SEAS Cruise 2007 : People
Will Halpin - "COMET"
- What is your job title, and what do you do?
- My job title is "Ships Communication/Electronic Technician" or COMET. I make sure our radios, radars, and other electronic systems keep working.
- How long have you been working on the R/V Atlantis?
- This is my first voyage on the Atlantis.
- What is your background/education/training?
- I am a retired Master Chief Electronics Technician, U.S.C.G. After that I worked for 20 years as a radio electronics officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine Fleet.
- What inspired you to choose this career/who were your role models?
- Because my grandfather was a radio/electrician in the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F.) and he later had a radio/T.V. repair shop, I grew up around electronics.
- Where is your hometown?
- My hometown is Milbridge, Maine (near Bar Harbor).
- Please describe your family:
- My wife Joanne is an artist and part-time school teacher. Our son works for G.E. in Greenville, S.C. and has blessed us with our grandchildren, Hayden and Sydney.
- What are some of your favorite things about life at sea?
- I enjoy seeing ports of call worldwide, and experiencing different cultures. The sea itself is always full of surprises.
- What do you like to do in your free time?
- In the summer months I spend a lot of time on the water on the Maine coast. We like to help our neighbor race his 40 foot sloop and we also help teach sailing at the Petit Manan Yacht Club to school kids.
- Is there any message you'd like to send to the SEAS students?
- Science can be fun, especially if you combine it with a career at sea. It's a great place to see whales, sea turtles, and dolphins close up and real!
