Liam Rubarth

For Liam Rubarth, a decade of service in the U.S. Navy shaped not only his leadership skills but his passion for engineering. 

“In the Navy, I became a technical supervisor for large teams completing complicated nuclear maintenance,” Rubarth says. “This engineering management degree will give me an avenue to expand my technical skills while developing the leadership tools I need to fully step into an equivalent role in the private sector.”

Rubarth graduates this December with a bachelor’s degree in engineering management with a focus in mechanical systems from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. As an online student, he balanced coursework with a demanding military schedule, crediting ASU’s flexibility as key to his success.

“ASU offers some of the best asynchronous learning programs,” he says. “As someone with an irregular work schedule and no local college options, ASU was the perfect choice to do school at my own pace.”

Rubarth’s leadership experience extends far beyond the classroom. Serving in the Navy from 2013 to 2023 and now in the Naval Reserve, he worked as a nuclear electrician aboard the USS Springfield and later as a production and radiological controls supervisor for the Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department in Groton, Connecticut. 

“It was a unique environment that very few others get to see,” Rubarth says. “My team completed critical maintenance that got submarines out to sea to complete missions vital to national security.”

Rubarth credits Professor of Practice Daniel McCarville with helping him grow as both an engineer and a professional. 

“His classes were always exciting,” Rubarth says. “He’s been an excellent guide, not only through his knowledge of engineering concepts but also through advice about resumes and letters of recommendation.”

His capstone project with Niagara Bottling gave him hands-on experience applying classroom skills to real-world manufacturing. Using statistical analysis, his team identified differences in operator response times on the assembly line and worked toward solutions to improve efficiency.

After graduation, Rubarth will begin work as a lead project engineer at Janicki Industries in Bellingham, Washington, designing and building composite tools, prototypes and assemblies for aerospace and defense.

“Engineering is awesome because it’s a career path with no limits,” Rubarth says. “You can take your problem-solving skills anywhere.”

Favorites

Hobby: Woodworking
Band: Run the Jewels
TV show: Star Trek
Activity: Historical reenactments of the Greek classical period
Last book read: Project Hail Mary

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ fall 2025 class.

Written by Kelly deVos