Don Wiley:
CLASS OF 1979
John Jay High SchoolClass of 1979
San antonio, TX
Karamursel American High SchoolClass of 1979
Karamursel air station,
Lackland High SchoolClass of 1979
San antonio, TX
Don's Story
Life
Air Force dependant and Retired Navy Chief, working as a Project Manager for a Fourtune 100 campany.
I ride motorcycles for the joy and thrill of it (sorry not a Harley but a Honda Goldwing), work on computers (build, repair, and tweek), and travel for fun.
I have two grown sons who can't take a hint, one still live at home and the other is over every week to do laundry and get a free meal.
I have two Golden Retrievers.
My wife is my high school sweetheart and we have been maried for 28 years.
Living in Central Florida.
School
I moved a lot while growing up and went to quite a few schools. While it may not have been the most traditional education, growing up in a military family gave the the oppertunity to get a much fuller education than would have ever been possible living in one place. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Linclon Elementry - Cranford NJ
Edwin Marcum - Vacaville CA
David A Weir - Fairfield CA
North Hanover Township School #1 - McGuire AFB NJ
Northern Burlington County Regional Junior Senior High School - Wrightstown NJ
Karamursel High School - Karamursel Turkey
Lackland High School - Lackland AFB/San Antonio TX
John Jay High - San Antonio TX
College
Never made it to college, I joined the Navy right after high school, then started a family, and never really made time for it. It hasn't been too much of an issue until recently when I've discovered the glass ceiling it is causing.
I'm thinking it's time to look into it, now to just make the time.
As my grammer and spelling show, a little more education wouldn't hurt.
Workplace
Twenty years in the Navy and then I changed directions.
Went to work for a fortune 100 company, and am still there, where I started out engineering and installing large scale security systems (airports, hospitals, high sceurity complexes, etc.).
After helping a really great salesman friend of mine put together and deliver a project presentation for one of our best customers I was asked to go into, and accepted a position in sales. It was a great job that I held for 3 years and was not only successful but had a great time and a lot of fun doing it.
I changed positions in the company again and worked for about 18 months as the regional operations manager where I managed the installation and service business for fire and security for a 5 state area. This was the most demanding and difficult job I have ever had, I'd do it again in a second if asked, but I'm really hoping they don't.
My current position is as a Project Manager for major porjects where I am ma...Expand for more
naging the retrofit of fire alarm system at a major university hospital and the replacement of the security systems in a statewide toll road system. This is a GREAT job, I'm working with some really great people and having fun at what I do (for 12 to 16 hours a day). I'll do this for the next few years and then after that, who knows, have to get past the glass ceiling that sits above me.
Military
I went into the Navy right out of high school. After 2 years of training I was an Electronics Technician and a Nuclear Reactor Operator. It was a great job and a fantastic education. I loved it so much I stuck around for 20 years. I did my entire career on submarines and had the pleasure of working with some of the finest people in the US military. I miss it a lot, if I was asked to come back I'd go in an instant, we'd just have to discuss the pay (you'll never live the good life on a military paycheck).
I served 3 years onboard USS Daniel Webster SSBN-626B where I did 6 patrols out of Groton CT.
I went to instructor duty in Saratoga Springs NY where I really enjoyed teaching. I left there after 2 years because of political reasons. Too much BS and going to sea was a lot more fun.
I went back to Groton CT where I was assigned to USS Topeka SSN-754 during new construction of the ship. Working and watching as a submarine was being built around you is an incredable learing experience.
I moved on to the USS George Washington Carver SSBN-656B where I did 2 years and 3 patrols before the ship was designated for crew combination and decommissioning. While onboard I served as the RCLPO (chief reactor operator) and advanced to Chief Petty Officer.
Making Chief Petty Officer I consider one of the major events in my life, so far the only things that have topped this is my marriage to my wife of 25 years and the birth of my 2 sons.
I spent a few years again as an instructor in Kings Bay GA at Trident Training Facility. After two instructor assignments I think I can say that teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. If I were to change occupations again, I would most likely go into teaching if I'm given the choice.
My last 5 years in the Navy was spent onboard USS Kentucky SSBN-737B out of Kings Bay GA where I served as RCLPO for 5 years and did 9 patrols.
I retired after 20 years, 18 patrols, and over 4 years underwater, when the Navy gave me the choice of going to sea for the 6th year in a row or working shift work for the next 3 years and taking a pay 30% pay cut. I took the 3rd option and retired.
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