Job Description

Chair:

Current Lab Supervisor Engineering & Built Environment Programs Valencia College West Campus. Chair of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Valencia College Student Chapter since May 2018 - current. Previously Treasurer (IEEE) 2017. Co-Advisor Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Valencia College Student Chapter May 2018 - current. LSAMP Mentor 2018 - Current. Current scientific projects as a Field Engineer & Field Scientist/Researcher. Thomas Dillen received his Associates of Science Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology with specialization in Electronics in 2015 from Valencia College, Certificate Programs: Basic Electronics Technician, Advanced Electronics Technician, and Microcomputer Repairer/Installer. He is an amateur scientist, field researcher, and field engineer. Current and previous science/engineering projects in the Peruvian Amazon, Uganda Africa, and Florida. Previously worked for Westinghouse Electric, a Laser Lens Manufacturer, Kelly Services in Orlando Electronics Assembly jobs. Internship Publix Central Fill in Orlando testing and calibrating robotics systems for Innovation 2015, Internship Valencia College Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) Department 2015. Service Learning Tildenville Elementary School’s STEM “We Share Solar” Project that built “Solar Suitcases” for an orphanage in the Republic of Uganda. After transitioning from industry and working careers such as a security manager, kitchen supervisor, relocation specialist/truck driver, construction, and different electronics assembly positions. Thomas earned his first degree from Valencia College in 2015 after lung surgery in 2012 forced him to adapt his career to intellectual work rather than physical work. Currently enrolled in the Bachelorette Program for Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET) program at Valencia College. As part of the Valencia College part-time staff, he was a lab assistant for the Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) Department in 2015 and took the opportunity to learn prototyping with 3-D Printers. Projects included 3-D printing an “Enable the Future” hand for a young woman. Joining the Engineering, Computer Programing, & Technology Division (ECPT) full time staff in 2016 as Lab Supervisor of the Engineering & Built Environment Programs enabled him to manage the 3-D Printing Studio, Drafting Studio, ECPT Open Lab, and Engineering labs. As well as helping update and manage the EET labs while training the current EET/ECET Lab Supervisor. He currently license the labs software, images the 9 ECPT labs, while also being the admin for the authentication server for (ECPT). Thomas also manages Valencia College Lab Assistants, Federal Work Study Assistants, Interns, and LSAMP Scholars. While also being active with the engineering clubs at Valencia College by working with The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Florida Engineering Society (FES). Thomas runs the Valencia College IEEE, and SWE Chapters at the West Campus as both a student and co-Advisor, a student member of the IEEE Orlando Chapter, serves on budget committees’, ECPT Dean hiring committee, and is involved with numerous workshops and projects at Valencia College. During the past Summer he contributed to a scientific research project in Peru by supporting the Bio-Acoustic Lab at Explorama who is working with BRILA to study the Amazon Pink River Dolphins or Botos (Inia geoffrensis), Grey River Dolphins or Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), and Bats (Chiroptera). Documented that he recorded dolphins with hydrophones and a drone simultaneously in the Amazon and Napo rivers in August 2018. A first in the scientific community? It was possibly the first time ever a drone and a hydrophone were simultaneously recording to study these mammals in the Amazon and Napo Rivers.