Natural Resources: Veterinary Technician
Natural Resources
Veterinary Technician:
Kevin Kodama
by Mike Yoshiura
As I wrap up my interview with Hydrologist, Kevin Kodama, he says, you'd better hurry back to your office because it's about to start raining. As I'm leaving the weather forecast office - low and behold - just like he predicted…It starts to rain, and I'm talking cats and dogs. Now this could just be the norm for a late afternoon in Manoa Valley, but if you ask me, this guy's good. If only I could foresee that downpour - I may have come prepared with a rain jacket.
Hydrowhatchamacallit?
A Senior Service Hydrologist for the Weather Forecast Office in Honolulu, Kodama has a bachelor's degree in Meteorology and master's degree in Atmospheric Sciences, but also has a broad knowledge of encoding computer programs. "A Hydrologist doesn't do shift work (forecasting), it's 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and if the weather is bad than I get called in. I'm basically a programs manager trying to develop new things using codes."
The Roots
Kevin was born-n-raised in Hilo, and graduated from Waiakea High School in 1984. In his senior year of high school the United States Air Force offered him a full-college scholarship just for enlisting. A full scholarship to the college of his choice was something the 17-year-old could not turn down. "There's no way my parents could afford to send me away to school."
Atmospheric Science
Kodama elected to attend the University of Washington where he majored in Atmospheric Sciences. Some programs call it Atmospheric Sciences, other universities call it Meteorology, but it's almost the same thing. "The difference is Atmospheric Sciences is broader in codes."
A Twist of Fate
Attending the University of Washington must have been fate for Kevin because there he ended up meeting his future bride. The couple hit it off and eventually got married in 1990, while Kodama was still on active duty in the Air Force. This hydrologist credits his wife's compromise to the success of their marriage. "After college she moved with me to North Dakota, even though there were no jobs for her. There was very little opportunity there for an Electrical Engineer."
Activated For Duty
Immediately after graduating from college, Uncle Sam activated Kevin for duty, transferring him to the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Kodama was a Wing Weather Officer, responsible for providing weather support for everything from aircraft take offs and landings to missile launchings. "The weather affects everything. The ideal conditions for take offs and landings, as well as target weather en route."
The Dream Sheet
When Kodama committed to the Air Force at 17 he filled out a "Dream Sheet", which is military jargon for region and base preference. At the time, Minot North Dakota seemed more like a nightmare, but Kevin made the best of it. "I requested anywhere in the West or Pacific, and North Dakota was about as far from the ocean as you can get. I thought it was the death sentence at the time."
Called to Duty
The Air Force activated Kevin in 1988, just when the Persian Gulf War was starting to get hairy. Much to his dismay, Kodama was deployed to the United Arab Emirates in Dubai for a three-month stint. "At the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, I worked alongside their weather guys. It was a great learning experience because we may have different religions, countries and politics yet we're the same."
In 1991 the US government began to retract troops out of the Middle East, flying them back to their home bases. But, once again, Kodama was called to duty, and this time his destination was Dhahran Saudi Arabia. Getting deployed a second time may not have been listed on Kevin's dream sheet, but again, he made the best of the situation and in the long run he's a better man because of it.
A Lesson In Life
"The Air Force gave me the necessary training for a future career. It gave me the opportunity to apply what I learned in college," he says. "At the time, getting stationed in Minot (North Dakota) seemed like a bump in the road, but I look back and I have no regrets. You may have a specific goal in mind, but don't get caught up on a specific path."