Ph.D.; semi finalist in NASA group 14 selection; currently VicePresident and one of three directors of Falcon Medical, Inc.
In 1976, Mike received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Safety with a minor in Criminal Justice from CMSU, followed by a Master of Science in Industrial Safety and Environmental Health in 1978.
The creation of The Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1971 also brought a demand to fill safety related positions in manufacturing companies. CMSU was one of two colleges at the time offering the degrees necessary for this new industrial field, so the value of Mike’s two industrial safety related college degrees produced quick results.
Upon his 1978 graduation, Mike landed a position as a safety specialist with Hewlett-Packard’s manufacturing division in Palo Alto, California, by following a fraternity brother, Cedric Hughes, into a needed second position. With the expansion of Hewlett Packard Palo Alto Research Labs on Deer Creek Road, Mike was instrumental in setting up the gas systems within the labs. The foundation of his work helped develop what we know today as LEDs, MRIs and atomic desk clocks. Mike liked to display his unique sense of humor by deadpanning, “My job was to keep the ‘mad scientists’ from blowing themselves up!”