A love of engineering led Charlie, captain and trade training troop commander, to a STEM gig with Defence where he skills up the Army’s newest tradespeople
Since he was a kid, Charlie has been passionate about the ‘E’ in STEM – engineering – after being inspired by his grandad. Wanting to also serve in the Army, he did a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, combining academic study with military training.
“Defence has so many opportunities,” he says.
Work with purpose
“I always wanted to be a civil engineer, but I also wanted a job that makes a difference. Serving in the Army gives me the opportunity to directly contribute to Australia, but also help people overseas who need it. I also love working in a strong team, and I love staying fit – both of which are key parts of working in Defence.”
One of those opportunities saw him working on the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in the remote town of Pormpuraaw, Qld: “We delivered health support to the local Aboriginal people and constructed a number of projects to contribute to the community.”
Get qualified
As Trade Training Troop Commander at the School of Military Engineering in Holsworthy, NSW, Charlie manages and supervises the Army’s new tradespeople in training, who all spend time gaining civilian trade experience.
“I make sure they complete their training and are meeting the standards of their trade, to be ready for when they join the wider Army as fully qualified carpenters, plumbers and electricians,” he says.
New horizons
This year, he looks forward to meeting more newcomers and setting them up with the skills they’ll need for the future.
His advice? “Get in touch with a family member or friend who used to be in Defence. Even if they weren’t in STEM, there is a good chance they know someone who was.”
Charlie’s study and career path to becoming a trade training troop commander
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil), Australian Defence Force Academy
- Army Officer Commissioning Course, Royal Military College, Duntroon
- Plant Troop Commander, 6th Engineer Support Regiment
- Trade Training Troop Commander, School of Military Engineering
This article was first published in Careers with STEM: Defence 2023. For more Defence role models, head to our STEM + Defence role model hub
