Florida Polytechnic University’s Office of Public Policy Events hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion on Monday, March 17, examining the intersection of personal values, professional expertise, and the profound impact of service in defense-related careers.
The event was titled Morals, Skills and Service: A Discussion on Working in Defense and the Military, and delved into how personal ethics and professional skills converge in the context of defense and military service.
The forum was the third installment in the Guardians of Democracy series, which takes place throughout the academic year. Its panel featured Raymond Felderhoff, a senior engineer at aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman, Kevin Mujica, a Florida Poly senior electrical engineering major set to join global aerospace leader and defense contractor Honeywell after graduation this May, and Maj. James Ellis of the United States Air Force.
Dr. Kathleen Hardesty, instructor in the University’s Department of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, moderated the event.
The panelists talked about their experiences working in the military and defense sectors, as well as job availability, offering valuable insights into the challenges and skills needed to succeed in these fields.
Felderhoff emphasized the importance of engaging with more experienced engineers in the field and asking questions to be able to succeed from the early stages of a career.
“At the end of the day, we're all in the same team. A lot of what you're going to work on when you get to the industry, you may have touched on it in your course work. But you're going to learn so much more by asking, especially as you start to specialize in whenever area you choose,” Felderhoff said. “We definitely appreciate being able to share our knowledge.”
Mujica, who was offered his position at Honeywell just two days after he completed an electrical engineering internship at the company in the summer of 2024, shared his experience with other Florida Poly students, starting with the challenges of finding the first opportunity.
“There are a lot of jobs because the market is not going to go away. But as a student for internships, you’re competing with students at your school and at other schools. By competing, I mean you need to polish more than a resume and publications you may have,” Mujica said. “Once you can get your foot in the door, you're in and that’s the biggest hurdle.”
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
