Faculty Directory
Mr. Caldwell brings more than 30 years of experience in the utility power industry. He has been employed with Alaska Power & Telephone in Haines, Alaska since April 2011, serving initially as a Crew Foreman, then a Superintendent, currently as a Site Manager. Other prior experience includes working at the Iraq-Falcon F.O.B. Base as a High Voltage Power Manager through Louis Berger/Cummins, a Morristown, New Jersey based company from April through October 2009; as a Journeyman Lineman Foreman with Alaska Power & Telephone from October 2006 to March 2009; as a Substation Technician Class A with First Energy Corp in Northwood, Ohio from September 2005 through September 2006; as a Journeyman Lineman with Alaska Power & Telephone from January through September 2005; as a Prime Power Electrician in Uzbekistan through Kellogg Brown & Root, a Houston, Texas based company from November 2003 through November 2004; as a Power Distribution Mechanic with Eastman Chemical Company in Batesville, AR from April 2000 through November 2003; as an Electrician with Century Flooring in Melbourne, AR from June 1997 through April 2000; as a Journeyman Lineman with Navopache Electric Co-op in Pinetop, AZ from April 1994 through April 1997; and as a Lineman Apprentice with Electrical District #5 in Eloy, AZ from September 1990 through April 1994. Mr. Caldwell is a Journeyman Lineman and holds numerous credentials, including Certified Protective Relay Maintenance, Solid-State Technician, Certified Basic Relay Maintenance Technician, Industrial Instrumentation, High Voltage Electrical Safety, Underground School, Fundamentals of Power Quality, Permit Required Confined Space, Buckey Evacuation Program, Wood Pole Climbing Review and Rescue Procedures.
Rich was born and raised here in Rock Springs, and has spent most of his life working for various local companies in many different capacities. Over a career that spans a little over two decades, Rich has gained experience working for the military as a radar tech, a field tech in oil and gas, a student tech in a manufacturing and packaging facility, and a controls and electrical tech at a power generation facility. Rich also has two years teaching experience in the Instrumentation and Electrical Program here at Western, and is ready to share that knowledge as an instructor and mentor to his students. Rich even owns a small business that serves our local community!
John holds an Associate of Applied Science from Western and possesses a Wyoming Low-Voltage Technician general license. John has thirteen years of related industry experience in industry including training experience. John was employed as an Automation Technician with BPAmerica Production Company in the Wamsutter Field and previously in the Moxa Arch Field. Before joining BPAmerica, John was employed as a Technician with Delcon Services, Inc. and as an Electronics Technician with Timberline Electronics. Additionally, John served in the U.S. Navy as an Avionics Technician
Joe is a Wyoming native and has lived in the state for over 40 years. Joe attended Western to complete the A.A.S. in Industrial & Mine Maintenance and earned his Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science from the University of Wyoming. Joe worked out in the local trona mining and natural gas industries before coming to Western. At Western, Joe teaches in the Electrical/Instrumentation, Industrial Maintenance, Plant Operations and Powerline areas.