Stirling E. K. Watts
8968 County Road 2540
West Plains, MO 65775
stirlingwatts@gmail.com
417-250-0279 Cell
Career Summary
From my early work experience grew a natural desire and ability to learn to see the big
picture. Seeing the big picture enables common sense and an ability to get things done
independently. Twenty years ago I left engineering management to build an already
existing small family engineering and tech support company into a thriving operation. At
the same time I was studying graduate level Geodesy. I used that course work to my best
advantage in the mid 90s to develop an arm of business providing field services in the
early days of GPS surveying.
As equipment sales business declined, I purchased state of the art GPS and robotics
equipment and worked the field operations into a specialty. In 2004 I transitioned into
full time field work. The survey industry lost its momentum in 2009. Applying my
earlier engineering background in communications technology, I worked independently
as a satellite systems installer while also teaching mathematics at the local campus, and
doing ground station engineering and maintenance for a local cable television company.
When market momentum picked up I took my current job in Charlotte as a subcontracted
crew.
Most of my life has involved surveying. My objective is to get back into a contributing
team member position in which my extensive and diverse background will be valued.
Survey Related Experience
Geodetic Data Services, Inc. / Watts and Associates LLC,
Owner/President
2004-2013
-
Party Chief in survey and construction field services subcontracted to
engineering and surveying professionals using my own state of the art GPS and
robotics equipment. Currently in Charlotte, NC as a one man subcontracted field
crew Party Chief.
-
Horizontal and vertical control surveys for multiple applications
GPS control surveys by RTK and static methods
ALTA and other topo work
subdivision plats
DOT right of way and cross-section surveys
Boundary work, mortgage surveys
Staking: utilities, subdivisions, streets and curbs, building corners, dirt work, etc.
Watts Instrument Company, 1992-2004
Columbus, OH
Owner/Manager/President
Managed a family survey operated instrumentation sales and support company. Our
sister family company, Thomas Engineering and Surveying provided much of my field
work. Managed all aspects of business operation:
-
Instrument repair and maintenance/adjustment, customer tech support, etc.
Instrument rental fleet maintenance
Internal and external sales and customer support
GPS, static and rtk, training and customer field support
Subcontracted field work to engineers and surveyors
Early GPS static surveying specialists
Wild Heerbrugg Ltd. 1974
Heerbrugg, Switzerland
Praktikant
Machinist & Mechanical/Optical Apprenticeship in survey instrument repair.
Other Recent Technical Experience
Cobridge Communications 2011
West Plains, MO
Headend Technician
Missouri State University 2009 and 2010
West Plains, MO
Mathematics Instructor
Watts & Associates, LLC 2009 and 2010
West Plains, MO
Owner/Manager/President
Contracted satellite dish installations.
Electrical Engineering Experience
Pan Am World Services/Computer Sciences Raytheon 1986-1992
Patrick AFB and Cape Canaveral AFS/Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Systems Engineer
Communication Systems Engineering Leader in support of various Air Force customers
on tracking sites of the Eastern Test Range in Florida and the Caribbean.
Harris Corporation - International Programs Division
Manila, Philippines, 1983-1984
Systems Engineer
Field Engineer and Installer
Harris Corporation 1980-1985
Melbourne, FL
Systems Engineer
McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company 1979-1980
St. Louis, MO
Associate Electrical Engineer
Education
Undergraduate:
BS Electrical Engineering, Ohio State University, 1979
Graduate:
Electromagnetic Studies and Antenna Theory, Florida Institute of Technology,
1981
Geodetic Science, GPS and Adjustment Theory, Ohio State University,
1992
MA studies in German Language, Ohio State University
1996-99
Swiss Dialect Studies, Klubschule Migros, St. Gallen, Switzerland, Winter
1998-99
Personal Interests:
I have and retain native speaking ability in Swiss German and High German, and
developing communication abilities in Spanish. Language is a major hobby.
I was for many years active in various forms of motorsports competition, drove sports
cars in SCCA, raced motorcycles in AMA and other organizations. I still own two street
bikes and actively tour on them.
My wife and I have raised dairy goats and enjoy the farm lifestyle when we have a
chance to be at home.