After Drew’s summer fellowship with the SBFC, he went back to school at Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Spatial Sciences. Drew’s first job was a temporary position with the Bexar County Appraisal District GIS department in San Antonio. He continued to apply for numerous permanent positions throughout the country.

After passing on multiple GIS job offers, Drew finally found a great position with a remote sensing company, Watershed Sciences. Most of the work at Watershed Sciences involved airborne surveys for natural resource management.

The LiDAR surveys are eventually converted to data used to create the topographic maps we're all familiar with. Drew’s first position was as a Ground Survey Professional which had him travelling all around the country setting up GPS equipment to assist the aircraft. In fact, Drew’s first project was mapping the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area.

It was the experience and training that he gained through his fellowship with the (then) Selway-Bitterroot Foundation, that gave him the credentials to land a position with Watershed Sciences. Drew’s current job requires that he work unsupervised in the field for weeks at a time, it was that same work experience with the SBFC that ensured that he was trustworthy and could meet expectations without close supervision. Drew is happy that the data he has helped to collect is still being used for Wilderness management.

Drew is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to fellow with the Foundation as it has directly shaped his trajectory in life. With backcountry in his blood, he continues to be an avid advocate for Wilderness Stewardship, and hikes and skis the Wilderness areas near his new home of Portland, Oregon.