Intro:
Good day! Today’s post is about me, a topic I know a little bit about.
“Career Student”
I’ve been called a “career student,” which is a pretty accurate description. I started out thinking I was going to be a mechanic and completing trade school at Universal Technical Institute (UTI), followed up with a couple of business degrees, and then finally made my way into engineering at Thomas Nelson and Old Dominion, which is probably what I should have done all along. That’s right, I have a diploma from UTI, an AS in Contracts Management, a BS in Business Administration, another AS in Engineering, an AAS in Mechanical Engineering Technology, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Career student!
Work:
After UTI, I worked at a few dealerships (Lexus, Subaru, and Kia) and passed half of my ASE certification tests. However, my main work history revolves around the nine years I served in the USAF. While I was in the Air Force, my job was to do procurement and contracts. I purchased everything from IT equipment to entire building construction projects. Once I got out of the USAF in 2017 and started on my engineering degree, I was able to do a couple of internships at NASA and Continental, locally. At NASA, I worked in the machine shop and learned the basics of machining. At Continental, I did metrology and learned a lot of GD&T and fine measurement and calibration. I finished my Mechanical Engineering degree in 2021 and started working at Jefferson Lab.
Hobbies:
When I’m not working, I love working on cars (mine and others), ride my road bike, and most importantly make things. I purchased my dream home in 2020 and have a large shop that I am currently building out. So far, I’ve purchased a TIG welder, a manual lathe, a Bridgeport mill, and installed a Challenger lift. Further, I have a small office that has an FDM 3D printer and a resin printer. Lastly, I made a mostly printed CNC that can (very slowly) cut aluminum or wood. I have all these tools to support my making addiction. My projects are typically an extension of what tools I have available to me and working to justify their purchase fully utilize them.
Outro:
Hopefully, this helps give you an idea of who I am and what I’m capable of. Upcoming blog posts about my car and project status are forthcoming.