Two months into the pre-power school assignment I’m finally getting a better sense of how things operate.  Like any job it takes time to learn how things operate and what terms mean what.  However, in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) there’s so many acronyms and departments that the people that have been here for 20+ years can’t even get them all straight.  So coming in as an EE with mainly Integrated Circuit experience and being thrown into a nuclear prototype I was a bit overwhelmed at first.  What’s great is that everyday I’m learning something new and making more connections to how every system helps the overall operation.

I was expecting to come into this pre-power school assignment on the shallow end of the pool maybe even with some floaties, but I was dropped in the deep end with sharks!  I suppose I learn a lot faster this way so it’s not all that bad.  I’m also really thankful to be getting some good experience with the S8G & Marf Prototypes, which I’ll be coming back to work on after power school in South Carolina.  I’ll be heading down there end of February, can’t wait!

I’ll be moving over Labor Day weekend to New York.   Only a month away.  Looking forward to starting something new.  I also am in the process of trading in my truck in the “Cash for Clunkers” program for a shiny new 2010 Fusion!  It wasn’t my first choice, but I had to be practical as I’ll be driving through a lot of snow.  Another cool thing is that Ford uses the exact cluster that I spent most of my co-ops days working with at Denso.  It’s pretty neat seeing something you were a part of in so many cars, and if anything ever goes wrong (which it won’t cause we tested the hell out of the thing) I’ll be able to fix it!

Got a call this Monday saying my clearance was in, however due to the amazing economy we all love so much I won’t be starting til mid-September!  Much later than I anticipated, but I guess I’ll just have to be patient for the time being and happy I’ve got a job lined up at all.

While I’m waiting I’ll just make the most of my summer, and plan a few more trips possibly.  And also study through some material that KAPL has sent me.  It’s funny how many little details that you memorized in the early years of college are easily forgotten!  Anyway it’s a good refresher, but there are also new subjects to review which I’ve never been introduced to.  Such as Reactor Theory and Nuclear Physics.  Also Fluids, Statics, and Thermodynamics are other areas where my only experience was the FE Exam over a year ago.

I started going through the really easy stuff first (at least for me).  Reviewing the Electrical Sciences went well, but I will have to adjust to some notations I’m unfamiliar with and also seeing diagrams with current flowing the opposite way of which I studied it.  I haven’t reviewed the Math yet, but it only goes up to Diff EQ so I’m not too worried about that at the moment. I can thank my many many math courses that go into far more detail than I have ever needed elsewhere, hah.

Everything is going pretty well lately and it’s just a matter of time before I’ll be in NY and SC.

While waiting for security clearance to come in from the DOE for the KAPL position I’ve decided I am going to make the most of my summer while I can.  Just got back from a week in Cali with my high school friend, Shawn, who’s currently working with Mozilla.  It was a blast and worth every penny I spent to get out there.

I’m planning some trips up to our cabin in May, and I’ve booked a flight down to Virginia to visit my sister inearly June, then heading out to Annapolis, Maryland for her wedding in late June.  Quite a lot going on in the next couple months.  Most likely in July I’ll be getting ready to head out to New York for 2 weeks, then moving to Charelston, South Carolina to start Naval Nuclear Power School.Then 6 months later I’ll be moving back to upstate New York, and hopefully be able to settle down for a bit.

Of all the traveling I’ve done in my life, I’ll be traveling more this year than all of my life prior.   I’m a bit nervous, but more excited about the upcoming adventure.

I’ve finally found a job!  The job is at Knolls Atomic Power Lab (KAPL) near Albany, NY.  The program I’m part of is fast paced and very new to me.  I’m really excited to start, but currently am waiting on security clearance and also have to visit the site for a drug screening and physical.  The job description is below, but calling it a job doesn’t seem right.  It’s more of a career than a job.

Candidates for the program are needed throughout the year. The initial assignment involves a comprehensive fifteen-month training program. The first six months are spent in a graduate level academic environment at the Naval Nuclear Power School located in historic Charleston, South Carolina. Here candidates are exposed to a broadening technical background of fundamental concepts relating to naval nuclear propulsion plants. Courses include Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow, Chemistry, Materials, Radiological Fundamentals, Reactor Dynamics and Reactor Plant Operations. The remaining nine months of the training program include on-the-job hands-on training in one of KAPL’s two operating prototype plants located near Saratoga Springs, New York. After completion of the training program, engineers assume responsibility for coordinating complex maintenance and testing activities in the prototype plant and support facilities, training future naval personnel and developing the multidisciplinary competence required to lead a team of approximately 50 people. The broad experience gained in the Nuclear Operations Program is an excellent foundation to launch individuals into a variety of careers and to become major contributors within KAPL’s world class engineering and scientific communities. It is here that cutting edge technologies are used to envision, design and deliver the Navy’s future propulsion capabilities. All candidates must be U.S. citizens and will be subject to a federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified material.

I will miss Michigan, mainly because of my family and friends, but the area I’ll be living in near Saratoga Springs, NY is a lot like Lake Orion, MI.  They also have the Adirondack Mountains less than 20 minutes away.  It’s a really beautiful area and I’m looking forward to it.  Also the Navy Nuclear Power School sounds really intense and fast, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My grad courses have picked up in pace, and it’s hard to focus on them when I’ll have to put them on hold after this term.  I’m not sure if I’ll ever finish it, I’d like to tell everyone I’ll finish it someday, but being honest I’m not sure if I will or not.  It depends on my situation when I have the opportunity to decide.  I know this whole experience will be a lot of hard work, but I can’t wait to dive into it.