Max Butler, a 1976 graduate of Niles High School, earned a doctorate in organizational leadership from Grand Canyon University on March 28.

His dissertation examined the impact of authentic leadership on resistance to change in project managers. He is an Alpha Chi academic honor society member and certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute.

Butler earned his baccalaureate from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and a master’s in leadership from GCU. Additionally, he is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy and attended the National Defense University Keystone program.

He is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. During his service CSM (Ret.) Butler received numerous awards and decorations including two Legions of Merit and a Bronze Star. He retired from the military after serving a nominative assignment as the Eighth Command Sergeant Major of the Arizona Army National Guard.

Butler is the son of the late Jack C. and Margaret A. Butler, of Niles. Presently he works for Honeywell International and lives in Glendale, Arizona. Butler participated in a commencement ceremony March 26.