Electrical and Computer Engineer

Greetings!

I graduated Iowa State University Spring 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with an emphasis in Integrated Circuit Design (VLSI), Communication Systems, and Embedded Systems Design. I am continuing my education by taking courses online for a Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering. I am also currently working full-time at Garmin International Inc. as Software Engineer in Automated Testing with avionics in Olathe, Kansas and serving as a Civilian Soldier in the Iowa Army National Guard.

Character

I strive to go above and beyond in all aspects of life and work. While serving in the Army National Guard as an Infantryman, I quickly moved through the ranks from Private to Staff Sergeant in as little as four years of service. At first sight, most people would be confused as to why I deserved such responsibility, and I was often tested by senior leadership. The truth is, I didn't deserve it at that stage. However, my leadership and fellow soldiers saw that I gave my all to support everyone, making sure they were well-informed and taken care of. I didn't care if I received anything in return; all I cared about was making a difference for others. I was always the first to volunteer for anything that needed to be accomplished, and I would put my head down and get it done. Nothing is as rewarding as helping others and making a challenge look easy. For these reasons, I was chosen ahead of my peers to be continually promoted to such responsibility. I continue to uphold this quality of character well beyond my military service.

While working on various projects in university, if there was a chance for extra credit, I always went the extra mile. For example, I added data dependency handling with hazard detection and memory forwarding for a processor I designed in my computer organization class. Additionally, I was the only group in my class to create a fully autonomous rover that could navigate a course of obstacles to a goal box. For my senior project, I developed software and an embedded system that could sweep frequencies across filter circuits and display the frequency response of the circuit with high precision. This allowed students of the university to test their filter circuits at home during the 2020 pandemic. I continue my contributions today by sharing interesting resources and research through my blog called Sam's Spiel.

Why did I choose to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering?

Well, it started when I was young and I simply liked taking things apart. I really wanted to know what made RC cars, radios, and other electronics tick. What was making the magic happen? I would pull out the batteries, LEDs, DC motors, and gear boxes from my toys to see what interesting contraptions I could make from the components. My father saw what I was doing with the components and took me to the local Radio Shack and showed me the Electronic Snap Circuit Kit they sold. It had over 300 electronic projects! My interest was piqued and I had to have it. The kit was quite expensive at the time, so my father promised that he would pay half of the price if I could find a way to make up the other half. So, I decided to pick up aluminum cans from the side of the road after school. After two to three weeks, I finally had enough cans to exchange for the kit.

The Snap Circuit Kit taught me some of the basics of electronics and it gave me the urge to learn more. I decided to purchase an TI Launch Pad to learn the basics of coding and the capabilities of embedded systems. The TI Launch Pad taught me the broad spectrum of things that can be created and accomplished using software and affordable embedded systems. Overall, my constant desire to learn more and answer every question is what led me to pursue my degree and a career in electronics.