When students sign up for summer camp, they might not realize the impact that week-long experiences at camp might have on their future career decisions. Such is the case with Christian Eden, the son of David Eden, a contract employee working as a Portfolio Tech Lead in the Solutions Operations Branch (ADE-520). Christian attended FAA’s ACE Camp in the summer of 2014.
Christian attended Harrah High School and talked about some of the memorable highlights during his time at camp a decade ago. "Touring Will Rogers World Airport and getting to see the inner workings of airport operations and security was a unique and memorable experience that I think back on every time I travel via the airlines," shares Eden. Outside of the camp, opportunities were presented to the campers to participate in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Program, where students were given glider flights at the Hinton Airport. Christian recounts, "This was an incredible opportunity, not only to be able to experience unpowered flight but also to be able to interact with the airline pilots who took us up in the gliders."
He continues, "Another thing that stuck out to me was getting to see the news helicopter and meeting the crew. This was especially cool given their role in storm tracking; even then, I sought ways to combine my interests in aviation and meteorology, which I eventually found in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)." NOAA is responsible for understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, sharing that knowledge and information with others, and conserving and managing coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.
Upon graduating from high school, Christian attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in aerospace engineering with a minor in Weather and Climate. His ultimate goal was to become a pilot, but he was intrigued by learning more about weather, so after his first semester, he changed his major to meteorology.
During his sophomore year in college, Christian took a job with the Oklahoma Mesonet, a place where a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations exists. There is at least one Mesonet station in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. At each site, the environment is measured by a set of instruments located on or near a 10-meter tall tower. Observations are taken every 5 minutes and transmitted to a facility 24 hours a day, year-round. Such weather stations can provide real-time weather intelligence on a local to regional basis, helping to monitor critical, quickly-changing weather conditions. Christian oversaw the quality of data coming in from 170 weather stations across the state.
During the summer after his junior year in college, Christian was able to acquire an internship with the Department of Energy, in which he worked with scientists from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerial Facility using mid-sized unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to sample the boundary layer of the atmosphere. Christian learned about potential career opportunities with NOAA and their Commissioned Officer Corps as his studies progressed, which immediately captured his interest. The internship provided him with valuable research experience, helping him to create a backup plan for getting into graduate school and subsequently pursuing a career in atmosphere science.
He applied for the NOAA Corps and learned that he was accepted during his senior year of college! Just two months after graduation, he was on his way to a 17-week Basic Officer Training Course at the Coast Guard Academy (praying that he wouldn’t get sent to a ship upon completion). Fortunately, Christian was picked to attend flight school in Vero Beach, Florida, where he is now working toward his commercial-type rating. Christian explains, "Eventually, I’ll fly missions for NOAA, including snow surveys, air chemistry, coastal mapping, marine mammal research, various atmospheric research missions, and even hurricane hunting."
In 2023, Christian graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology with a double minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Mathematics. When reflecting on his career path, Christian shares, "I have wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember. I always assumed that I would join the U.S. Air Force, not only because it treated my grandfather well but because I felt it would be difficult to pay for flight school without help from the military. The USAF has all the coolest planes, and I didn’t want to end up on a ship. When I was 9, however, I had a dangerously close encounter with an EF-4 tornado that sparked a fascination in me for meteorology, providing some competition for my previously unrivaled interest in aviation. Ultimately, the love for meteorology won out when choosing a college degree. Still, it led right back to aviation when I discovered that many field campaigns (the aspect of meteorology that is most exciting to me) are at least partly conducted from aerial platforms, and are often operated by the NOAA Corps (although there are others). This was a no-brainer; I could participate in atmospheric research field campaigns while flying, still get flight school paid for, and my meteorology degree set me up perfectly with the required credits for a NOAA Corps application!"
Christian credits his family for being a significant influence in his life. One of his grandfathers was a civilian pilot and a Specialist (SPC) in the U.S. Army who shared many stories with Christian, significantly impacting him. His other grandfather is a retired USAF Colonel who also had stories to share with his grandson, leading him to realize that getting into the military was a great career option. "My parents have always been very supportive of me and my interests; from driving me all over the state for soccer when I was growing up, letting me have a drum set in our living room, sending me to camps like the FAA’s ACE Camp, and supporting me as I decided to change my college major," explains Christian.
Among his many interests, Christian enjoys writing and recording music (piano and drums), working on his cars (a 1970 Pontiac Firebird and a 2014 VW Jetta SportWagen), playing soccer, hiking, and, not surprisingly, storm chasing. Christian elaborates, "Although my parents didn’t influence me directly toward the career I have chosen, their support and advice have allowed me to follow my dreams and work toward what I wanted to do, even when the path wasn’t abundantly clear."
When asked what advice he would have given his 7th or 8th-grade self, Christian replied, "Find your passion and pursue it! Seek advice from others, but when it comes to your life, don’t let anyone or any obstacle that can be overcome with a little hard work pressure you into giving up on something you’re passionate about."
