Outskirts Press, INC.

A Veteran Engineer’s Guide to an Exciting and Challenging Career!

Are you considering a College Major in Engineering, but wondering whether and how to plan for a successful career? Dan Heflin is here to help, with perspectives and guidance gained from 65 years of experience. Having entered the Marine field as a wide-eyed novice, he knows how valuable it was to have the mentorship and tutelage of veteran tradesmen, designers, managers, and engineers—which eventually resulted in promotion to Director of Engineering Services. After retirement from the shipyard, he and a uniquely qualified veteran naval architect formed an independent consulting company, offering services across a wide range of technical and management issues, which further broadened his experiences well beyond design and manufacturing. If this level of engagement and challenge sounds exciting, then this is the book for you! Both pragmatic and encouraging, Dan asks the aspiring engineer to examine personal characteristics such as depth of curiosity, tenacity, patience, aptitude for mathematics, concentration, and the ability to prioritize. Unique characteristics of different fields of engineering are reviewed, and Dan stresses the importance of sophomores and juniors reviewing their experiences to date, to confirm or change the chosen field of specialization. Dan draws upon decades of personal experience to maximize benefits and minimize disappointments in college, employment, and beyond.