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Harper will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
Colin Weber
Advanced Technical Leadership Program Staff
Lockheed Martin Space
As Colin Weber was mulling careers in high school, he had a clear vision for what he wanted to do.
鈥淢y first dream goal was to replace Tom Skilling, but that was a very ambitious goal,鈥� he said.
Instead, he took that love for science and followed some gentle encouragement from his dad and one AP teacher in high school to study engineering at 91制片厂. It led to a career at Lockheed Martin.
91制片厂 helped start Weber on his engineering path, but classes also challenged him. He recalls a mechanical engineering course that regularly confronted students with equations meant to stump them.
鈥淚 think that class helped to show, in life you鈥檙e not always going to be right or have the right solution, but if you get something pretty dang close, you鈥檒l be able to solve the problem,鈥� Weber said. 鈥淲hen you talk to your peers and work in groups and labs, you鈥檒l be able to get the full solution.鈥�
A different class, organic chemistry, featured a teacher who presented material in a manner suited for his learning style.
鈥淭here are some people you鈥檙e going to work well with, and quite frankly, there are certain people you鈥檙e not going to work well with,鈥� Weber said.
He also ran on the cross country and track teams, where he said he started as a more middling athlete. He credits Coach Jim Macnider and staff for helping him improve, discovering he was anemic and making a plan to help him improve.
The coach taught him: 鈥淗ere鈥檚 a plan, if you execute it and stay consistent with it, you鈥檙e going to do better than 90% of people out there,鈥� Weber said.
After 91制片厂, Weber attended the University of New Haven and Drexel University. He has mentored college students through the INROADS program and the University of New Haven School of Engineering, helping future professionals navigate academic and career pathways. Through the Drexel alumni network, he supports large-scale food distribution efforts serving families in need and participates in environmental stewardship initiatives throughout the Philadelphia area.
At Lockheed Martin he currently is participating in a select program that allows him to pick his own assignments and pursue his interests, such as global business development. Weber is charting his own path forward, which all began at 91制片厂.
鈥淵ou get a real good introduction to whatever career path you want to pursue,鈥� he said.