(Editor’s Note:) As part of the expansion of K-Exchange, we are introducing our new weekly feature. “Craig the Rocket Scientist.” Craig is an aerospace engineer in his late 20’s who works for an aerospace company serving both the private sector and the government. Without further ado, I bring you the first in our new weekly series of updates in the life of Craig the Rocket Scientist:
“I think engineers should come up with a chemical to spray in the air and trap all the pollution so it falls to the ground and we can sweep it all up”
“Can you fix my email?”
“Wow, you must be really good with math… Can you help me with my homework?”
Those are actual quotes I’ve gotten when someone, somewhere, found out I was an engineer. To make matters worse when they found out I was a “Rocket Scientist” (re: aerospace engineer) the inane questions seemed to double.
My Formative Years
Some people are born engineers; they built radios, computers, engines, and nuclear generators before they could ride a bike. I on the other hand could build none of those things; however I WAS an expert at LEGOs and blowing up my failed experiments! If my childhood was a foretelling of my future, I was doomed to creating elaborate scenes, and blowing up various pieces of electronics… Maybe I was destined to be the next Michael Bay?
Getting a Piece of Paper to Frame on the Wall
Growing up my real passion was aircraft and spacecraft. I knew down in the pit of my soul I was meant to either fly them or build them and before long I found myself at a school that specialized in both.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a small private university where I got my Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. After an internship at big name aircraft manufacturer doing analysis work I decided I wanted to specialize in rockets.
Entering the World of Engineering
During my final year doing senior design projects I did some aggressive job hunting. It could easily be argued that I recruited a number of companies, and not the other way around! I landed my current engineering job at my first choice of aerospace companies, manufacturing rocket components for both the government and the private sector.
Fast-forwarding through the next 26 months, I met and married the girl of my dreams, tinkered with my motorcycle, bought a small house, played a few video games, and started work on my Master’s of Mechanical Engineering degree.
So Here I am Today
Married, mortgaged, and living the sweet life in my cubicle, under a fluorescent sun… Probably not unlike a lot of other engineers out there. For the record, I know little to nothing about flying cars, alien abduction, faster than light travel, malevolent artificial intelligences, why cats land feet down, why toast lands bread up, or how to get free cable.
Hi, my name is Craig and I am an engineer, and no, I won’t fix your email.
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… ok, ok, what’s the matter with it?
