Learning to Think Like an Engineer: Alumnus David Winter Recalls His Influential Time at CAEE
David Winter poses while helping to set up a GPS station in the Bering Sea.
Alumnus David Winter, P.E. (MSCE 1981), headed straight for Seattle after receiving his graduate degree and has been a success ever since. While other experiences have influenced him, he recalls the positive impact that the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering department has had on his career.
Looking back, he recalls that one of the reasons he chose to attend CAEE was the department’s reputation. The well-known work of a particular professor also caught his eye and became the deciding factor. "I looked at the top three or four geotechnical graduate programs in the country," he says. "I chose UT because I liked Dr. Roy Olson, and I liked the research he was getting into (methods of design of driven piles). Elements of that research are still going on, and I still see Dr. Olson as often as I can. I owe a lot to him."
Geotechnical engineering appealed to Winter even before he came to University of Texas at Austin. His older cousin was a geotechnical engineer, who encouraged him to look at all of the civil engineering disciplines. He followed that advice and still ended up choosing geotechnical engineering.
He remembers a humorous incident that occurred when he first started school here. "I came from Missouri and my first encounter with a jalapeño pepper was at a civil engineering graduate department outing," he says. "My eyes watered and my tongue was numb – I’m sure my professors thought twice about awarding me a research grant!"
In addition to adapting to a different cuisine, he also quickly acclimated to life as a graduate student, thanks to the support of his professors and peers. "Overall, my professors and classmates helped me learn to think like an engineer and solve problems that I would face in real life," Winter says. "That is one reason why I like coming back and talking to students about the interesting projects I have had. It helps them see how the theory is applied to solve everyday client issues."
Winter says he made lifelong friends in graduate school.
He continues, "I made lifelong friends in graduate school, and I grew up a lot in my two years at UT. I was very proud of the research we did and happy with the career opportunities open to me as a result of my work at UT."
He considers himself fortunate to have been able to work on a variety of engineering, environmental, and business challenges around the world after graduation. His work has included responsibility for national and international expansion and business planning, operational responsibility for offices in 5 states, and work in 30 states and 6 foreign countries. Most recently, he joined Haley & Aldrich, Inc., as Senior Vice President and is responsible for the company’s regional real estate development projects. His special expertise is in the design of deep excavation support systems for high-rise buildings (approximately 35 such projects).
Once in the workplace, he learned that focusing on the client was a key element to success. He says, "Good engineering is often irrelevant unless it helps the clients solve their problems. Even those of us with experience need to be challenged to look in new directions to find better solutions. I still learn a lot from working with talented young engineers, but I try to keep their attention on their client’s goals."
Winter advises future graduates to vary their experience early in their career so that they are well-rounded but also to become an expert in something. He believes that the former will make them more valuable to clients and that the latter will make them more valuable to an employer.
A drill rig is mobilized to a vessel in Brazil for offshore operations.
He also says, "When in doubt about a tough technical challenge, break the problem down and start over with the theory you learned in school. Most importantly, when a new opportunity comes your way – say YES. By saying yes, I was fortunate to have the chance to participate in projects in such diverse locations as Brazil, Russia, the Republic of Georgia, the Middle East, West Africa, and remote sites in Alaska, as well as major cities across the country. You never know where a new opportunity will lead, and you always have to be ready to go."
Being an engineer has been a great source of pride to him and he appreciates being able to advance the science when opportunities arise. "I’m very proud of the signature projects I’ve been a part of that define the Seattle skyline", says Winter. "I’m proud of the young engineers I have helped along and grateful for the mentors I had. My proudest moment was being elected a Fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers, and being awarded the President’s Medal for contributions to engineering and the Society."
Winter feels that his graduate education at CAEE provided him with a strong engineering background – strong enough to build a career upon. "Although I was only at UT for two years of graduate study there is no question that my Texas background is a door opener with many clients. I even have a Longhorn decal on my car and get plenty of honks and "Hook ‘ems" even 2,000 miles away in Seattle!"