Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

Stuart (Parker) Raikes

Brooks,KY

Summary

USAF Veteran, Commercial Diver, and Carpenter's Apprentice

In Oct of 2022 I received my honorable discharge paperwork from the military and headed to Seattle to attend an underwater welding school, DIT. After graduating I entered the underwater welding field with a small company in Alaska. I worked lots of trades there. Our company was located on a remote island with infrequent dive jobs, so in-between work we picked up odds-and-ends for the community. Mainly that entailed carpentry work, but it wasn't uncommon for us to work any paying trade.

I spent a year and a half working Alaska before I decided that the diving career field was too stagnant for my liking. I still wanted to work on the water, and I'd heard other guys around the docks talking about mariner positions. Overhearing them talk about their work led me to research the 3AE position.

I found that a mechanical engineering degree lets applicants test for their 3AE license upon graduating. So, with a new plan set, I left Alaska and picked up work at a whiskey barrel factory back home until I could enroll in my local mechanical engineering program.

Now the time's come for me to find a Co-op opportunity to fulfill my degree, just the same as the cadets at maritime academies do, and I'm hoping to pick up some sea-time for my 3AE requirement. I get four months off from August to December to work next year in 2027 for my co-op, and I'm hoping I'll be able to get back out on the water and work with my hands again for it.

Overview

1
1
year of post-secondary education

Work History

Barrel Raiser

Kentucky Cooperage
Lebanon, KY

10/2024 - 06/2025

  • Preformed tasks on the assembly line regularly and safely
  • Maintained highest production rate on shift
  • Thoroughly enjoyed the hustle of it

Commercial Diver / Carpenter's Apprentice

Diversified Diving Services
Ketchikan, AK

05/2023 - 10/2024

  • Installed 1000' long 130' deep barrier net secured into 5 anchors then sewed along the seams into standing nets; inspected mentioned net's connection points 5 times not exceeding 130' of depth
  • Executed U/W welding of 12 24'' inch zincs at 60 ft of depth, ratcheting zincs with harness to position them in place
  • Positioned 126' tugboat onto blocks in shipyard, involving cribbing blocks to further support the hull of the vessel
  • Conducted several inspections on breakwaters and docks, inspecting connection points and replacing old hardware
  • 10 weeks of experience in Commercial Diver Fishery; tending two harvest divers consequently, clocking in over 620 hours of sea time, very proficient working on moving vessel and multitasking in high stress ie: maintaining vessel's position, air pressure, 02 percent, divers umbilicals and downline, and tending to our product
  • Carpenter's Apprentice; experience running power tools, working w/ metal, driving micro pile, setting concrete forms, installing dry wall, roofing, and decks, framing up homes, paining and a variety of "handy man" fixes for clients

Fuels Distribution Operator

United Sates Air Force
Glendale, AZ

10/2018 - 10/2022

  • Led daily vehicle inspections; safeguarded 9 refuelers/$2M fleet/ran 202 item checklist daily supported 4.7M gals/2K aircraft/2.7k fleet hours
  • Galvanized President of the United States visits; fueled Air Force 1/Air Force 2/National Airborne Operations Center aircraft w/300K gals w/immediate response time. Garnered Squadron '19 Daedalian Award/best in command
  • Won 56th LRS 'Outlaw of the Month" for Sept '21/issuing 243k gals to 163 aircraft w/25 min avg response time/issued 1700 gals of 99.5% pure Aviators Breathing Oxygen to 34 Liquid Oxygen carts/safeguarded equipment and infrastructure w/15 security checks/performed daily checkpoint inspections of 27 servicing vehicles
  • Energized Air Refueling Wing flying tempo by 15% in 2019; issued 1.9M gals of JP-8 to 369 KC-135's/launched 2.5K special reaction team exercises resulting in The 100th Maintenance Group's '19 Verne Orr awd
  • Propelled flight's On the Job Training program; trained 12 members on 5-level Up-Grade Tasks/increased qualified personnel by 14%. Key'd Wing's Unit Effectiveness Inspection "Highly Effective" rating
  • Integrated 12 F-15 into routine operations w/ no prior notice; 196 operations/issuing 426K gals of JP8; ensured RAF Lakenheath runway repairs, a $3M airfield project. Eased tri-base Flying Hour Program
  • Serviced RC-135 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions. Serviced Security of Defense private aircraft w/142K gals/captured 1K Special Operating Instructions/provided security for 104 countries (European Defense Initiative)
  • Powered Europe/Africa Special Operations Wing; issued 341K gals to 224 CV-22/C-130 in one week. Generated American Embassy evac/Iraq
  • Temporary Deployment to Portland Air National Guard, issued 87k gals to 84 aircraft/34% of refuels/23% of total base fuel movement/supporting joint training for 6 pilots from the 21st Fighter Squadron w/ Air National Guard pilots

Education

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering -

University of Louisville
Louisville, KY
08.2025 - 10.2026

Professional Commercial Diving Program Diploma - Commercial Diving

Diver Institute of Technology
Seattle, WA
05-2023

High School Diploma -

Nelson County High School
Bardstown, KY
05-2018

Skills

  • 4 years experience in leadership position via USAF
  • Previous CDL holder (military service)
  • Forklift certified
  • Experienced with power tools ie band saws, hammer drills, tables saws, saws-all and others
  • Proficient in welding/cutting and hydraulics
  • Experienced in general boat maintenance
  • Current TWIC and Passport
  • 15 year experience of Carpenter's Apprentice
  • HazMat trained
  • First-aid trained

References

WOODYARD, SHAWN

Production Manager, Supervisor

Kentucky Cooperage

Lebanon, KY

Shawn.woodyard@kentuckycooperage.com

(270) 692-8777

BRIGHT, TODD

Lead Diver, Supervisor

Diversified Diving Services

Ketchikan, AK

(907) 821-0920

RIGONI, TONY

Commercial Diver

Diversified Diving Services

Ketchikan, AK

(414) 731-3049

Timeline

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering -

University of Louisville
08.2025 - 10.2026

High School Diploma -

Nelson County High School

Professional Commercial Diving Program Diploma - Commercial Diving

Diver Institute of Technology

Fuels Distribution Operator

United Sates Air Force

Barrel Raiser

Kentucky Cooperage

Commercial Diver / Carpenter's Apprentice

Diversified Diving Services
Stuart (Parker) Raikes