Architecture & Construction

Kevin Cogley

Mechanical Engineer / Drafting Instructor

High school: Stafford High School ('00)

Career & Technical Ed. Program Studied: Drafting I & II

Additional Studies/Training: Virginia Tech (Mechanical Engineering major)

Putting his High School Studies to Work on the Job…and in the Classroom

With just two academic classes required by his senior year schedule at Stafford High School, Kevin Cogley decided to add a drafting class as an elective. “I just had an interest in drafting for the longest time. I thought that was a good first step to see if I liked it.”

And he did.

In fact, he competed in SkillsUSA drafting competitions, took the gold in state each year, proceeded to the nationals in Kansas City for two years, and ended up being named 5th in the nation in Technical Drafting.

Kevin went on to study mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech. “Having HS drafting got me through a lot of engineering,” he says. “It was a strength that not a lot of people had. In my first class in college, there were only one or two others with a solid drafting background. [Eventually,] I also got the opportunity to be a teaching-assistant for an AutoCad course. “

As a graduate, Kevin continues to teach, serving on the faculty of Rappahannock Community College – and also works in the Dahlgren Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, performing systems engineering for chemical and biological defense programs.

Kevin credits his early high school studies for “the professionalism and respect for the engineering trade that it gave me…learning how to conduct yourself, and how to do your work.”