I’ve put together some answers to frequently-asked questions that may help civil engineering students or graduates who are interested in becoming civil engineer officers. The answers herein represent the opinions/experiences of the author and not the official position of the USAF. What is an Air Force civil engineer officer? The mission of the US Air Force is to…

As this decade comes to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to share some pearls of wisdom I’ve acquired along the way. You can’t change people’s minds by beating them in arguments. Differing views on contentious issues come down to one thing: personal bias. In other words, our…

Whenever I have a discussion on scientific literacy, the topic of “creationism” comes up. Even though the scientific community has unanimously accepted the theory of evolution as fact, a small minority of religious fundamentalists have stubbornly refused to acknowledge its truth. …

A growing number of military officers with engineering degrees are punching out early to pursue careers in engineering. But alas, making the transition from serviceman to civilian engineer can be troublesome, especially when you’ve spent years away from engineering. …

Introduction The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam is a 6-hour, 110-question test that covers a wide range of topics related to civil engineering. You sign up for the FE online online at www.ncees.org and take it at any approved testing center. The test itself isn’t hard. …

The Civil PE Exam breadth section is a mile wide and an inch deep. In other words, to make it through you only need to know the basics of each subject. The depth section is a different story: you must know almost all the ins and outs of structural engineering…

Overview As a structural engineering student, the design classes are the pinnacle of your curriculum: all your previous classes (i.e. statics, mechanics of materials, structural analysis, etc.) give you a foundation in the theories you’ll apply to determine loads, deflections, etc. Once you begin your design classes, you’ll learn how to…

So you’ve completed a degree in civil engineering. Now, welcome to the next phase: finding a job. That means job interviews. Your resume will give employers a glimpse into your experience and qualifications, but no company will hire you without talking to you first. These interviews allow employers to gauge…

Introduction If you’re a civil engineer, you must pass the Principles of Engineering (PE) Exam. It’s a necessary step if you want your engineering career to go anywhere. Without a PE license, you’ll be relegated to “grunt” work and someone else will have to review and stamp your designs. So is…