Steve Pribish

If you’re not sure how driving a Russian missile truck during the aftermath of the Cold War might be a dream job, you’ll have to ask Steve Pribish ‘64.

From 1965-1998, Pribish worked with the US Air Force’s Foreign Technology Center (now called the National Air and Space Intelligence Center). “I was fortunate to be in the data integration center, using all source intelligence data to determine the capabilities and limitations of foreign missile, space and aerodynamic systems,” he said.

Torn between choosing an electrical engineering or a mechanical engineering degree at Michigan Tech, Pribish instead opted for an applied mathematics degree, which he figured would get his foot in the door to whatever career he chose. It did just that, leading to a 33-year career in the Air Force which included work reducing foreign nuclear capability.

“I joined the Air Force to escape the draft, and ended up being assigned to the Foreign Technology Division. From that humble beginning, I ended up doing more than I could ever have dreamed.”

Pribish, who spoke of his struggles in mechanical drawing class at Tech, was surprised to see his engineering drawings of missiles being used in treaty briefings. He later spent time in Russia as an inspector following nuclear reduction treaties, overseeing the destruction and disposal of Russian missiles.

“My Tech experience came in handy during those Russian winters,” he joked.