Electric Engineer at Coffman Earns PE License
Coffman Engineers
An electrical engineer at Coffman Engineers earned her Alaska Professional Engineering (PE) license. Deanna Nielson has been with Coffman’s electrical engineering department for more than seven years.
“I’ve learned so much via on-the-job training and even more from my exceptional mentors at Coffman. They made sure I was exposed to all aspects of electrical, instrumentation, and control system design,” Nielson says.
Nielson was first mentored by Coffman as a high school student through the Anchorage School District’s Gifted Mentorship Program. She interned in the civil and structural departments but settled on electrical engineering. She earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering while also playing Division I volleyball for Gonzaga University.
“From day one, Deanna has taken ownership and pride in a job well done. Her talent, dedication, and work ethic add significant value to any team she is part of. Coffman is fortunate that Deanna is part of our team, and we are extremely proud of her most recent accomplishment,” says Principal Electrical Engineer Logan Haines.
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May 2024
Nielson’s background includes designing medium- and low-voltage power distribution systems and industrial instrumentation and control systems, primarily for the oil and gas industry but also for commercial and residential projects. She has created designs for the Port of Alaska, installation of truck and rail loading systems using electronic preset controls, fire and gas detection systems, valving and metering controls, and uninterruptible power supplies. Nielson also has experience with power distribution, electric systems analysis, industrial lighting, motor control, heat trace design, and on-site engineering support.
A foundational project in her career was designing one of her first large-scale power distribution and control modules. The final design was fabricated in Houston, Texas, where she participated in her first factory acceptance test.
Making History
The track of oil and gas development in Alaska shows the footprints of bold companies and hard-working individuals who shaped the industry in the past and continue to innovate today. The May 2024 issue of Alaska Business explores that history while looking forward to new product development, the energy transition for the fishing fleet, and the ethics of AI tools in business.