Navy Construction
Construction Project Management in Naval Dry Dock Operations
Much of my leadership experience in the U.S. Navy took place in shipyard and dry dock environments, which function very similarly to large-scale construction projects. During these periods I was responsible for coordinating complex modernization and maintenance work on naval vessels while managing both sailors and civilian contractors.
I supported major dry dock availabilities for USS Fort McHenry in Japan, USS Patriot in Japan, and USS Hue City in Florida, coordinating the installation, replacement, and upgrade of shipboard electronic systems during scheduled shipyard periods.
As I progressed from Petty Officer Third Class to Petty Officer First Class, my role expanded into supervising teams of 10 to 30 sailors and contractors, ensuring work was completed safely, on schedule, and according to technical specifications. This included coordinating multiple work areas inside the ship while aligning ship crews, shipyard personnel, and specialized contractors.
In addition to individual ship assignments, I supported fleet readiness operations in Manama, Bahrain, where I oversaw maintenance and modernization activities for 10 patrol craft and 4 minesweepers operating under CNSS. This work included system upgrades, radar replacements, preventative maintenance, quality assurance inspections, and enforcing strict safety procedures within dry dock and maintenance environments.
Working in these high-tempo shipyard settings required managing multiple teams, coordinating specialized trades, and ensuring mission-critical systems were installed and tested correctly before ships returned to operational service. These experiences built the foundation for my later work in construction project management and complex technical program delivery.
Building Construction
Field Service Engineering & Construction Project Leadership
After leaving the Navy, I moved into the commercial construction space working as a Field Service Engineer and onsite Project Manager supporting the installation of dynamic smart glass systems on large, multi-million-dollar construction projects.
In this role I worked directly on active construction sites coordinating with electricians, glaziers, general contractors, and building teams to make sure the glass systems were installed properly and stayed aligned with the overall construction schedule. Because dynamic glass combines architectural glazing, electrical systems, networking, and IoT technology, every installation required close coordination between several trades.
My work included overseeing the installation of the dynamic glass panels, testing the IoT controllers, verifying network connectivity, and commissioning the system once construction was complete. The glass systems connected back to the HomeBase platform in San Jose, allowing building operators to control tint levels, automation schedules, and energy settings through a mobile or desktop application.
After installation and testing, I also worked directly with building teams and customers to train them on how to use the software and manage the glass through the app, making sure they were comfortable operating the system before the project was turned over.
I supported installations on several large commercial projects including:
Independent Bank Headquarters
CODA Building
Texas Woman’s University (TWU)
Additional commercial and institutional construction projects
This role naturally expanded my responsibilities beyond field engineering into broader project coordination and technical leadership. Managing dynamic glass deployments required coordinating multiple trades, integrating IoT systems, and delivering complex installations within demanding construction schedules. That experience became the foundation for my later work in program and technology leadership, where I led larger initiatives connecting engineering, operations, and business teams to deliver enterprise-scale solutions.
