ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- On December 3, 2021, members of the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron hosted first year engineering students from Cameron University to showcase some of the many engineering occupations throughout the base.
Part of Cameron University’s engineering program includes an annual visit to Altus Air Force Base, where students see first hand future career options. During this visit, students toured the construction site of the new flight simulator building, various 97th CES buildings and learned the CES mission statement: “preparing combat ready Airmen, ensuring emergency response, and delivering installation infrastructure.”
“These opportunities give the students a perspective of what the job entails,” said Bron Howard, 97th CES engineering flight chief. “This experience will show them what a day in the life of an engineer on base could be.”
The Cameron University engineering program offers five specific disciplines: civil, electrical, environmental, industrial and mechanical. Similarly, the 97th CES is divided into five unique focuses: operations, installation management, engineering, emergency management and the fire & emergency services. Each focus has multiple offices, all with their own unique opportunities for those wanting to learn.
“Altus Air Force Base and Bron Howard have been one of our collaborating partners from the beginning,” said Dr. Sheila Youngblood, associate professor of engineering at Cameron University. “Having opportunities like this gives students a chance to see what the end result can be.”
Throughout the visit, the students were able to meet and connect with individuals within each engineering discipline on base. This provided the chance to network and make connections that could help them in the future.
“I want them to see that networking matters,” said Youngblood. “Meeting people like Bron and the other engineers on base is important, because those people may be their employer later, or could be their colleague.”
Youngblood and Howard have known each other since they met in college in 1995. They maintained their friendship, and when Cameron University started the engineering program, Howard was one of the first people Youngblood reached out to.
“There are many engineering jobs in southwest Oklahoma that not many people know of,” said Howard. “So it’s important to make an impression on the students and show them the opportunities that are here.”