T Dankson:  

Well, let's see....After high school, I worked in construction for a few years and it didn't really suit me. I wanted to see more of the world and get an education that would allow me to get out of the rut that I was developing for myself. Being young and broke, I turned to the Navy to get the training and experience necessary to change my life. While in the Navy, I saw a lot of the world, experienced a lot of the good and bad that the world has to offer. I worked on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier--saw more than my share of action, including a lot of time in the Persian Gulf. During the last year of my enlistment, I married my high school sweetheart. The Navy taught me that I didn't want to have a career as an enlisted man in the military. So, I left the Navy to pursue my education. I applied to and was accepted into Purdue University's Aeronautical Technology program. While at Purdue, I worked as a teaching assistant for various aviation related labs. It helped offset the cost of the education. I graduated with a B.S. in 1992, specializing in advanced composites and plastics. Two weeks after graduation, my first son, Matt, was born. After graduation, employment prospects were very bad. For my entire graduating class, there were only 3 positions relating to my degree that were available for interviews. I was fortunate enough to have received 2 offers from that interview cycle. Of the positions offered, I took the one located near Dallas, Tx. It was always my goal to keep moving south because I hate cold weather. The job was with Raytheon. While with Raytheon, I was fortunate enough to work with many outstanding aviation programs, including Air Force One. I also worked on aircraft for many heads of state. It was very exciting but not very rewarding from a monetary standpoint. While at Raytheon, my youngest son, Joshua, was born. After about 6 years at Raytheon and seeing no real future ro...Expand for more