 What is your current job and what does it entail?
I'm a lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard and serve as a project engineer in the Office of Civil Engineering at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC. I am a member of the Ocean Engineering Department's buoy and structures team, which provides engineering support for the Coast Guard-wide inventory of floating and fixed aids to navigation (ATON) platforms. Currently, I am the project engineer for development of a Coast Guard wide ATON structure climbing safety and rescue course and development of a new type of navigational steel ocean buoy.
What was the key factor in your career decision?
I have always loved the water. Since junior high school, I was certain I wanted a career that would involve the ocean. The Coast Guard Academy offered the perfect opportunity to pursue a marine-related career as a Coast Guard officer and to apply my aptitude for science, math and problem solving toward an academic and military education. The Academy did not offer a degree in ocean engineering, so I chose to pursue a degree in civil engineering, knowing that I was building a foundation for further studies in ocean engineering. I was selected to attend graduate school in ocean engineering after two years in the engineering department on a Coast Guard cutter.
What do like most about your career?
I like the process of taking a project from an idea to a finished product, whether it be rehabilitating a Coast Guard station, conducting an emergency fire drill on a ship, or writing a Coast Guard instruction. As a Coast Guard officer and an engineer, I have found myself working with remarkable people on complex and challenging projects, which keeps my career interesting and enjoyable.
What do you like least about your career?
I've moved four times in the past six years. Moving homes and jobs can be pretty stressful. (The number of times I've moved is not typical for a Coast Guard officer. Typically, after a two year tour as an ensign, officers are assigned to new jobs every three or four years.)
What do you do to relax?
I love to spend time with my husband and our two Labrador Retrievers.
Who are your heroes/heroines?
My parents are my heroes. They taught me that I can reach any goal I set for myself as long as I keep working toward my goal with a positive attitude. My dad has always encouraged me to press on even when situations get particularly difficult and unpleasant. My mom has always been there for me with sage advice. How are moms always right?
What advice would you give a high school student who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in your field?
Excel in your academic studies. Also, get involved in sports, clubs and other activities in your school and community. Being a well-rounded student is a huge asset when applying to colleges like the Academy. Apply for one of the summer or overnight programs at the Coast Guard Academy to get a taste for what life is like at a military academy.
Are career opportunities in your field increasing or decreasing and why?
Career opportunities in the Coast Guard have been increasing due to the increased role of the Coast Guard in homeland defense missions since it joined the Department of Homeland Security. You can become a Coast Guard officer by graduating from the Academy or completing officer candidate school after you graduate from college. Both programs provide excellent opportunities for exciting careers.
What will you be doing 10 years from today?
I could be working at one of many civil or ocean engineering positions in the Coast Guard, most likely at a Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit.
Salary:$60,000 - $80,000
Email:dbo@comdt.uscg.mil
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