I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), in 1984. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, I returned to CMU to work as a Robotics Research Engineer, for eight years.
I started teaching professionally in the Marine Corps. Now I teach young people. I mainly teach High School and College students, and young men and women entering the armed forces. I love my work.
In the service, I was an Electronic Warfare Instructor; I also taught Radar Intercepts at Naval Fighter Weapons School, Miramar, CA, and Fallon Naval Air Station, NV. I was a Land Survival Instructor of Aviation Officer Candidates at the U.S. Navy Flight School, Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL; I was a Captain, Honorably Discharged, and am a Veteran of the 1st Gulf War. I taught Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) in Saudi Arabia and Tactical Digital Data Link Architecture at White Sands Missile Test Range, NM.
Since then, I have served as a Volunteer Math Tutor at Spring Hill Elementary School and worked as a Robotics Research Engineer at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). I also taught at CMU's Robotics Camp. I have tutored Chemistry and Geometry for students from the CAS program at Taylor Alderdice High School, and taught courses in Robotics and Environmental Science at the Steel Center High School's evening Honors Program.
I worked for two years at Pressley Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness Camp/Secondary Grade School, as a Teacher/Counselor and Supervisor for at-risk youth, so I have current PA Act 33/34 clearances, and am a certified Adult Basic Education (ABE) Instructor with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council (GPLC.)
My additional current certifications include:
YMCA lifeguard, Red Cross Professional Rescuer 1st Aid, CPR, Automated Electronic Defibrillator (AED) and Oxygen administration (O2) certifications. I am certified in the Cornell System of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI).
I am also a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Safety Instructor for Surface and Underground Coal Mines. I worked in 14 coal mines, from Pennsylvania to Utah. I am an Inventor of U.S. Patents #6,296,317 and #6,988,610 for autonomous guidance and computer vision systems for underground coal mining operations. I'm an FAA certified Commercial, Multi-Engine, Instrument-Rated Pilot, Allegheny County Fire Academy Firefighter and HazMat responder.
I am a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI).
I'm a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Certified Electrical Instructor, Electronic Systems Technician Instructor, Industrial Maintenance E and I Instructor, Core Curricula Instructor and designated Subject Matter Expert (SME) for curriculum revision, NCCER and Pearson Publishing. I have taught as an Instructor of the Electrical Technician program at Kaplan Career Institute; I also taught math for Kaplan's Occupational Therapy and Criminal Justice programs.
In addition, I'm a Registered Electrician with the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
Enough about me. Tell me about you...
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