Troy Collins Works in the Everglades by Day, Earns UW Master’s Degree by Night
Professional Master's in Construction Engineering
Troy Collins, a major in the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), spends his days supervising Corps restoration work in the Florida Everglades, working to save this damaged ecosystem by restoring its free flowing waters. While based in the southeast most corner of the nation, he's also a graduate student at the UW, connecting to a classroom 2600 miles away. Major Collins is earning a master's degree in construction engineering through the UW's online program.
"The online is ideal in allowing me to complete my graduate studies while fulfilling my career goals with USACE," Collins said.
Major Collins chose the program because of the UW's reputation and because he is able to continue his studies while traveling — an important aspect for someone who relocates an average of once every 1.5 years. The program also provides continuing education credits for professional engineering licenses and augments his construction knowledge.
A New York native, Major Collins received his bachelor’s degree ('79) in biological and agricultural engineering from Rutgers University and is a licensed civil engineer in several states. Early in his career he ran a general construction firm in Fort Myers, Fla. Soon after joining the USACE in late 1999, he was posted to the Seattle District office for 18 months, where he worked on military and civilian projects, including design of roads for federal forests and national parks. After a year based in upstate New York, he returned to Western Washington to coordinate construction work at Fort Lewis and McChord AFB, and reports he greatly enjoyed the region "except for the terrible traffic."
After leaving our state, Major Collins worked in the Corps' District of Columbia headquarters, managed military and civilian projects in Texas, and served as deputy district engineer in Kabul, Afghanistan from April 2010 until March of this year.
Receiving his master's degree will match his education to professional licensure. Achieving a degree at the graduate level also allows him to lead by example and encourage junior engineers to keep proficient during their careers.
Major Collins has been able to apply information learned in the online program to his Everglades restoration construction management projects. "I highly recommend the program to anyone wishing to achieve a graduate degree in construction especially if trying to do so while working a busy job!" he said.
About the Construction Engineering Master's Program
The only online master's degree of its kind in the country, the UW Graduate Program in Construction Engineering was developed by the departments of Construction Management and Civil & Environmental Engineering.
- Pursue an advanced degree on a schedule that works for you.
- Understand and be able to respond to the changes in the heavy construction industry.
Looking for Courses for Engineers?
Learning is life-long. If you are considering advanced training to enhance your career goals, investigate UW Engineering's programs. Read more about the programs and the experiences of current students and graduates.