David Bulley is graduating from the Western Michigan University (WMU) Product Design program this spring and has over 16 years of experience in the U.S. Navy as a Fire Controlman Technician. Now, trying to reenter the professional world, David is hoping to use his past experience and technical skills along with his newly acquired knowledge and skills in product design to work in a field that allows for hands-on building and solving customers’ needs. Learn more below about how David’s experience and skills could be a match for your team.
What is the best lesson you learned from your classes, an internship, an instructor, or a mentor?
To fail often and to learn from your failures. I learned to let go of the first idea I came up with and also to remove my personal bias from the solution and keep the users’ and customers’ needs in mind.
What is the strongest skill you bring to an employer?
Experience and technical skills, I spent 16 years in the U.S. Navy as a Fire Controlman Technician. Now I get the chance to fix many of the issues I faced during my time on the ship and overseas.
What type of project or industry interests you?
My technical expertise was electrical mechanical troubleshooting. My hobbies are more woodworking and toy design. I would love to work in any field that allows me to work hands-on building as well as solving customers’ needs.
What project in your portfolio are you most proud of?
Each project brings new experience. I find that the bigger the problem, the more interested I am in fixing it. The project I am most proud of was solving the issues with food waste at home. I found a way to use factory-level technology in home refrigerators. Thus, keeping fresh produce and fruits longer before becoming food waste.
What/who is one person, place, or experience that had a positive impact on you during your time at Western Michigan University or in the Kalamazoo community?
Hands down, it’s the comradery from working with the other students and faculty at WMU. I felt a loss when I left the military. The friendliness and professionalism from the instructors and classmates have made a great impact on my life. I am excited to see what the next chapter of my life brings.
David’s Contact Information
