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February 2020
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
When you’re not working on your research, what do
you do in your free time?
I firmly believe in the “work hard, play hard” motto. I take my
hobbies very seriously because it is my way of decompressing from
the stresses of everyday life. They allow me to think critically,
problem solve and assess risk – all important life skills that can
apply to work. My wife and I enjoy climbing mountains in Colora-
do. We have climbed all 58 of the 14,000+ foot mountains (14ers)
in the state and I am currently ticking off the centennials, the
highest hundred peaks. I enjoy ski mountaineering which is gen-
erally a miserable experience but emphasizes perseverance and
strengthens my determination. I am a well-rounded rock climb-
er and I focus on multi-pitch trad climbing. I do a fair bit of aid
climbing as well and have climbed all of the Fisher Towers outside
of Moab, Utah – a personal goal that took years to accomplish.
I have been skydiving for roughly 13 years and BASE jumping
(or parachuting from fixed objects) for over 10 years. That sport
has its ups and downs but has taught me much about life, risk,
and perspective. My typical summertime post-work decompres-
sion starts with a light dog walk and then some moderate rock
climbing in one of many canyons on the front range of Colorado;
and then, if the winds feel light, I might hike up the backside of a
cliff and throw myself off of it.
What advicewould you give a young researcher
just starting out in your field?
The only advice that I can realistically give anyone is just
to enjoy life. Do what makes you happy. Have dreams.
Want something bigger. Do what makes you feel good!
What has been your most fulfilling accom-
plishment as a scientist / engineer? Why?
I do not know if I have a “most fulfilling” accomplish-
ment thus far in my career, but I do have one instance
of feeling like I made a difference. I worked as a car-
tographic technician many years ago and for months I
was working on a JOG (Joint Operations Graphic) cov-
ering a portion of Pakistan. A couple months after the
work was complete, and delivered to NGA, I realized
the significance of a small BUA (built-up area) tint in
the south east corner of the map labeled as Abbottabad.
What do you think are the most pressing needs
to be met in science in the coming years?
I believe that we need to reintroduce the scientific
method to the population at large. We need to teach
younger people to think critically and test their ideas
before forming conclusions.
How has being a part of the ASPRS Rising Stars
Program benefited you?
Participating in the Rising Stars Program has helped integrate
me into the larger geospatial industry. I’ve attended events and
conferences during which I have met other professionals and I
have gained insight on technology, operations, and issues that
other firms grapple with. It has also allowed me to collaborate
with other young geospatial professionals who, I believe, will
be guiding the industry in just a few years. I am excited to hear
their ideas and I look forward to the possibilities that will present
themselves. Overall, the program has pushed my personal and
professional motivation to contribute more to the industry and to
be a leader.
What books are you currently reading for
pleasure?
My favorite books are non-fiction and science-based. I
have read a lot of psychology and sociology books over
the years because I am fascinated by the predictabili-
ty of human behavior. I also love books about complex
astrophysics and thus the last book I read was Neil
deGrasse Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.
Now most of the “books” I read are project scopes. But,
if I am enjoying a day at the beach, I might just crack
open the USGS Lidar Base Specification.
