Crossroads
Financial
I could have been a coal miner. Instead I’m a Nuclear Engineer.
I guess you could say I came from humble beginnings. I had only been out of West Virginia twice in my life. Dad was a disabled coal miner. Mom was a housewife. I was the youngest of 10 kids. We were dependent on welfare and Social Security.
Despite all that, I did well in school and wanted to become part of the Navy nuclear power program. I was hungry to succeed. And I knew I could do it.
Since I’ve been in the Navy, I have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Master’s degree in Management, with the Navy picking up a good portion of my tuition. I have traveled to more than 35 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East and all but six of the 50 states.
It’s funny when I think about it — my intention when I enlisted was to serve for just six years. Here I am an Officer, something I never dreamed of, doing things I never would have dreamed I could accomplish. Where else but in the Navy?
– Travis Goodwin
Supply Corps Officer, Lieutenant Commander (Select)
