BENJAMIN IWAN

Growing up I always had an affinity for creating and discovery. As a child I used legos as my main outlet for bringing my imagination to life. As a teenager I would often take apart small appliances and lawn mowers, hoping to discover how each part played its role in the machines grand design. This insatiable desire for learning/discovering new things was one of the reasons which led me to enlist in the US Navy. Upon completion of my service, it was only natural for me to continue my voyage of discovery by pursuing a major in mechanical engineering.

Due to my parents job, I was born and raised in Africa. My experience growing up interacting with different cultures and people groups has been instrumental in my professional development. Enlisting in the US Navy and being assigned to an aircraft carrier I quickly learned how to utilize my diverse upbringing in order to unify the team and achieve our objectives. My relativity and communication skills were a vital component in mission success.

As a quartermaster petty officer in the Navy I held a variety of different roles throughout my naval career. From managing administrative duties for 187 sailors to learning the 3-M maintenance system and conducting routine shipboard maintenance to being responsible for the safe navigation of a $10 billion aircraft carrier with over 2,000 lives onboard. As my responsibilities increased I discovered more and more how beneficial my upbringing was. My diverse background enabled me to connect with people from all different cultures and backgrounds, find common ground, and put aside differences to achieve mission success.

I graduated from the University of San Diego with my mechanical engineering degree in May 2019. I am actively seeking an opportunity to start my professional career. I find all aspects of mechanical engineering fascinating and am currently seeking a position that will help me to gain professional experience as I begin my journey as a mechanical engineer.