Jason Culp likes to make things. He is a prolific inventor and an advocate for the inclusion of science and technology in childhood education. Culp is an engineering design manager for A-Dec, one of the world’s largest makers of dental chairs and equipment. The company was co-founded by Joan and Ken Austin (B.S. Industrial Engineering ’53; E.B. Lemon Distinguished Alumni Award, 2000), generous philanthropists and supporters of Oregon State.
Culp leads a team that designs custom-engineered cabinetry for the company. He likes using his ingenuity to meet the unique and changing needs of each customer and helping his group develop professionally. “I love my job as a leader because I get to watch people grow,” Culp said. “When my team members come up with new ideas and see them built, it ignites a spark within them.” While his career has primarily focused on the design of engineered-to-order products, he also coordinates offshore manufacturing efforts.
Culp says the internships he had at Atlas Copco Wagner and Blount while attending Oregon State helped him define a career focus. “They fueled my passion for creating and building things and really infused the practical application of engineering,” he said. Culp especially enjoys teaching young minds about science technology, engineering and math careers. He and his wife, Kelley, are four-year coaching veterans of the For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology (FIRST) program in Wilsonville, Oregon. Culp also volunteers as a judge for high school-level robotic competitions. “I am investing in our future,” he said. “When you combine the robotics experience with the marketing and presentations skills these kids learn, it really opens the door for them to think about a potential career in a different way. They inspire me.”
In addition to his outreach with young students, Culp has served for six years on the industry advisory board for the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering in the College of Engineering at Oregon State.
Degrees
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1999