John Murphy and Felix Hong have traversed distinctive but parallel trips, from serving their nation to pursuing complex levels via Dartmouth’s on-line Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering (MEng). Each veterans are making use of the self-discipline and abilities they honed within the army to take on intellectually enriching demanding situations in {hardware} and tool engineering. Right here’s a glimpse into their tales and what drives them as they navigate the web program.
John Murphy: Bridging the Hole Between Device and {Hardware}
After spending 5 years within the Military, together with a deployment to Iraq, John Murphy transitioned to civilian existence with a power to excel in each entrepreneurship and generation. His profession advanced from main building tasks in aerospace and protection to launching two small companies thinking about commercial IoT (Web of Issues) answers. In spite of this sequence of accomplishments and making a balancing act between his profession and being a father to a few babies, John sought out extra alternatives for private enlargement.
“I wished extra formal schooling,” John stated. “I sought after one thing between tool and {hardware}—the place the commercial IoT house lives for me.”
When John won an electronic mail from Coursera about Dartmouth’s program, the timing couldn’t had been higher. Together with his Submit-9/11 GI Invoice expiring in 2029, he knew this used to be his alternative to discover getting his grasp’s stage. Dartmouth’s program used to be an ideal are compatible—providing flexibility, rigorous coursework, and a stability between tool and {hardware} engineering.
For John, the online format used to be non-negotiable. “I’m a running dad with 3 younger youngsters,” he stated. “The versatility used to be vital. Dartmouth’s program is the whole lot I will have was hoping for—small, well-thought-out, and curated.”
In spite of the web structure, the hands-on nature of this system stood out to John, specifically the Embedded Methods path, the place scholars won {hardware} kits at house to debug actual methods. “It used to be so sensible and without delay related to what I do on a daily basis,” he shared.
Balancing paintings, circle of relatives, and college isn’t any small feat, however John credit his army background for making ready him to take care of intense drive. “The curriculum is difficult—10 weeks filled with a complete semester’s price of subject matter,” he stated. “However I don’t wish to simply get by way of. I wish to do properly.”
Collaboration has additionally been key to his luck. This system’s Slack group fosters a way of camaraderie permitting freshmen to stick in contact and assist every different all through this system. John notes, “The scholars are extremely supportive. My crew from the primary path nonetheless assists in keeping in contact, although we’re scattered around the globe.”
Felix Hong: From IT within the Military to Engineering the Long run
Born and raised in Hawaii, Felix Hong found out his interest for computer systems early in existence, which led him to pursue some extent in pc engineering on the College of Hawaii at Manoa. After graduating in 2020, Felix sought a technique to align his profession along with his instructional background.
His army enjoy, which incorporated IT beef up, pc networking, and satellite tv for pc communications, strengthened his fascination with how computer systems keep up a correspondence internationally. “Within the army, I had to determine learn how to remedy issues in far off places, steadily with restricted assets,” Felix defined. “That taught me learn how to adapt and paintings with other people from other cultures and backgrounds.”
When Felix’s spouse got here throughout Dartmouth’s program on LinkedIn, she inspired him to use. The asynchronous structure and versatility have been best for his time table as a contractor running in labeled environments. “Dartmouth’s popularity as an Ivy League college and the birthplace of AI sealed the deal for me,” he stated.
Like John, Felix has discovered the Embedded Methods path to be a spotlight. Demanding situations arose throughout classes like Herbal Language Processing (NLP), which driven him to damage down summary ideas into tangible effects. “It’s like chemistry—you don’t perceive desk salt till you notice the weather come in combination,” he defined.
Felix sees a brilliant long term in engineering fields like quantum computing and AI-driven cybersecurity, the place he hopes to deal with vital demanding situations like quantum-resistant encryption. “The present algorithms aren’t ready for the age of quantum computing,” he stated. “I’d like to paintings on units that push the limits of safety and verbal exchange.”
This system’s interactive parts have inspired Felix, specifically the professors’ energetic presence on Slack. “It’s nice to get rapid updates or ask questions on coursework,” he stated.
Deployed in Guam, Felix credit the army with instilling the construction and self-discipline had to prevail. “Within the provider, existence is arranged chaos,” he stated. “You already know every day begins with the bugle and ends with the flag coming backtrack the flagpole.” With civilian existence being a little bit extra summary and open-ended, Felix is thankful for the construction that upper schooling supplied him, and the alternatives he is aware of a Dartmouth stage will deliver.
Shared Values, Distinctive Paths
For each John and Felix, Dartmouth’s on-line MEng program provides extra than simply technical experience—it supplies a group of like-minded friends and a possibility to develop past their army reviews.
Whether or not it’s John making use of commercial IoT answers or Felix tackling quantum computing demanding situations, each veterans embrace the resilience, adaptability, and interest had to excel in engineering and past. As they proceed their trips, we thank them for his or her provider and need them properly on their street to commencement.
