Robert
Halliburton Energy Services/Baroid Drilling Fluids -
Liquid Mud Manager of the Port Fourchon, LA Shore Base
BA Urban Planning, 1992
When you first came to UIUC did you know for sure what you wanted to do as a major/career?
No
How many majors/careers did you "go through" during your years here and how did you finally come to a choice?
I didn't know for sure if I would end up working as an Urban Planner or not. It was my intention to get an MBA after my undergrad degree. My priority was to make good grades in a respected degree program.
What was one UIUC event, memory, person, class, that made a substantial difference in your career choices?
The U or I/FAA/Planning Department did an excellent job preparing me for what was to come next in my life. the high standards that all of my professors held me to really helped to propel me forward in the workplace. I have always been amazed by the low standards and lack of ambition that is commonplace in the "real world."
What was your first job after you earned your degree?
I got a job working for a property and casualty insurance company in Miami, FL.
How did you land your first career related job?
Word of mouth. An old army buddy pointed me to Dresser Industries. They later merges with Halliburton energy services.
List all positions in order that you have held since graduation up till now (including those not related to your major, i.e. waitress, temp, teacher, etc.). Please provide brief descriptions for clarity if necessary:
- CADI Property and Casualty Insurance - Miami, FL / New Orleans, LA - Sales (Insurance)
- Lafayette Woodworks - Lafayette, LA / New Orleans, LA - Sales (Millwork)
- Dresser Industries / Baroid Drilling Fluids - Houston, TX / New Orleans, LA - Offshore Oil Rigs "Mud Engineer" - ( technical position on a drilling rig )
- Halliburton Energy Services / Baroid Drilling Fluids - Liquid Mud Manager of the Port Fourchon, LA Shore Base.
What is your current occupation and how did you come to it?
I am currently the manager of a major department (Liquid Mud), at Halliburton's largest Stockpoint / Shore Base. I was promoted to this position after gaining experience offshore on the drilling rigs as a "mud engineer"; one of the technical positions on an oil rig.
If you changed career paths after school, did you make a conscious choice to make the change, was it forced on you or did it naturally evolve?
I made a conscious choice to enter the oilfield. New Orleans has a pretty soft job market and I was looking for a career that would keep me in the area.
What steps did you take in making the transition?
In the oilfield, most of the training is so industry specific that your employer will provide it for you after you are hired. In my case, I attended a three month long "Mud School" at a Halliburton Training Facility in Houston, TX. The foreign students typically held engineering degrees, but most of the Americans could possess any four year degree. After this initial training, there is a period of continuing education that will bring you back to the training center on a regular basis.
What advice would you give to an FAA student who might be interested in your current or past careers?
The oilfield really doesn't actively recruit new employees nation wide. It relies heavily on word of mouth, and up until recently, a lot of nepotism. The few schools that do get recruited are UT-Austin, Texas A&M, and the University of Oklahoma, to name a few. Most students in the Midwest usually aren't even aware of the career opportunities in the oilfield. If you like a little excitement, and don't mind working an odd schedule, it can be a rewarding career.
What advice can you give an FAA student who is currently undecided about their future career?
Keep an open mind. You never know were you'll end up.