As a lead analyst and communications engineer at a Department of Defense contracted company, Capitol College alumnus John Ingram has been involved with life-saving work.
A retired Army National Guard member and Marine Corps veteran, Ingram is currently in a position that has him testing products that will eventually be used by the United States. Air Force. A medical application or widget that is being produced for military members is sent to Ingram’s team, who test and judge how effective the product will be for the user.
“It’s a very technological organization where we can look at various things,” Ingram said. “We’re looking at LED lighting in field hospital tents, for example. We’ve looked at rapid-tent technologies where instead of the standard Air Force hospital taking five to six hours [to assemble], you can put up a tent in 20 minutes and start seeing patients.”
And his work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Recently, Ingram and his colleagues received the Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering) Award for Joint Capability Technology Demonstration Team of the Year. The award was for the project they’ve been working on for the past three years.
“Ultimately, I think what we do here has an impact on the military acquisition of medical technologies,” Ingram said.
When military personnel are injured in the battlefield or at a remote location, it can be difficult for medical professionals to provide the care the wounded fighter needs. To alleviate this issue, Ingram’s company has tested and developed a way for supplies to be air dropped to medical professionals in the field, from heights of up to 25,000 feet.
After receiving the air drop, the on-site medic can provide the necessary care while also measuring the wounded soldier’s vitals. Inside the package is an application that is applied to the fighter that sends vital signs and other important information back to medical professionals far removed from the scene, either at a field hospital or other medical center. Bandages, intravenous fluids and blood also make the drop in the package, unharmed.
“It’s precise; it’s usually within 15 meters. And then once they’ve gotten this re-supply now they’ve gotten medical devices they can treat for hyper or hypothermia, they can also stabilize the patient,” Ingram said. “They can also provide real-time telemedical capabilities at the point of injury, with a more experienced doctor or someone back at base.”
By diligently testing the product and ensuring its effectiveness, Ingram’s team can guarantee that the Department of Defense’s money is spent wisely, and that those in need will receive their necessary package without flaws.
“By being an independent test organization, we’re able to give the customer a more informed decision as they look to make a purchase – especially on congressional projects and things that cost $1 million on up,” Ingram said. “More importantly, I think it’s for the war fighter who’s down range, and ensuring that they’re going to get the best product for patient care.”
Ingram may have received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Capitol College more than a decade ago, but he still reaches back for what he learned in the classroom when his products are being tested in the desert.
“My experience at Capitol has been a lot of exposure in various areas,” Ingram said. “A lot of times I’ll revert back to something that I remember learning as a student that I still find very useful and relevant here today.”
It’s that combination of working experience and a strong academic background that forms the foundation for such successful projects.
“Education is a journey that really has to compliment the experiential part of it. To stay current, technically speaking, you have to have the education, but you also have to have the experience. I think those two are very complimentary,” Ingram said. “Education serves to expose you to a lot of different things that you may or may not have a chance to be involved in. At some point, what seems to be abstract still has some relevance as you progress through your career.”
And although Ingram is technically retired from the military, sometimes it feels like he hasn’t left at all. Especially when there are always new products to test for his “customers.”
“Ultimately, [we’re] giving the patient, the war fighter, the best possible care. It’s like serving again.”