Get to Know Your Network Engineer - James Paup

How long have you been in the IT business?

About five and a half years. I started in the Marine Corps as a Small Communications Systems Specialist as soon as I left high school, and I’ve been working with computers ever since.

I knew I wanted to join the Marines when I was a freshman in high school. Originally, my intentions were to become a grunt, a ground-pounder, infantry, but I had a good friend who’d been in for two years already. He said no, don’t be a groundpounder, you’re gonna hate life - join communications instead. So I did that and I’m glad I did, that’s why I’m here now.

Why do you like working with computers?

I get to learn something new every day. I’m not as experienced as some of the other guys at Alliance, but I’m always learning. That’s my favorite part of this job – it’s always different. I get to use my brain, think for myself, instead of doing the same monotonous thing day in and day out, which is a big plus for me. It makes the job, really.

Tell me something interesting about you.

Well, my passion is hunting – I just started deer hunting in 2007 when I came home from Iraq while on leave. I prefer bow hunting. I have a 65 pound Hoyt compound, but right now, my bow is still kill-less. I just haven’t had a good shot yet. But I hope to get one this year.

I took one shot at a doe this year, but I undershot her. I misjudged the distance, went right underneath her. I also had a little 6 point buck walk right underneath my stand – could have had him easy, but with the deer management I practice, I decided to let him go. Plus, one thing’s for sure – I know there are bigger bucks out there.

Thanks for giving us the time to get to know you, James!