“I will keep trying”; Journey from Mexico to the US Army Corps of Engineers | Article

Just a dream

It all started in 1979 on the mean streets of Zacatecas, Mexico, where a boy named Juan Gaitan dreamed of a better life in the United States.

As a child, he was always fascinated by electrical circuits, batteries and LED lights. While experimenting with a bicycle dynamo, a device that converts the energy generated by a spinning wheel into electrical energy, which his father gave him, he could not imagine that his passion would lead him to a career in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

After gaining U.S. residency at a young age and arriving in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1999, Gaitan spent ten years working in an onion packing plant without speaking a word of English.

Realizing that his minimum wage job would not improve his family’s future, he felt a strong desire to continue his education in college.

Educational journey

Gaitan enrolled in the English as a Second Language program at Walla Walla Community College, making the transition from “Hello” to “Hello.”

Inspired by his wife and family, he decided to become an electrician. After two years of hard work, he completed a double degree in wind energy systems technology and electrical engineering.

After working in the wind turbine industry for several months, he decided to go into electrical engineering. This task required him to obtain a transfer degree from a local college.

“I had some self-doubt. I had a language barrier and sometimes I used Google Translate to understand my professor.” – said Gaitan.

But he returned to school to begin his engineering career.

While studying, one of his professors remarked, “Juan, you may not be cut out to be an engineer.”

“I thought to myself, ‘Maybe she’s right.’ These words hurt me, and I felt it. But after talking to my wife, she encouraged me to continue.” – said Gaitan.

After receiving his Associate of Science degree from Walla Walla Community College in 2018, he transferred to Washington State University’s Tri-Cities campus.

Gaitan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Washington State University in the spring of 2021.

Try and try again

The motto of the US Army Corps of Engineers is “Essay”. In French it means “Let’s try.” And that’s exactly what Gaitan kept telling himself throughout his journey to become an electrical engineer.

During his undergraduate studies, he had his eye on USACE. In 2016, he applied to work as a student electrical engineer, a position that helps students transition into full-time employment after graduation. He reached the interview stage but did not get the position. His second attempt to apply ended in the same manner.

“It was so discouraging. I was so nervous during the interview and my English wasn’t very good, but I told myself: I’ll keep trying.” Gaitan explained.

He often quoted Thomas Edison, who said, “I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

On his third try in 2022, Gaitan completed another interview for the trainee position. After several days of silence, he received a call from Walla Walla County offering him a job.

“I was in tears.” He noticed.

Careers in Walla Walla County

The same boy who grew up in Zacatecas, Mexico with a passion for electrical circuits has now parlayed that love into a successful career as an electrical engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Walla Walla County.

He will serve the district for three years in March 2025.

“Since graduating from the internship program, Juan has directly supported several Walla Walla County missions and continues to grow both professionally and personally,” said Levi Van Stedum, chief electrical engineer for Walla Walla County.

Currently, Gaitan is actively involved in seven construction projects, in two of them he is the lead electrical designer.

Of these projects, he considers the HVAC upgrade at the Lower Monumental Power Plant the most important. As a lead designer, he solves problems that arise due to the aging of the system. His goal is to implement a modern replacement that will significantly improve the working conditions of our team members at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam.

His expertise will help ensure the continued operation of the critical infrastructure that supports commercial shipping, hydroelectric power generation and successful fisheries in the Pacific Northwest.

Work culture

When asked what he liked most about working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gaitan responded, “The people are great. When I started, I was an intern and had no experience. People were always happy to help me. The flexible schedule allowed me to start early to pick up my son from school.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employs 36,000 civilians providing engineering solutions to customers around the world.

“This is just the perfect job for me. Good benefits. My son was born here and my wife works here,” Gaitan adds.

I’m looking forward to it

Now that he works for USACE, Gaitan hopes his story will encourage more members of the Latino community to pursue STEM-related fields.

Andrew Dunkel-Ibanez, Walla Walla County Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, states, “Walla Walla County is committed to addressing the evolving and increasingly complex engineering challenges facing the region. We cannot achieve this important mission without the support of a diverse, talented and flexible workforce. In today’s highly competitive hiring market, our workforce must be representative of regional/national demographics and create an environment where people feel valued, supported and respected. Walla Walla County’s desired goal is nothing less than to revolutionize regional talent management processes. We are committed to leveraging the unique talents of our team members to remain competitive today and ensure we find new teammates among future employees.”

According to the U.S. National Science Foundation, 14.8% of the STEM workforce in 2021 was Hispanic or Latino. For more information on how to apply for a STEM job in USACE Walla Walla County, visit the Walla Walla County website.

“We need more engineers and doctors than YouTubers,” Gaitan said.

In terms of achieving his personal goals, he still faces the challenge of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which is not mandatory but recommended by his supervisors.

“You can’t stop trying until you reach your goal,” Gaitan said.

After immersing himself in his studies and not allowing disappointment to dictate his future, Gaitan’s journey became a testament to resilience and a powerful reminder that pursuing a dream often requires not only talent, but tireless determination.

As Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Essay!