Why did you choose to become an engineer?

When I was a kid I remember getting introduced to our old IBM XT that my dad had. When I was 11 I was introduced to MS Flight Simulator 5.0 and became curious about how things worked on a low level. When I was 15 I tried out Turbo C 1.0 to make a program that solved triangles given basic inputs. When I turned 16 a neighbor helped me get into this Linux thing I had been hearing about and I installed Debian 2.0 Hamm.

I learned a lot from my dad growing up and it felt like a big milestone when there was a day that he had some Linux questions for me instead of it always being me asking him questions. I decided to become an engineer because my curiosity eventually led to a skill level that allowed me to help other people with their technology problems.

What are the most important qualities for an engineer to have?

I would say that attention to detail and being able to learn are two extremely important qualities, but the most important quality of all for an engineer is patience. Patience with our tools, our users, and ourselves. If we don’t practice developing patience it will eventually cause problems.

What do you enjoy most about being an engineer? And about being an engineer at Edgio?

The best part about being an engineer is when I finally get to the bottom of a problem by finding a model for understanding it that can be expressed to others so everyone can understand what was wrong and why it isn’t going to be a problem anymore.

What excites you about the future of engineering and what we are doing here at Edgio?

I am most excited about our opportunity to unwind from some of the legacy decisions that served us well in our earlier years but that aren’t aging as well as we would like them to. The standard that I judge our progress by is whether what we’re doing can allow us to do more with less time and I’m hopeful we’re making the right decisions.

What advice would you give to someone who is just beginning their engineering career?

1. Things aren’t going to work the first time.

2. Generic facilities can be a sexy trap, make sure you’ve solved similar problems 3 different times before you make it generic.

3. Sometimes realizing you need to walk away for a few minutes can save you hours of debugging (a rubber duck might also help).

Share a fun fact about yourself or something you enjoy doing outside of work.

In November of 2020 I bought an airplane and flew it home from Indiana. I enjoy flying when I can and last year I was able to do a fun trip to St. George with my two daughters, on the way home we got to fly over Zion National Park.

Engineers Week 2023 runs from February 19 to 25. This year’s theme — Creating the Future — recognizes how engineers play a vital role in innovating solutions to global challenges that impact future generations. By working together to develop new technologies, products and opportunities, engineers create new possibilities that make the world a better place. This Engineers Week we hope that you’ll take a moment to recognize and celebrate the work of engineers and engage students in engineering. DiscoverE, the organization behind Engineers Week, has free resources you can use to inspire future innovators, such as hands-on engineering activities and lesson plans, information about engineering education, and pathways to a technical careers. Visit DiscoverE.org and get the help you need to focus on the “E” in STEM.