The career topic is often looked upon by experienced engineers as the result of many years of hard work and the accumulation of vast knowledge in a specialized area. However; the difference is not always obvious between what is a career and what is job experience. Engineering careers when viewed by careers planners are not much different than any other professional career . That is : most people work an average of 40 years; at the beginning of their career they work as junior employees with mentors to help guide them in their new work; in the middle of their careers they take on more responsibility at the project level as they take charge of their work; and in the later part of their careers they generally become managers and supervise teams of engineers that are working on the project and become responsible for training the engineers on the team. To the way in the career, engineers are expected to supplement there training with modern engineering techniques as well as obtain the necessary talents new skills and to be effective in their new roles. One can conclude that work experience can influence engineers careers especially when you gain those needed skills on the job. However, that is expecting a lot to have an engineering career that is only supported by his experiences on the job. And here is where the distinction comes: the engineers career plan includes the chosen path to progressive job steps, and the successful moves to more responsibility in the engineering work place. Often these moves are in the same organization or company, but usually never in the same job. Change is a necessary element in the formulation of a career plan. The implementation of a good career plan then is left to good timing in the response to making the next step. Most career planners believe that a well rounded education, and of course supplemented by continuing education, is the corner stone to a good career. This presentation explores several good career planning and assessment concepts and can helps the engineer begin to plan their career objectives and goals - instead of looking at the career as just dollars, positions and security - which are still important.

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Mr. Jorome Gibbon is currently serving as Telecommunications Manager/Electronics Engineer at the U.S. Department of Commerce Headquarters, Office of Telecommunications Management, Washington, D.C.(since 1987) where he is responsible for the Departmental telecommunications networks and related

system design and analysis support as well as management. In 1993 and 1996 Mr. Gibbon received the Department Bronze Medal for excellence in Federal Service.

His assignments include responsibility the Department telecommunications network (DOCnet) where he serves as contracting officer technical representative for three support contracts. He is the project manager for the Department telecommunications management system (DOC/TMS) used to manage the Commerce telecommunications assets. His staff duties include Departmental representation to the National Communications System (NCS/DISA), the National Security Agency telecommunications (NSTISSC) support team and the General Services Administration wiring and cable acquisition support team (GSA/WAC).

Mr. Gibbon serves as the DOC Representative to the NCS Council for national security/emergency preparedness initiatives. His NCS activities include the Federal Telecommunications Standards Committee, the GETS User Council, the TSP Council, the CRIS Users Council and the ERLink working group. He also is active on the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee NSTAC)advisory group for NCS initiatives.

Mr. Gibbon has combined experience in commercial, military and government communications. He previously served with the GSA Headquarters advance telecommunications planning group from 1984 to 1986. He served as Engineering Support Manager at Hubbell Inc. Pulsecom Division for 12 years 1972 to 1984; as senior staff engineer at Computer Science Corporation, and as a communications engineer with Westinghouse from 1968 to 1972. Prior to that he spent several years with industrial companies supporting commercial and government telecommunications programs, providing research, design, development and manufacturing of communications systems and equipment, as well as supporting communications security, systems design and evaluation. He served on active duty in the US Marine Corps from 1960 to 1964 in the 2^nd Marine Air Wing as an aviation electronics communications officer.

Mr. Gibbon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering (Technology) and an Associate of Applied Science in Electronics Engineering (magna cum laude), and is a graduate of two executive management institutes and several military aviation electronics and communications schools.

Mr. Gibbon's professional association experience includes activities in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): (M-78); as member of Engineering Management Society, Professional Communications Society; Information Theory Society and the Communications Society. His activities include: Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chairman, Chairman and Director of the Communications Society (COMSOC)Chapter (84-95); COMSOC coordinator and PACE representative (Professional Activities Committee for Engineers) (90-92); IEEE Washington Section Director (90-91), Secretary (91-92), Treasurer (92-93), Vice-Chairman (93-94), and Chairman (94-95); Vice Chairman of the National Capitol Area Council (NCAC) (94-95) and Chairman (96-97). He also served as advisory member to the IEEE-USAB Committee on Communications and Information Policy (90-96).

Mr. Gibbon's professional activities also includes service on the Capitol College Alumni Advisory Board, as advisor and Chairman of the Board (78-present). He received the President's Service Award (80), and the Fellow of the Institute Award (85). His activities also include advisor to the IEEE student Branch as well as coordinator and chairman of 13 Information Technology Seminar(s) hosted at the college since 1979. In 1992 he was appointed by the President to the Capitol College Board of Trustees as a member.

His hobbies include travel, sports, model crafts, automobiles, art, gardening, vacations at the beach and mountains, as well as, golfing.