I retired in July 1997 after a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force. For the last 13 of those years I was a bioenvironmental engineer, a mix of industrial hygienist and environmental engineer. My training and experience encompassed all aspects of industrial hygiene, radiation safety, asbestos inspection and abatement, lead-based paint risk assessment, environmental health hazard assessment of Superfund sites, emergency response, ergonomics and more.
I had also just graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management. I thought I'd be getting job offers before I retired from the Air Force. I was mistaken.