RCB shifts career goals for military mechanic

When Colin Cox ’19, M’20, arrived at RCB, his career plans were set. He had enlisted in the United States Army National Guard as a high school student and trained as a helicopter mechanic. He enrolled in college classes to fulfill a promise to his parents, but his eyes were fixed on a future as a military crew chief.

Little did he know how RCB would transform his goals.

Based on his personal interests, he majored in finance.

“My plan was that this would be a life skill to have and I would go on to have a career in the military. The degree would allow me to attend flight school and guide my career path,” said the Sicklerville resident.

But his vision shifted as he began exploring the many facets of finance. Ultimately, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the discipline.

RCB offered many pluses, Cox explained. With the College’s small class sizes, he built relationships with classmates and professors. He also gained experience by working in the Dean’s Office and developed career-search skills through the Rohrer Center for Professional Development.

His military experience dovetailed with his interest in finance when he connected with a Lockheed Martin employee at an RCB networking event. As a helicopter mechanic, he had worked on aircraft manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a company owned by Lockheed Martin. He eventually landed a position as a proposal analyst with the company in its Moorestown facility.

Although Cox completed his National Guard commitment this year, he continues working with the military. He collaborates with different teams to generate cost estimates for new products and participates in negotiations.

“It’s a dynamic role,” he said.

Cox also continues connecting with RCB as a founding member and director of strategic initiatives for the Rohrer Graduate Student & Alumni Advisory Board. This new organization, founded in May 2020, expands networking opportunities for RCB graduate school alumni. He is a member and co-chair of events for the Rohrer Alumni Advisory Council and a mentor with the Finance Mentorship program.

It is important to him to engage with alumni organizations because they had such a profound impact on his career.

“It’s why I pursued the master’s in finance as opposed to earning an MBA, and it’s why I ended up at Lockheed Martin,” he said. “I like giving back and keeping in touch with the school and seeing its accomplishments.”