Electrical Engineering graduates using degree in & out of uscg

[O2 in wisconsin]

Good evening, we just returned from uscga after ds attended AIM 1. He enjoyed his time, said it was more difficult (probably realistic) when compared to NASS. He runs cross country so it wasn't about CFE (even though he was too fast on pushups). He liked the size of the academy. It's probably his 1st choice. My inquiry is directed to academy electrical engineering graduates from "pre-2018" so they have had several years to be electrical engineers in the uscg, possibly on their 2nd contract or they made the switch to civilian electrical engineering. My concern is the depth/scope of electrical engineering since I don't see much information about uscga robotics, drones, underwater vehicles etc. Compared to usna controls, weapons, and robotics major. Thanks

 

[ekb1398]

I'm not an electrical engineering major, but I can speak broadly here.

First of all, you're kind of comparing apples and oranges. The reason you're probably not seeing a lot of robotics, drones, etc. is because it's not a Robotics and Controls Engineering major.

With that said, it wouldn't shock me if your son was able to dive into some of that stuff a bit later on in his time at the Academy through directed study, electives, or during his capstone, but I certainly wouldn't look at it as a guarantee.

Secondly, as far as jobs in the Coast Guard, to my awareness there are no specifically EE jobs. Our ships obviously have electrical systems, some just for the general electricity on the ship, and some for propulsion. That is really going to be his biggest tie-in to EE in the Coast Guard. If he wanted to stay as involved as he can with EE, the best first tour would be as an Engineer Officer in Training aboard a cutter, and then follow on to continue down one of the engineering paths, either on the cutter, or as a port engineer, and eventually possibly in a technical role at the Coast Guard Yard or HQ working with electrical systems. It's also important to remember that lots of people study one thing but go down a completely different path in the fleet. I studied Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, which is likely the most natural major for the Naval Engineering and Prevention paths in the Coast Guard, but I instead went to flight school and am flying now.

 

[O2 in wisconsin]

Thanks for the response and insight. I'm not a veteran, and I've been in engineering/manufacturing for 40+ years so I'm more used to: what you studied in college is what you do - mostly. I realize that people branch - out into different areas in the manufacturing world, but many stay in the same general type of engineering and progress within that field. From my experience, some EE's design at the component/circuit board level, others design and manage industrial control systems (robots/conveyors/assembly machines, etc.) Others do computer networks, while others design power generation/distribution systems. At this point, my DS is most interested in EE, presumably due to his involvement with FIRST FRC robotics for the past (3) years.

I worked with a West Point EE grad. who got out after his 1st contract. He didn't get to use EE in the Army, so by the time I met him he had lost many of his EE skills. He was a smart guy, just not at the same level as other EE's with about 10 years experience.

So, I'm just trying to gather information so my son can make an informed decision. He's not so crazy about aviation. He enjoys it (remotely involved with a local aviation club), but aviation is not a motivator for him at this point. I'm not trying to steer him, just trying to provide options. While driving home from CT, I mentioned DoD STEM scholarships to him if his interest is to be trained as an engineer and then work in his specific field of engineering at one of the sponsoring DoD facilities. We'll investigate that option.

As stated earlier, he enjoyed AIM at USCGA, and I know he could be a good "general purpose" engineer if necessary, but I'm not sure sure that would provide a long term rewarding career for him. I think my other son will be content to get "whatever" degree and do "whatever" he is told. Our (2) boys are very different.

I understand it's all about: "or determined by the needs of the [insert Military branch here]"!

Thanks again,

 

[A1Janitor]

USNA and not USCGA - my son was an aerospace engineer major, passed the first test for his mechanical engineer license at USNA, is working Navy CEC, and plans on getting either his civil engineer masters at MIT or ocean engineering if he gets into dive school.

I am hoping he stays in the military. He seems to think there are excellent options outside the military if/when he leaves.

 

[SurferGirl]

So, not a USCGA grad but have knowledge of the EE classes and the officer career program. After your first tour likely at sea you can be assigned to an engineering billet. I have known many officers who got sent to graduate school in EE including the current Admiral in charge of engineering in CG4. While there are opportunities as a junior officer to do some design work you will be primarily an engineering manager in the military. The technical and academic knowledge will guide your management decisions. If your goal is to be a design engineer there are very limited opportunities in the military. However the senior engineering manager officers I know are very smart people