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Department ofMechanical Engineering

Faculty and Staff

A smiling person wearing glasses and a red shirt.
Rodney W Broome
Director and Instructor of Lab Operations

Summary:
Earned Journeyman papers as a machinist: and worked more than thirty years for large companies in a research and development atmosphere as a tool and model maker, supervisor, designing and fabricating precision prototype components for computer hardware development, robotics, optical, thermal, and physics experiments. I hold full time/part-time community college instructor credentials in industrial, machine, and related technologies. Served my community for many years as a part-time instructor at San Jose City College while working a fulltime job.

I have experience as a light rail vehicle maintenance instructor, four of those years as dual classification instructor/supervisor; training and supervising light rail mechanics and others on their own shifts, operating within a union environment, and often creating original training packages.

Google inc.:
Started in 2007 as Google’s first machinist. I designed and built their first machine shop, purchased machines, worked with the City of Mountain View and vendors to permit, mount, provide power, air, and coolant filtration. Started with myself and 1000 sq. ft. and grew it to accommodate 12 machinists in 20,000 sq. ft. I provided the design and fabrication of complex prototype electro / mechanical components, testers, and tooling for engineering projects for Cloud storage, Street View, self-driving vehicles, Android phones, tablets, Chromebooks, Android Auto, and many other development projects. I enjoyed working with and training new engineers in the safe operation of machine tools of all kinds. I created a maker-space within Google where employees could experiment with their own ideas or build personal projects, which included a woodshop, machine shop, welding shop, and electronics lab.

Aoptix Technologies:
I served at Aoptix technologies an adaptive optical startup as a model maker responsible for the design and fabrication of complex precision prototype adaptive optics systems, free space data communications devices, and biometric systems. I fabricated optical/electrical/mechanical components, tooling, and fixtures for development projects. I programmed setup and maintained computer numerical control machine tools. I coordinated all shop related functions to include inspection of all parts produced in the shop, the purchase of tooling, plating and, heat-treating functions. I worked with DXF files in AutoCAD, and preformed job estimations for Aoptix and outside vendors.

San Jose City College:
Served 28 years as a part-time instructor of all phases of machine technology for the Applied Science Division of San Jose City College. I instructed students of all ages and origins in the safe, efficient operation of machine tools, evaluated, and counsel students. I prepared course curricula, lesson plans, and training materials for lathe, milling, FIRST robotics, blueprint reading and precision measurement. I consistently earned outstanding performance evaluations from students, staff and “0” safety mishaps.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority:
Served 13 years as a light rail vehicle Maintenance Instructor/Supervisor I trained and supervised light rail mechanics and other disciplines in the safe and efficient maintenance and repair of light rail vehicles, related vehicle systems, vehicle test equipment, maintenance shop equipment and procedures, and all mandated safety and environment topics. I prepared course curricula, lesson plans, and training materials on a large number of subjects, and maintained training records.

Education and Credentials:
Certificate of Apprentice Journeyman (8320 hours)
State Instructor Credentials in Industrial, Machine, and Related Technologies from UC Berkeley extension.
State of California Limited-Service Credential ( #268063) Valid for Life/ Part-time
State of California Instructor (#249292) Valid for Life / Full time

Phone
408-554-4558
Location
Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation, 1121

Contact Us

Chair: Michael Taylor
Department Manager: Gina Orais

408-554-4937

Mechanical Engineering
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053