Featuring Dan D'Alessandro, Professional Development Coordinator, Past President of the Quad City Engineering & Science Council and co-chair of the Southeast Iowa STEM Regional Advisory Council
This week, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is celebrating Engineers Week to highlight the importance of engineers for Iowa communities. After all, nearly every aspect of modern life is influenced by engineering—from the phones in our pockets to the bridges we use to cross rivers and highways.
While engineers may work in different industries and specialize in different disciplines, the goal of their profession is to solve problems. They use science, technology and mathematics to analyze challenges, complete research, test ideas and create innovative solutions.
Engineering has taken us to the stars and the deepest depths of the ocean. It has revolutionized travel, communication, entertainment, living conditions and more. That’s something worth celebrating.
Dan D’Alessandro is co-chair of the Southeast Iowa STEM Regional Advisory Council. He also serves as Professional Development Coordinator and Past President of the Quad City Engineering & Science Council. Previously, he worked as an Electrical Engineer for John Deere for 40 years.
Tell us a little about your education. Do you remember when you first became interested in electricalengineering?
Back in the 1960s, electronic devices were rudimentary compared to today. Most electronic devices were simple vacuum tube devices and were easy to repair. I used to have a record player, and when it broke down (as tubes did frequently), I’d watch my dad fix it. Then, one Christmas I received a Radio Shack “50 in 1 Kit” which was designed for kids to build simple circuits such as amplifiers, oscillators, and an AM radio. I loved the kit and learned a lot about creating small projects from this kit. I tried to create some of my own circuits – not always successfully, of course – but this led me to becoming interested in electrical engineering.
Tell us about your career. How did you get started?
When I went to engineering school at Northwestern University, I decided to pursue an engineering co-op (internship) at a company. During my sophomore year, I had heard from a classmate about the co-op program at John Deere. So, when Deere recruiters visited our campus, I interviewed with them. I was thrilled when they hired me as an engineering co-op. I worked in different manufacturing plants and departments, and I learn a lot about how engineering was applied at a large company. When I graduated, I was hired by Deere to be a full-time electrical engineer.
My first assignment was to design laboratory and field data collection systems for tractors, engines and transmissions. Later, I moved to assignments where I designed electrical components and systems. As I became more experienced, I was asked to lead teams of engineers to design electrical systems for tractors and other Deere equipment.
What would a typical day look like for you when you were working as engineer?
On most days, my normal duties were to design components and systems for our products, attend meetings to update others on progress being made or issues needing to be resolved, and working with other functional areas (supply management, manufacturing engineering, etc.) to review our design work. Sometimes, I was involved in testing the designs in the lab or on our test vehicles in the field to verify that the design meets requirements. I did get a chance to drive tractors and other farm equipment in the field. As I became more experienced, I assisted or mentored other newer engineers so they could succeed in their jobs.
What misconceptions do you think people have about engineering?
One of the most common misperceptions is that engineers sit in a cubicle and design their parts all by themselves, with little interaction with others. I’m sure there are some companies and products where this may be the case. However, in most companies there is a lot of interaction and discussion necessary among the many different people and groups that test your designs, machine or purchase your parts, assemble them into the final product, etc.
What are essential skills for students interested in engineering?
It should come as no surprise that having skills in math and sciences and thinking logically are all essential elements to being a successful engineer. There are, however, other skills which are important as well. These include being comfortable working on a team and communicating clearly and timely since what you do impacts others. In addition, dedication and perseverance are often needed to see a project through, especially since some projects take months or years to complete. It is helpful in many cases to be comfortable using simple tools to build or repair mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical systems. One final “skill” – taught to me by a senior engineer early in my career – is use your common sense when tackling a problem to ensure that your solution meets the needs of all stakeholders.
As a member of the Southeast Iowa STEM Regional Advisory Council, you’ve likely seen some of the innovative lessons happening in schools to introduce engineering concepts early. What has it been like to watch that be incorporated more often?
I see programs which encourage students to gain experience at a workplace (work-based learning) as being some of the most important ways to link what is learned in the classroom to how it is applied in the real world. The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council sponsors a program called STEM BEST that connects schools with businesses to give the students an eye-opening experience in the business world. There is a chance that students in these work-based learning programs will apply their math and science skills from school and use other skills, such as writing, speaking, illustrating, and so on. They may also learn to use the tools required, whether they are hand tools or computer application programs.
For some students, engineering can seem intimidating. What advice do you have while they explore the field?
There is no doubt that pursuing an engineering degree or any technical curriculum is not easy. If you take math and science courses throughout high school, you will be on the road to preparing yourself for college engineering courses. If your school offers a work-based learning program such as those offered by Iowa STEM, you will gain insights about working and the workplace. Also, join some STEM activities such as FIRST robotics or some coding competitions to give you early exposure to the kinds of things you may be doing when you graduate as an engineer. The more experience you have with these kinds of activities, the better prepared you will be when you enter a technical curriculum. Read more about Conversation with an Engineer