Michael Miranda // Student Story

Michael Miranda is a fourth class cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. He joins the Quad on our Altia team.

Hi! My name is Michael, I am a fourth class cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. I am from Princeton, New Jersey. I came to Colorado for school. I was very motivated to go to the Air Force Academy, so when I didn’t receive an appointment in 2017, I went to my local state school, Rutgers University, reapplied, and got in the second time around. I have not declared a major yet, but I was an engineer at my prior college, and I have decided that is not for me. I will most likely declare economics.

After I graduate, I will be commissioned as an officer in the Air Force. Currently, I am interested in being a pilot, and if that does not work out, I would like to be an operations research analyst or an acquisitions program manager. The good thing is I have some time to decide, and a lot of exposure to different career fields. I also have a desire to attend graduate school, and that would open up an opportunity to teach back at the academy for a few years.

My hobbies include cars and motorcycles. I am a complete gearhead, I have been riding dirt bikes since I was 5 and even got to travel the country racing go karts for a couple years in highschool. This led me to my interest in working with the Quad on the Altia project. I love the automotive industry so it was a no brainer for me to apply when I saw the opportunity.

What I really appreciate about the Quad is working with students from other schools. Cadets tend to have similar ways of thinking, interests, and approaching problems. Innovation requires diverse perspectives, and that is exactly what I have found at the Quad. I am glad to be a part of a group with unique personalities and interests because we all get along and have found a collaborative and efficient way of tackling this project.

I believe the Quad is an asset to the community. The leaders of the future have a chance to work on the problems that are currently affecting their city. The Quad provides meaningful work, valuable connections, and gives a real world application that allows students to truly make a difference.