Just weeks after U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq, Andrew Bodenhamer, ME’03, joined the U.S. Army Research Laboratory as a human factors engineer. His assignment? Make soldiers’ jobs easier and safer by developing and modifying things like bullet-proof vests and bridges.

Before Nick Christian, NucE’07, ever set foot on the S&T campus — even as a high school student taking part in the Jackling program — he knew he wanted to be a nuclear engineer. That’s why he chose Missouri S&T.

What he does: Kyle Darnell, ArchE’06, manages design-build projects for ARCO Construction Co. from cradle to completion, coordinating all aspects of a project including design coordination, construction schedule, cost management, and project close-out and turnover.

Nathan Eloe, CSci’10, Phys’10, spent his summer working for Google — from Rolla, Mo.

Best part of her job: As an actuary, Sarah Klein, Math’03, assesses financial risk and consults with companies on their employee benefit plans, specifically their pharmacy benefits.

Why Peace Corps: Jake Midkiff, GeoE’06, worked in consulting for three years after graduating from S&T, but he was never able to duplicate the sense of accomplishment he felt while working with Engineers Without Borders and Curt Elmore, GeoE’86.

Dustin Penn, MinE’02, has a passion for Pit Vipers, and his favorite one can deliver a strike that’s 65 feet deep and 16 inches in diameter.

Hardest lesson to learn: For Robert Rutherford, EMgt’06, the lesson started on April 21, 2010, when he woke up and was told of the mayday call from the Deepwater Horizon hours earlier.