Army Veteran Marches On

6/1/2022

by Alana Petrusiw

It was another bright, clear day in San Diego. A few clouds floated through the sky, and a light breeze stroked the treetops, causing them to dance with no hint of care along the road to the office.

Uninterested in the beautiful scenery around, Kevin Lock tapped on the gas pedestal anxiously, cruising towards the office. He thought to himself, ‘Today must be the day! These past few days have been stressful, waiting for the news.’

He hurriedly greeted his colleagues after he walked into the office, moving swiftly to his cubicle on the opposite end of the office. He quickly settled in, turned his computer on, and logged onto the website bulletin board. A cheer went up from him and echoed across the office.

He stood up. Through the north wall windows, he gazed across the gentle grass covered hillside outside the office where large leafy trees dotted the land as far as he could see. ‘What a familiar landscape’, he suddenly realized. It looked so much like the training camp he remembered at Fort Leonard Wood.

“Kevin," his father called out the day before his high school graduation. “Have you decided if you’re going to join the Army?” His father, an army veteran himself, had a big influence on him and he was looking forward to following in his footsteps in the Army after high school. “Yes, Dad! I’m all ready to go!” Kevin called out.

He recalled in the Army recruiter’s office, “Ever since I can remember from my childhood, I’ve always enjoyed building things - some people called me MacGyver. Engineering is the best position for me to take on in the Army. When I was in 6th grade, I was really excited about engineering when I designed a bridge out of popsicle sticks, and it held more weight than anyone else's before breaking.” He enlisted as a technical engineer in the Army and worked on all kinds of projects revolving around civil engineering - the perfect fit.

Five years of military life flew by like a snap of a finger! All things in Kevin’s life led him deep into engineering. He loved to build and do math and science - all things STEM. With help from the GI Bill, also known as the Post 9-11 Bill, he enrolled in San Diego State University (SDSU) and obtained his degree to become a civil engineer.?Not only did he want to do something he loved, but he also wanted to provide for his wife and two children, who supported and encouraged him throughout his time in the Army and at SDSU.

As his colleague at PacRim I asked him how his career transition from a soldier to a civilian as a civil engineer was like. “It was a smooth one thanks to my family, military friends, classmates, and PacRim colleagues. Coming from a military background gives me a unique perspective on the design of new military facilities, and as an added bonus, I am able to help, support, and give back to the people I used to stand next to in the military.”

Kevin’s journey at PacRim occurred when he met our now-retired Principal, Rick Rubin while attending a resume writing workshop at SDSU, where Rick was teaching the class. “Kevin, would you like to interview for an internship position at PacRim?” Rick asked as he pulled him aside after the workshop. “PacRim has been supporting American servicemen and women and their families for over 10 years. We like to do our part in promoting veterans into professional engineering fields.”?Kevin accepted a one-year internship that turned into a full-time position.

On that anxious morning in the office, Kevin yelled out “Yes, I passed it!” referring to the 8-hour Professional Engineer’s test! He was now one step closer to becoming a Professional Engineer in California. Cheers erupted in the office, and everyone flocked in to high-five him - what a beautiful San Diego day indeed!

“So, what did you do next after you learned you passed the test?” I asked. “Immediately after, I called my wife, father, and mother to share the news. I was so grateful for my family, friends, and colleagues’ help and encouragement, and for being able to put in the work. The EIT (Engineer-in-Training) and professional engineering tests may be intimidating, but if you give it an honest effort and put in the study time, you will pass them.”

“Over the past three and a half years with PacRim, my mentors: Travis Pital, Rick Rubin, and Peter Liu have pushed me to improve myself professionally and academically, encouraging me to pursue my EIT, PE, and other certifications. They have also helped me gain valuable experience in various facets of the Civil Engineering Industry. I really enjoy working at PacRim. You not only get to know everyone on a personal level, but you feel comfortable reaching out to and working alongside people with decades of experience like our Principal / Owner Peter.”

Hopping out of bed each morning Kevin realizes “I’m excited to come to work. The work is interesting and I’m good at it!” How wonderful that is! Our army veteran marches on to support our country and his newfound profession. As his supervisor, Travis commented on Kevin’s rise throughout his PacRim career thus far. “Our San Diego team and clients rely on Kevin on a daily basis. He is a fun, charismatic person who consistently adds value to us all. He is a great asset to PacRim, and we look forward to his continued growth as he progresses in his career.”

Across the nation, there are many veterans who have sacrificed for their country and are awaiting opportunities to transition into purposeful and respectful civilian lives like Kevin’s. I ponder, after rejoicing in Kevin’s passing of the PE test, if we at PacRim have achieved a little more today too in our commitment to creating opportunities for growth for our veterans, pushing them to reach their full potential and bettering our lives. I certainly hope so!