Seeking Doctorate in National Security or Public Policy

[Charles Fout]

Your Location: central Illinois 
Your Age: 40
What kind of degree do you want?: RA doctorate in Homeland Security (not CJ based) Public Policy, or National Security 
Current Regional Accredited Credits: RA Masters in Public Safety 
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: none at the doctoral level
Any certifications or military experience?: yes, none that apply at the doctoral level.
Budget: $25,000 or less. Will be paying cash, No loans.
Commitments: Currently work 72 hours a week as a paramedic, firefighter, and EMS adjunct instructor 
Dedicated time to study: 2 twelve hour blocks each week
Timeline: hope to begin spring 2025 
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: none provided by employer. Honestly I am already very overqualified in my current role, even my boss only has a trade school certificate.
End goal: Get the hell out of being a first responder with a bad back and either enter academia full time, or move into a government role in the area of national defense, public policy, or homeland security.

Just an opinion:

Begin by researching opportunities that are in-line with your career goals. It takes some effort but, sometimes further post-graduate education could be part and parcel of the job. As always, my constant refrain is - Network, network, network. Who you know will have a far more profound effect on career development than any credential.