his drive and leadership potential. “If this is what you want to do, I’m willing to help you get there because I can see he’s motivated,” Rose told MLive.com. “He’s obviously a natural leader that people are naturally going to follow.”
Cloutier’s ambition is to embark on a career that not only challenges him but also makes a meaningful impact on society. This vision was instilled in him from a young age. “Any sort of challenge I’ve done has really sort of helped me get to wake up to a career that I’m excited to every day,” Cloutier reflected on his path so far.
