[tcj103]

I agree, book smarts only get you so far.

As for me, BS in Aerospace Engineering, minor in Engineering Mechanics, from Penn State.

But my work is more software related, but on a fly by wire flight control system on a rotorcraft. While I don't do code directly, I work at the system integration level, looking at logic diagrams and addressing software/hardware integration.

Basically this means we have a computer flying the airplane, and the software that does that and detects faults is in my area, along with the components and how they perform. Failures are logged, and troubleshooting performed.

I've awlways had the aviation bug, was a pilot for 15 years, and always enjoyed playing with machines and computers. As a mentor, FIRST has always been a source of inspiration for me, since you see results so quickly. I constantly remind the students of what they're learning.

Ted