I studied Marine Biology at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Most of my biology professors were an average age of 60 plus, and I was taught the old-school Natural History (field observation, taxonomy, collection) learnt during the pre-World War II years when my professors were young biology students . Some professors clearly remember the Depression, and related personal stories to me, and class. I remember walking along a beautiful shoreline with an elder professor. We were bird watching and I spotted "a flying speck" with 10 x 50 binoculars. My wise, old professor provided the species name and asked "Did you noticed the bird's pink legs?" In my mind and binoculars, it still looked liked a flying speck. Let's say, I learnt quite a bit on those trips. To this day, even as imparted knowledge was dated, I greatly appreciate the insightful natural history those elder professors taught me. Being located in San Francisco area proved ideal for me as I met many big names of the time. Also, I remember many "behind the scenes" visits to the research collections and research libraries at the Calif. Academy of Science, Stanford, and UC Berkeley encouraged by or led by my older professors.

I studied a number of medical courses at SFSU. I attended graduate school at SFSU, however I dropped out to pursue a medical research opportunity and launched my career at the US Army's Letterman Army Institute of Research (LAIR), Presidio of San Francisco. I joined a nationwide research team working to improve the old "jungle juice" Army insect repellent used in Vietnam by troops in the field. The insect repellent project led to travel to eastern Australia where I saw much natural history (tropical jungle, Great Barrier Reef, and viewed wonderful flora and fauna including a giant bird called a Cassowary). Eventually, the Army research project led to an improved fielded insect repellent product for the US military. I received medals from the project. The potential for US involvement in the Iran-Iraq war led to an Army assignment on a chemical weapons defense project to develop methodology for CW protection for troops in the field. I gained experience in a biochemistry lab, had to learn to work with research radioisotopes, and around a research Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer. The larger medical version is called an MRI, now common in medical centers.

I left military service and was employed as a civilian food microbiologist in the Army's Regional Vet Lab, at Letterman Army Medical Center (LAMC), Presidio San Francisco. I was involved in food microbiology and food pest investigative work. My natural history background led to involvement in medical entomology cases (mosquito, flea, ticks, lice ID, even bat ID for potential rabies cases.) Medical center doctors would send me specimens for identification. Also, I was tasked to assist military preventive medicine personnel who required identification of pest insects eating the food stored in military warehouses.

Forced Department of Defense downsizing of Letterman Medical Center and the Presidio Army Base to closure, led to a government reassignment as the hospital's Cancer Registrar. Earlier in my career, I had managed to obtain a background in health information and cancer registry which allowed me to qualify for the job transfer. It's tactic of being a generalist (a cockroach with a "go anywhere, do anything" mentality to survive. Coworkers who were specialists (like a preying mantis) lost jobs. For me, I kept my career going. I learnt the "generalist" vs "specialist" concepts when I learnt principles of natural history. Generalist species survive better in an environment subject to much change. In today's uncertain economic times, preparing to be a generalist might be a survival tactic for you.

As the closure of Letterman Army Medical Center and the Presidio Army Base approached, I was transferred by the government to a new assignment as a Health Information Technician at the Naval Medical Center (also called Balboa Hospital by locals), San Diego. My Health Information job required greatly upgrading computer skills, but concomitantly I became comfortable using the Internet discovering new Natural History facts using home computers with world-wide access.

Transfer to San Diego led to new natural history discoveries in and around San Diego, out in the desert, and in nearby Mexico including repeated visits to the excellent facilities of the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, San Diego Natural History Museum, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

Yes, I have deviated from a planned career in Natural History with career forays in applied biological research, medical investigative work, and health information. No problem. Each opportunity provided me new views of the world, and led to a better personal understanding of Natural History and Marine Biology. To-this-day, study of Natural History and Marine Biology still remains a major lifelong hobby.