Major: Electrical Engineering
Class: 1966
What is your current job title/name of the company?
Sr. Computer Systems Engineer at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Has your MSOE education prepared you for the workforce? If so, how?
MSOE prepared me by instilling the need for both concentration and the ability to juggle multiple competing assignments and projects.
Do you find that employers have a favorable image of MSOE graduates?
I believe that local (Washington D.C. area) employers have a favorable image of MSOE graduates since there are a fair number of graduates in the area even though MSOE is located in the mid-west.
What advice do you have for current or prospective MSOE students?
Work as hard as you can and learn as much as you can to secure the best opportunities upon graduation. Hands-on experience with hardware and software, which in my field of systems engineering, is a must. Utilizing your systems engineering expertise at NASA, you can expect to get involved with the spacecraft (S/C) ground command and control systems and the S/C onboard computers and scientific payload instrumentation. Lastly, an undergraduate knowledge in computer systems data security is a REAL plus.
What are your tips for success?
Always be ready to learn new skills and to re-invent yourself relative to society’s fast moving technological changes. In addition, always maintain your integrity as it’s one of your most important attributes. And finally, pay attention to details (because the devil is in there), never give up and have some fun with the proper balance!