"Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy."
~ Robert Heinlein
"Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy."
~ Robert Heinlein
Ed's Exploits I've been to six continents, 19 countries, all but four U.S. States, and have sailed five of the world's seven oceans. That's not bragging, just a refection on my restlessness. I hope my travels inspire you to go somewhere new. Soon.
We all wonder what we'll be when we grow up. I always knew I'd be an Educational Technologist. From the very beginning I was intrigued by both technology and learning. Some of my earliest memories involve a training device designed to teach clothing fasteners - buttons, zippers, laces, and velcro. I was less interested in the workings of the fasteners (which were pretty obvious) and more interested in the training device itself. Here was a collection of each and every clothing fastener problem - but all in one place! The device even incorporated fasteners made of different material, each attached to various types of cloth: vinyl, cotton, wool, and leather.
My interest in technology as applied to education continued through grade school where I authored a lesson about the Bermuda Triangle, hand drawn on a filmstrip and narrated in my 10-year-old's contralto on audio cassette. It seems I've always been drawn to using the latest technology and artistic expression to elucidate the lessons of history. Whether it was an audio tour of my hometown's historical architecture, or a physical simulation of a medieval castle, technology, history and education have always been my playthings.
High school and college were times of entrenchment for me. The joy of building educational interventions was supplanted by the necessity to complete the heavy load of courses required to get me somewhere in life. Funds were tight, and there was not much technology going on. I did take time to finish Shubert's unfinished symphony, by developing statistical algorithms to analyze his other completed works. I then built a computer program that would play the mathematically generated music through an electronic keyboard.
At the completon of my time with Polar Operations, I was ready for a change from operational flying. A job at the Ship-Helicopter Training Branch seemed like just the thing. Here I was one of only seven subject matter experts, who not only evaluated the state of training throughout the Coast Guard, but also built and delivered training. If I'd only known then what I know now, the things I could have done! Ship-Helo was an amazing experience, and my time there cemented my desire to pursue a professional career as an Educational Technologist.
After completing this program, I'll return to the operational Coast Guard to build instruction and assist with human performance problems. Wish me luck!
Some activities from my life.
Originally from Tolland, Connecticut, I graduated from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in 1992. I was transfered to the Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO in Alameda, California, then to Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida. They sent me to Brooklyn, New York to fly HH-65 helicopters. I met Michelle, then was transfered to Atlantic City, New Jersey. We were married in 1999 and had an amazing honeymoon.
In 2000 they sent us to Mobile, Alabama where I supported one Antarctic and three Arctic deployments - scientists are cool. Since 2002 I was a traveling "corporate trainer" with the Ship-Helo Training Branch, teaching Coast Guard personnel how to land helicopters on their ships. The Educational Technology program is a year away from the operational Coast Guard. After flying rescues in Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana after the Katrina disaster in 2005, I was ready for a break!
I have a lot of interests. Here's a short list: rock climbing, juggling, a cappella, classic trumpet, travel, aviation, airships, helicopters, Robert Heinlein
And whatever you're interested in! I like new, cutting edge stuff.
For a more comprehensive treatment of Ed's history and endeavors, please select some of the links from the right-hand column. Be sure to play this website backwards to discover the secret message.