Beyond business

Bob Bullock recounts his time playing polo much the way he discusses his long, successful career — with humility and nonchalance. "I played polo, but not very well," he laughed, remembering when an Argentinian gaucho praised his riding skills, saying, "Senor Bob, you ride so well." 

"That's high praise, so I said, 'Thank you.'" After playing a match, he returned his horse to the gaucho, who said, "Senor Bob, you ride so well, but play polo so badly."

Bullock's polo career faded, but his run as a world-class announcer continues — a fact he mentions as a friend might say they joined a local slow-pitch softball team or bowling league. 

The SUNY Adirondack Business professor talks about his career casually, but tucked amid anecdotes, he makes mention of brag-worthy achievements he seems reluctant to highlight: "lieutenant colonel" (overseeing public affairs for the U.S. Air Force's support of research programs throughout the Antarctic continent and Greenland), "general staff" (in the Air Force, providing direct managerial support for two- and three-star generals) and "deputy director" (of the Rockefeller Institute, SUNY's public policy think tank).

At SUNY Adirondack, Bullock leads StartUp ADK, an entrepreneur development program offered through the college's Continuing Education office, and teaches business courses, including in the college's Early College Career and Second Chance programs. 

"I love higher education," Bullock said, mentioning that when he was president of the Foundation for the New York State Archives, he lectured about the state's history; how under Gov. Mario Cuomo he oversaw the Empire State Fellowship program, preparing mid level Ph.D.s, J.D.s and M.D.s for high-level government positions; and how in Antarctica, much of his job was working with researchers from throughout the world, high-level government officials and global media.
 

"The epochs of my career, they're all somehow connected to higher education, the sciences, history, government and public policy," he said. 

The Second Chance program, taught out of Washington Correctional Facility, is particularly fulfilling. "The students are hugely driven to succeed, and it's something we do that changes the lives of populations who otherwise might not be touched by college or education."