Tedder

Mechanical Engineering Staff

Education

• Electronic Engineering Technology, DeVry Institute.

Brief biography

Before he graduated from Newton High School, Ken Tedder dreamed of getting involved in space research in the area of high temperature plasma engines. However, when he realized that it would require a good scientific mind with the ability to do research and the necessary documentation – he decided that he would not want to spend his life documenting everything. Then he chose to go to DeVry Institute of Technology and earn an Associate's Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology. That “hands-on” approach to technology eventually led him to WSU and computers.

After graduating from DeVry he worked at Texas Instruments on radar systems. But when family medical issues convinced his family to return to Newton, Kansas – he was soon working at Cessna Aircraft Company on propeller model aircraft, on prop-jet aircraft and on jet aircraft. He has flown onboard several of the planes/jets which he was working on at Cessna. Also, while working at Cessna, he was enticed to try skydiving for six jumps. That experience ended when his jump instructor broke his arm, they were all laid-off from Cessna and the jump-instructor went back into the Air Force Reserves – never to be seen by him again.

He worked in the Mechanical Engineering Dept. for about 18 years in the past and was transferred to the College of Engineering IT group when it was formed. However, in the summer of 2013 he returned to the Mechanical Eng. Dept. as the Lab Technician – where he is today.