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Q&A with NAVSEA Operations Manager Eric Villanueva

Villanueva, a BCOE alum, shares career advice with BCOE students
Eric Villanueva

With the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting internships and career searches for students throughout the world, we asked Eric Villanueva, operations manager at NAVSEA's Corona Division and '06 mechanical engineering alumnus, what advice he has for current BCOE students.

  1. What do you look for when hiring engineers? NSWC Corona looks for engineers who have taken advantage of the opportunities on their campus to become well-rounded graduates. Its not just all about clubs or doing well in classes. Its about being able to balance all of that since many of those same soft skills will be applicable in the work environment. Resume-wise I look for concise and tangible responsibilities/accomplishments.
  2. How can a first and second-year BCOE student best prepare for their future career? Get a broad set of academic knowledge when you are figuring out your coursework. Research what types of knowledge will be coveted your graduation year (such as programming languages) and try to plan your coursework so you will be ready when you enter the workforce. That will show proactiveness to a future employer. The big one I have seen is that it won't pigeon hole you into a specific experience that isn't applicable to multiple companies (ex. only having academic experience in chemical treatment when you are applying into a turbine design company).
  3. What advice do you have for graduating BCOE seniors who are entering the workforce this year? Really think bigger picture as to what the career possibilities are. All of us are guilty (especially during 1st and 2nd year) of dreaming about doing something that is based on hands-on work/design/etc. That is limiting your career choices and paths. Today's world relies so heavily on data now that almost every move is scrutinized by one entity or another. That ability to understand data is becoming more and more of a desired skill set. Embrace the fact that is a career path you may find yourself in and find what excites you about it. That will spark unlimited potential.
  4. What is the best part about being an engineer? The best part for me has been interacting with the engineering community I work with and really feeling a part of that group. It takes a village to make a combat system work for the military so interfacing with OEM engineers, fleet personnel, and decision makers has been a real pleasure to take part in. Being a government civilian and observing military operations in person is also great, since we get access to places most civilians don't.
  5. What's your favorite memory from BCOE? The people I have met and developed relationships with. A good majority of the people I have graduated with I still keep in contact with. These people you grow up with in your graduation class do more or less become family because of the amount of time you spend with them going through the 'battle' of being an undergrad. That experience brings you together and those friendships are ones that I still have today. It's great to see how successful a lot of us have become and see the different career paths everyone took. Also not a bad way to keep a network with people in other types of work. I also have great memories of a lot of the professors that led us and some I still keep in contact with today, such as Dr. Princevac.
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