EET Graduate Retired from Military, Finds a Place at ECPI University

EET Graduate Patrick Garduno

While growing up in Los Angeles, Patrick Garduno’s father gave him an $8 crystal radio set. This somewhat tiny kit would have a big influence on the rest of his life. Having pursued electronics as a hobby throughout childhood, he joined the U.S. Navy and became an electronics technician, later retiring after a 20-year career.

Patrick was no stranger to higher education, having attended multiple colleges during his military career. While he knew that a degree would best position him for success, he learned from experience that a traditional school was not what he needed. “I saw no point in taking one college class for 16 weeks to learn theory,” he says. “I knew that if I could get hands-on training, I could finish school much faster and be better prepared for the workforce. ECPI University is one of the few schools with a strong reputation in that arena. It has a great learning environment, fantastic staff, and an educational style very similar to that of the military.

“I knew that if I could get hands-on training, I could finish school much faster and be better prepared for the workforce. ECPI University is one of the few schools with a strong reputation in that arena." Click To Tweet

“I quickly realized software programming plays a central role in the life of an Electronics Technician. Both fields require analytical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. After attending a few classes at ECPI, I immediately became more adept at coding and could develop increasingly complicated programs. My range of programming languages has increased and expanded to other program languages such as MicroPython and CircuitPython. With the knowledge gained at ECPI University, I was able to participate with the school’s Ethical Hacking Club and compete in local hack-a-thons. I feel a whole world of opportunity has now been opened up to me.”

“Leaving the military is challenging, doing it from halfway around the world is even more challenging, but part of the job as U.S. military members is always finding a way to win.” Click To Tweet

As Patrick was nearing the end of his studies, as well as his naval career, he was deployed on one final cruise in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. That meant his job search had to be conducted from afar. With the help of his career service advisor, it still worked out quite well. “I retired on a Monday and started working in my new career field that Friday,” he says. “Leaving the military is challenging, doing it from halfway around the world is even more challenging, but part of the job as U.S. military members is always finding a way to win.”