Gary Johanson:
CLASS OF 1964
St. Joseph Franciscan High SchoolClass of 1964
Westmont, IL
Briar Cliff College & UniversityClass of 1973
Sioux city, IA
University of Iowa - EngineeringClass of 1973
Iowa city, IA
Quincy CollegeClass of 1968
Quincy, IL
St. Joseph's Seminary SchoolClass of 1964
Oak brook, IL
Gary's Story
Life
After I left OLA, I spent nearly 4 years in the Air Force (mostly in Oklahoma and Japan). I returned to college for three years earning a BA from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City IA and a BSEE from the U of IA. I worked for Westinghouse for 19 years in satellite communications and aerospace/defense work. I met my future wife there. Worked for 5 years at EMC Controls doing process control computer systems. I worked for Nortel Networks for 5 years doing satellite communications and network consulting. I now have my own consulting business in satellite and telecommunications engineering and loving it! Along the way I picked up two masters degrees (MSEE in Communications and an MBA).
My wife Dottie and I are now retired. We have sold our home and are traveling around the USA in our RV.
Looking forward to hearing from classmates/teachers or those who were at St. Joe's in the early-mid 60s or at OLA in its first couple of years. Let's have a reunion!
College
Quincy College '64 - '66, general liberal arts studies.
After 4 years in the Air Force, on to Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA in 1970 and then two more years at the University of Iowa. Graduated in 1973 with a BSEE and a BA.
I have two masters degrees; a MS degree in communications from The George Washington University in Washington DC and a MBA degree from the University of Baltimore. Both Masters were achieved while working full time.
Workplace
I joined Westinghouse in 1973 as a Field Engineer. After a 6 month stint on a classified project I was moved to Rosman, NC to sup...Expand for more
port the ATS-6 Millimeter Wave Propagation experiment. In 1975 I returned to MD and supported the development and field deployment of the satellite ground system for the TIROS-N polar-orbiting weather satellite system eventually spending a year in Alaska and several months on the VA Eastern shore supporting the project. In 1979 I was back in MD supporting the development of a monitoring system for nuclear power plants. I left Westinghouse in 1981 for Electronic Modules (Rexnord Automation). There I developed industrial automation systems and was eventually director of MIS and Prod. Engineering depts. In 1986 I returned to Westinghouse working on a number of communications projects rising to Chief Engineer of the Communications division. In 1997 I moved to Nortel Networks as Chief Architect, Satellite Net. Solutions. After 5 years at Nortel I started my own consulting business (satellite ground systems).
My wife and I are now retired and touring the USA in our RV.
Military
I left college after 2 years but did not register for another college soon enough-bad mistake. I joined the USAF in August 1966 to keep from getting drafted. After basic I went to tech school in Biloxi. Graduated a radio relay repairman and went to a tactical comm squad in Altus, OK. I was there just over a year, went back to Biloxi to learn some new equipment and went to the 2132nd comm squad at Tachikawa. I was there just about two years until May of 1970 when I got an early-out to go back to college. I would be interested to hear from others that were in the 2132nd when I was there.
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