Dave Tengler...
About Me
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Pretending to be an Astronaut |
Right now you're probably wondering one of two things:
1. How do I get hooked up with the coolest co-op program ever? .or
2. How did this dude get it?
Since I have no idea about number two, I'll just tell you about number one, but first a little bit about me.
I was born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin. I know what you're probably thinking right now and no, I did not grow up on a farm, but yes, I do love cheese and the Green Bay Packers (Brett Favre is amazing). I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (probably obvious at this point). I came to college wanting to do engineering, but not really sure which kind. I decided to major in Engineering Mechanics and Astronautics because I always thought that planes and space were fascinating and that working for companies like NASA could be pretty cool. I had no idea it would actually happen though.
Coming to NASA
I had no clue NASA even had a co-op program until they showed up to UW's engineering career fair one day. I walked in planning to talk to the typical aerospace companies that every Aero talks to like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Gulfstream. I was looking around, and then I saw it. the NASA booth. I gave them my resume and was surprised to be called later that night with an invitation for an interview the following day. The interview went well and I got a call about three weeks later saying their was a job waiting for me down here in Houston. I figured this was the opportunity of a limetime. I was absolutely right.
Co-op Work
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Observing a simulation in Mission
Control |
As a co-op you're required to do about 3-5 different tours. Basically, you are able to switch your job around JSC everytime you come back. This gives you the great opportunity to discover what you enjoy doing and what you don't.
I completed my first tour in the Mission Operations Directorate working in the Command and Data Handling group for the Internation Space Station. The people in my group are flight controllers who operate the computers and networks onboard the space station. The most signifcant project I was given was to construct a website for the new Command Training program. It was somewhat challenging at first because I actually had never made a website before. I'm not really one to shy away from challenges and was excited to be working on something that would be so important since every new flight controller would use my website to become command certified.
Even better than the actual work is the work environment. Everyone you meet is incredibly smart. You also get to do and see a lot of cool stuff. I still can't believe the first time I walked into Mission Control, waved my NASA badge to get passed the security doors, plugged my headset into the audio loops, and got to observe real flight controllers working real time mission operations.
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Scoot
Moon and I getting Scuba certified.
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Nathan
Calvert, Cody Burkhart, and Dave Tengler
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Co-op Fun
Alright, take about 40-60 fun college students, remove all the responsibilities
of studying and homework, and you'll begin to have an idea of what co-op life
is like. Someone is always wanting to do something. If you like the beach, Galveston
is half an hour away. If you like the city life, you can drive to downtown Houston
and go to the Galleria (probably the biggest mall I've ever been in). If you
like sports or working out, you can play on the different co-op league teams,
like the soccer and softball teams I played on, or workout at the Gilruth recreational
facility. You can go to concerts all over the city, professional sports events,
the Texas Rodeo, skydiving, rock climbing, camping at Big Bend National Park,
and do many other exciting things. One time, a bunch of us decided to rent out
an ice rink and play broomball, which is basically like hockey but with a paddle
and a ball instead of a stick and a puck. and with no skates. We work hard,
but we play hard too.
Working for NASA has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. It is an experience of a lifetime. I've talked to countless full time employees here who wish they had been co-ops when they were in college. I hope this has motivated you to pursue a co-op with NASA and even better, maybe we can hang out one day. I would love to answer any questions, so please feel free to email me at djtengler@wisc.edu.
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