Article written by: Baileigh Hannah
Meet Devin McCoy, originally from La Salle, Illinois. After growing up in a small town, Devin decided to join the Army, serving for six years on active duty. During his time in the Army, he was stationed at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos) in Texas for three years, deployed to Poland, and eventually found himself at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. As a Geospatial Engineer, Devin’s role involved creating maps for land navigation, mission planning, and disaster relief efforts.
In mid-2024, Devin made the decision to separate from the military and pursue a new path. He applied to the University of Illinois after realizing that, despite applying to numerous civilian companies, the only offers he received were from military contractors. Interestingly, he received a job offer on the same day his college application was approved. Devin saw this as a sign that studying civilian-side GIS would not only diversify his skillset but also provide better job security by making him more marketable to civilian employers.
The transition from soldiering to studying has certainly presented its challenges. Devin is learning to build habits that were not as necessary in the military, such as effective time management for academic responsibilities. Additionally, adjusting to life on a college campus and relating to his peers has been a bit of a learning curve, but he’s making it work.
On a lighter note, Devin has joined the Halo esports team at the University of Illinois, and they’ve been performing well in competitions. It’s been a great way for him to connect with others and enjoy some downtime!
Looking ahead, Devin is excited to finish his degree and continue pursuing his career in GIS. He plans to use the knowledge and skills he’s gaining in college to open up new opportunities in the civilian sector and looks forward to the future.