Meet New Rotarian: John Diedrich

Meet one of our newest members, John Diedrich!  He is the first one of the new batch to submit his photo and information for the newsletter!  Thanks, John, and WELCOME!

 

 

I grew up in West St Paul, attending St Michael’s and St Joseph’s grammar schools and Archbishop Brady High School (now St Croix Lutheran).

Following high school, I joined the US Navy, serving in the Navy Nuclear Program for seven years (1971-1978). After the Navy, I moved to the civilian nuclear power industry, first with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga, TN; then stint with Westinghouse Electric in Atlanta, Georgia, where I worked as a non-degreed engineer.

 

Westinghouse eventually discovered that they could hire a fully-degreed engineer for less money than they were paying me, so they provided a nice severance package, including money to go back to school for a degree. I took the hint, moved in with my in-laws in Eagan, Minnesota, and enrolled at the University of Minnesota, eventually earning a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering.

 

After graduating from the U, I worked as a Project Engineer with several system integrators, designing and installing industrial control systems in various industries. I’ve put systems together for fossil fuel plants, fire detection/suppression systems for refineries, semiconductor fabrication systems for Intel and Motorola, and water/wastewater systems across the United States.

 

In 2009, the Idaho National Laboratory offered me a position in a new group they were starting to support the Department of Homeland Security cyber-security effort. I have been part of the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) for eight years: 2.5 years in Idaho Falls, ID; 2 years in Arlington, VA; and the last 3.5 years working remotely from Mendota Heights. My primary function is as a subject matter expert (SME) for water/wastewater control systems. I also provide support to the Production Group, which finalizes the various products that ICS-CERT publishes (mostly on the website).

 

As interesting as my current position is, it won’t last forever; and I plan to retire within the next five years. In the past three months I’ve begun taking courses to prepare myself for my retirement career as a futures/options trader.