Ben Anderson
Coordinator / Clinical Instructor
Office: T&T 321
Professional Work Experience
- Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plant Supervisor on USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
- Industrial controls engineer working with programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), and network infrastructure for the Naval Nuclear Laboratories (NNL) on the Idaho National Laboratory site.
- Electrical system design work for Walsh Engineering.
Career Highlights
- Operating the Navy’s largest nuclear reactors during training operations was quite a unique and interesting although stressful experience.
- While working for NNL, Ben organized and executed the replacement of all PLC5 components in a half dozen facility industrial control systems. This task involved hardware and software replacement.
- Ben was the primary electrical designer during the early stages of the DOE’s MARVEL small nuclear reactor project.
Favorite Professional Experience
I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of each system at NNL and carefully planning the hardware replacement projects. The process of learning how the system was programmed and rewriting the code to leverage the new capabilities available was challenging and rewarding.
A Little about me
I am what some may call an extreme DIY’er. I enjoy the challenge of learning new things and incorporating my control system knowledge at home in small scale electronics projects. I have always been fascinated with flight and have enjoyed flying RC airplanes and most recently first-person-view (FPV) racing drones. My wife and I also enjoy many outdoor activities including mountain biking, backpacking, and hunting with our family of three girls.
Sean McBride
Industrial Cybersecurity Engineering Technology Clinical Sr. Instructor
Within Idaho State University’s Energy Systems Technology Education Center (ESTEC), Sean McBride runs the nation’s only 2 year, hands-on degree to specialize in defending industrial facilities from cyber attacks and incidents.
Sean joined ISU after leaving FireEye, where he developed the firm’s Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security business strategy. Sean’s professional accomplishments include pioneering work in threat and vulnerability intelligence, which evolved into the DHS ICS-CERT, and co-founding Critical Intelligence to focus on the unique intelligence needs of industrial entities.
Over the past decade, Sean has written extensively for his customers, provided expert analysis for the popular press, and briefed the results of his work at leading professional conferences such as RSA and S4.
Sean earned an MBA in the NSA Scholarship for Service Program at ISU in 2006. He earned a Masters in Global Management from Thunderbird – Arizona State University in 2010.
Core Instructors
Nicole Froelich
Clinical Instructor
Office: Energy Systems & Technology Education Center 211
Professional Work Experience
- Technician and Development Engineer - Inergy Solar
- Calibration Technician – Lockheed Martin (Bangor Trident Naval Base) and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- Metrology Engineer – Lockheed Martin (Bangor Trident Naval Base)
- Clinical Instructor – Idaho State University College of Technology
About Me
I am originally from Montana and came to ESTEC as a student in 2017. After graduating, I worked for Lockheed Martin on Bangor Trident Naval Base before transitioning to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard’s Calibration Program. I am thrilled to be back and teaching at the same program I graduated from, since I get to help mold our students into competent and successful technicians.
I enjoy the great outdoors and all it has to offer. I am often camping, hiking or rock-hounding on the (nice) weekends and over the summer. Pocatello is one of my favorite places to be, especially in the Fall when the leaves start to change.
Chuck Snowden
Coordinator / Clinical Instructor Mechanical Engineering Technology
Office: Energy Systems & Technology Education Center #205