Meet Doug Hardy. Father of two - Jonathan (8) and Caroline (5). Nine years ago, one would find him serving in the United States Marine Corps., working as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. His job then was to locate, identify, render safe, and dispose of explosive hazards such as foreign and domestic unexploded ordnance (UXO), chemical/biological weapons, high-yield explosives, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that presented a threat to operations, installations, personnel, or material.
Hardy saw a wide range of the world during that time - Spain, Italy, Afghanistan, Norway, Israel, Japan, and Romania - just to name a few stops along the way. He also spent time in Washington D.C., working with the Secret Service on various Very Important Personnel Protection Support Activity (VIPPSA) missions.
After finishing his time in the service with the rank of sergeant, Hardy was drawn to the chemical and biomolecular engineering field due to the complex and challenging nature that would allow him to use his problem-solving and trouble-shooting skills coupled together. Today, Hardy is an undergraduate student majoring in chemical and biomolecular engineering at Lehigh University. The degree field allows students the opportunity to work in many different roles, in a variety of industries, all over the world. In Hardy's case, like a seemingly familiar pair of boots.
Most recently, Hardy as been working on research projects under the primary advisement of Professor James Gilchrist, making samples for the International Space Station (ISS) project, laser cutting quartz slides, and the microrollers project. While he is enjoying his time at Lehigh, Hardy is looking forward to finishing his degree and starting the next chapter of his life.
Whatever the future holds, the Lehigh community salutes him and all other fellow veterans - thank you for your service!
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