Alex Rodriguez’s Journey Fueled by Drones, Design and Innovation

For Alex Rodriguez, a passion for drones, technology and engineering has shaped his journey from his high school’s drone team to PartnerTulsa. Through his experience with drones and his interest in design and development, he has built a strong foundation for a future in the drone industry. Through his internship with PartnerTulsa, he’s gained valuable experience sharing his passion while taking the next step toward his career goals. Learn more about Alex below.

Tell us a little about your background. What experiences or interests have shaped your path, and what are your goals for the future?

I’ve always been passionate about STEM, drones and technology, which led me to my high school’s drone team, Hornet Havoc, which helped shape my path into a technical area with my team and racing FPV Drones. Booker T. Washington High School also helped shape my path in wanting to design and engineer, using 3D printing and CAD softwares. Looking to the future, my goal is to work in the drone industry, building, racing, designing or developing quadcopters.

What’s your connection to Tulsa? What inspired you to pursue an internship with PartnerTulsa?

I’ve always lived in Tulsa, but what inspired me to pursue an internship with PartnerTulsa was the opportunity to teach people how to fly drones and get my foot in the door in the drones and technology industry. Since my career objective is to build a long-term path, getting this internship was the first step.

What has been the biggest takeaway from your internship experience? Is there a particular lesson, project or moment that stands out? 

One of the biggest takeaways is discovering how much I enjoy sharing technical knowledge with others. Something that stood out was getting the opportunity to break down concepts and guide people. It showed me how close education and drones fit together.

If someone were visiting Tulsa for the first time, what’s one local favorite or hidden gem you’d make sure they didn’t miss?

I’d take them to go to The Tropical, they have amazing Thai food.