Who I am:
I believe I am professional, logical and innovative. I have a talent for solving problems and finding ways to get the job done. I enjoy the feeling of success that comes from watching something that I helped create do what it was designed to do.

My personal challenges:
I have, at various times in my life, been in excellent physical condition and terrible physical condition. My experience has shown that life is much more satisfying when I include a regular pattern of exercise and healthy eating habits. Weight control is much easier and there is a definite sense of spiritual well-being that is derived from taking care of my health.

My career challenges:
I suppose that my career choice, and the jobs that I have done in shaping that career, really stems from the concept of having an idea and pursuing it. Sometimes my choices have not met with the approval of family and associates. I feel, though, that my life is my own, to make what I choose of it. What's really important to me is to be interested in and enjoy what I'm doing, and to know that I am making a creative contribution to the society in which I live.

My career:
Basically, I am a field engineer who specializes in the marine environment. I design and build machines and systems to perform their function on or under the ocean. My experiences on ships and as a commercial diver have taught me to be very adaptable to changing conditions. I also try to be as forward thinking as I can, in order to anticipate problems before they happen. Since marine engineering involves at least a partial knowledge of many diverse disciplines, I use different technologies in unique ways to solve problems (which, to me, is actually a lot of fun). As Engineer of the Scott Carpenter Space Analog Station, I am responsible for modification, maintenance, and repair of the Station itself, as well overseeing the day to day operation of the systems while on missions underwater.

Likes/Dislikes about career:
My favorite aspect of my career has been its variety. I've traveled and done many different things in a wide range of locations. I think the only thing I would change would be to add a period of working for an extended time in another part of the world, and living in a different culture.

Influences:
There are actually several people who have influenced my life. The first was my father, who taught me that it is important to be an honorable man and to be responsible for the consequences of my actions. My 7th grade science teacher and wrestling coach, Charles Murray, encouraged me by telling me how vital having a broad base of knowledge and interests is to living a full and active life.

I also owe a great debt to William Evans, 1st Assistant Engineer of the steamship Dolly Turman. As a man who had worked his way up from wiper to Chief Engineer, he had little patience or respect for Academy cadets who were, in his opinion, getting an unfair advantage. For 98 days on a voyage to East Africa I worked hard, did what I was told, learned what I needed to know (and then some), and even endured some outright abuse. That was Mr. Evans last trip as an engineer. As I helped him with his baggage down the gangway at the end of the voyage, he looked me in the eye, offered his hand and said, "You're gonna be all right, son. Just don't forget that you never stop learning." Through dedication and perseverance, I had earned the man's respect, and a lesson not taught in any classroom.

Future goals:
I would like to succeed as an artist. Perhaps as an author or a musician. Writing and music are both interests in which I possess some latent talent. I like the idea of being able to entertain or enrich the lives of other people through something I've done or created.

My thoughts about space exploration:
I have always been interested in space travel. I remember following the progress of some of the Gemini missions on television as a small child. I read everything I could get my hands on about the Apollo missions to the moon. The thought of actually going to the moon or one of the planets of our solar system was the spark that started my lifelong interest in science and engineering. I believe that the Carpenter Station is that same spark for the new generations who will ultimately reach those goals and more.

Personal information:
My father died in 1981. My mother and one of my two brothers still reside in my home town of Weirton, West Virginia. My other brother lives in Nevada and my sister lives near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. My hobbies are SCUBA diving, scale model building, reading, singing (Bass in a Barbershop Quartet), and learning the Scottish Highland Bagpipe.

In the very near future (October 1998) I am getting married to Duran Scheffler, a science teacher at one of the schools involved in the M.A.R.S. program. I look forward to a happy and adventure filled life with my new family.