Continuing Educational Studies (CES)
by Russell E. Theisen CM PE IEEE-LSM
Back in 1966, after growing up in Norfolk, Virginia and receiving my BSEE from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) and OLD Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where I completed Part 1 (EIT) Engineer In Training, I then went to work for (IBM) International Business Machines in Endicott, New York, where I helped develop the [IBM 360-20], the first Solid Logic Technology (SLT) main frame computer that IBM produced.
And after receiving my Professional Engineering (PE) certification through the University of York at Binghamton, New York, where I earned Part 2 of the PE requirement, I tried to use this Professional Status at IBM but they were not interested so.
I took a job of Plant Manager at Compton Industries, where I developed (FAA) Federal Aviation Authority Certification and Calibration Laborites in Vestal, NY and Cherry hill, NJ and Raleigh, NC. I then accepted a job at Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace where we built missile Systems. We were building the SPRINT Missile which was part of the SAFEGUARD Missile Defense System.
I was able to introduce computer controlled testing systems. While working at Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace company I started work with the IEEE Computer Society where I had to get Technical Speakers for the Computer Society Chapter meetings. I helped generate the Distinguished Visitor Program for the IEEE Computer Society.
While trying to promote the Computer Society technical programs, I realized that the Technical Conferences that the Computer Society Sponsored, I had an excellent source of technical presentations for the local IEEE Computer Society Chapters,
I also discovered good technical talent in the Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace employees and expanded the technical program to Martin Marietta employees. Following the procedures that I had developed for IEEE Computer Society I approached the Martin Marietta Management with a proposal to start a Continuing Education Training program after normal working hours. I started first by offering training programs on testing technologies and how I utilized the computer to improve speed, reliability, reduced testing costs, improved quality, twenty-four hour of testing, and significant testing costs.
I realized that everyone knows more than you do about something. We could all benefit from this process.
After monitoring my teaching process, the Managers decided that they should expand on my process and hire a professional school teacher to help develop the CES System. They hired a professional to handle the teaching process full time. Mrs. Jane Johns came on board and we developed the CES Program at Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace. She would advertise, review technical sessions, interview potential instructors, publish session catalogs, collect student applications, assign training rooms, order books, pay reports and authorized payments for instructors
We had skilled teachers in the technical people and thousands of students, over two dozen class rooms.
All we had to do was provide incentive to teach or students to attend the classes.
We proposed to pay the teachers $50 to $70 per hour for developing the class material which was broken down in 2 hour sessions for some 10 to 20 sessions per quarter. Student were offered the text offered with the class if they attended 90% of the sessions.
Within several months we had some 45 technical sessions and it was growing.
The CES Program continued to grow. By the time that I retired from Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace in 1992, I had thought or attended more than 145 classes. I understand that this CES. Program is still growing and all are benefiting from it.
Later I helped the Florida Institute of Technology add TV classes that could be expanded to cover the entire State of Florida.