(WACO, Texas) – David Tucker knows where there are flows, levels, pressures and temperatures that there is probably an Instrumentation graduate from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus keeping vigilance.
The program has graduated more than 500 students since fall 2015, including the newest group to receive associate degrees at the recent fall 2025 Commencement in Waco.
Tucker, a program instructor, said while the oil and gas industry is a popular destination for graduates in Texas, there are other fields they can use their skills in.
“Industry moves fast,” he said.
Jeff Maynard, director of PHe Data Center Services in Irving, said instrumentation graduates are exposed to control wiring, diagrams, and schematics in data centers.
“There are a lot of devices that we work on that require a good deal of computer-related understanding to be able to communicate with and program the devices,” he said.
Maynard said he looks to TSTC’s Instrumentation and Electrical Power and Controls program to find graduates that are a good fit.
“It is a challenge to find people,” he said. “In data centers specifically, the demand is outstripping the supply. In all areas of power distribution and electrical testing, it’s the same way. It’s very challenging to find people. It is still possible, but requires a lot of work and effort.”
Jacob Cox, vice president of electrical and controls at Fallas Automation in Waco, said students graduating from the Instrumentation program understand control systems, sensors, and pneumatics, which are important in how the company’s machines operate. He said graduates also have a troubleshooting mindset and can transition with some training into field service, machine testing and panel building.
“Their experience with signal wiring and calibration – not so much feedback loops – directly apply to the sensors, valves and automation equipment we use every day,” Cox said. “While they would still need some hands-on training in robotic-specific programming and some more advanced PLC (programmable logic controller) logic, they come in with a solid foundation in automation principles.”
Cox said automation and robotics will grow because this is where modern manufacturing is going. He said companies everywhere are looking for people who understand how to connect electrical controls, mechanical systems and data to make equipment to run more reliably and smarter.
“These skills open doors not just in packaging, but across food and beverage, energy, pharmaceuticals and many other industries that are automating more every year,” Cox said. “The demand for talent in this space keeps rising, and those who understand how to make machines think and respond will be at the forefront of that shift.”
TSTC’s Instrumentation program offers an Associate of Applied Science degree at the Waco campus.
Registration continues for the spring semester at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.