From undecided to unstoppable: A civil engineering alum’s path to the deep waters of the Gulf Coast

Cameron Horan’s journey to becoming a drilling engineer for BP, while simultaneously pursuing a Ph.D. in mining and mineral engineering, is a story of determination, adaptability and seizing opportunities.  

It all began in Osgood, Indiana, the small town of less than 1,000 people where Cameron grew up. 

He always enjoyed the outdoors and activities like camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and skiing. Initially set on becoming a farmer and skipping college, Cameron found ways to use his aptitude for design and construction to benefit the family.  

“Often my parents would see something they would like and I would say ‘I can build that’ and it would be even better quality and cheaper,” Cameron explained. “I've completed many projects from building Quonset hut barns on our farm to painting murals on semi-trailers.” 

After encouragement by teachers and family to continue his education, Cameron decided to look into pursuing an engineering degree. With family ties to Trine—his older brother and uncle are alumni— Cameron was drawn to the university's intimate environment, which mirrored his small-town roots. The small class sizes and close-knit professor-student interactions at Trine played a significant role in his decision.  

Plus, as Cameron humorously adds, "I also chose Trine for the snow. HAHA Love it!" 

The Trine University experience 

When Cameron first set foot on campus, he wasn't sure which engineering discipline he wanted to pursue. Accepted into the general engineering program, Cameron used the first semester to explore different fields.  

For students unsure about which engineering or computing major is best for them, he advises, “Keep an open mind and explore all avenues while you have the chance. Don’t choose solely based on money because going to work every day hating what you do is not how you should live life. Make every decision a meaningful one!” 

During this time, he discovered his interest in mining and petroleum engineering, piqued by opportunities for travel and high pay. With advice from his academic advisor, Cameron eventually selected civil engineering for his undergraduate degree. 

"I chose civil engineering because I was an outdoor enthusiast and loved to build things," he recalls. 

He also worked part-time for several professors within the department, forging strong connections that he cherishes to this day. 

"The thing I remember most is the connections that I made with many of my professors, whom I still try to maintain contact with and stop in and visit whenever I am in the area," Cameron shares.  

During his time at Trine, Cameron immersed himself in campus life, playing golf and later bowling, as well as leading several engineering-related student groups. One standout memory from his Trine days was a week-long trip to Ecuador with Trine's chapter of Engineers Without Borders, where he helped bring clean water to a remote community in the Andes Mountains. 

Determined to succeed 

Cameron completed his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Trine in May 2019. His professors strongly encouraged him to consider graduate school, but he preferred to land a job in industry. 

At the time, there weren’t positions available at mining and petroleum companies for civil engineering graduates, so Cameron reconsidered his options. 

"If they won't hire me with a civil engineering degree, I will go get a degree that they can't refuse," he thought. 

He was accepted with a full scholarship to the University of Texas–Austin, the top-ranked university in the world for petroleum engineering. He completed his master’s degree in 2021.   

Following graduation again, Cameron’s career journey took several more twists and turns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Driven by the downturn in the oil market, his path began as a quarry manager for New Point Stone Company, a small quarry back in his hometown. From there, he moved to Halliburton as a plant specialist in northern Nevada, mining barite for oil fields.  

Despite his efforts, Cameron realized his role at Halliburton wouldn’t get him closer to his goal of working for a major oil company. So, he took a leap of faith and began working on oil rigs for Transocean in the Gulf of Mexico, doing the grueling blue-collar work of a roughneck/floorhand on a drillship. This daring decision paid off when BP recognized his determination and hired him as a drilling engineer. 

Dream come true 

Working on offshore rigs is not for the faint of heart. Cameron has spent weeks at a time on drillships, enduring the extreme conditions of a three-week-on, three-week-off schedule, working 12-hour shifts around the clock.  

"It is a very unforgiving place," he explains, recounting experiences ranging from surviving hurricanes to working in 150-degree temperatures on deck while suited up in fire retardant coveralls and other extensive protective gear. 

"Mistakes are generally not tolerated, as it can mean the difference between life and death,” he said. “These operations cost over $1 million a day, so efficiency is key, and downtime is not preferred." 

Cameron credits much of his success to the solid foundation he built at Trine. The coursework in material properties, statics, fluids, dynamics and foundation design has been essential in his current role. 

"We work with many different materials, and we need to understand forces and material properties,” he commented. “Like in civil engineering, the consequences in petroleum engineering can be devastating to people and the environment. We have to hold ourselves to a higher level of accountability." 

Cameron 's favorite part of his job at BP is experiencing the incredible engineering feats involved in drilling wells over 30,000 feet deep in water depths of up to 12,000 feet. 

"The engineering solutions are extraordinary," he raves. 

He also enjoys the unique experience of flying by helicopter to work 100 miles offshore and witnessing the beauty of nature and wildlife in the open ocean. 

Despite the grueling schedule, Cameron decided to add in another challenge during his off weeks – flying to Canada to pursue a Ph.D. in mining and mineral engineering from McGill University. The decision to pursue the ultimate advanced degree was partly fueled by his desire to diversify his expertise. His research at McGill focuses on mineral processing, tracking sub-atomic particles to understand what occurs inside float cells, large containers used to separate minerals from other materials.  

“This knowledge can help us improve mineral recovery rates and improve design of float cells,” explained Cameron. 

His research team plans to use this information to build different float cell designs and test them at mining processes across the globe, such as London, England, and Cape Town, South Africa. 

Returning to his roots 

Despite his extensive experience and academic achievements, Cameron remains humble about his future. "I have no clue," he admits when asked about his long-term career plans. “I’m planning on having a family and I want to start my own business. I grew up with blue-collar entrepreneurial parents and it’s in my DNA.”  

As a child he always had several answers to the question of what he wanted to be when he was older and now knows the possibilities are endless. 

“I realized that God has different plans for my life and no matter how much I think I know, things seem to always change direction,” he noted. 

Cameron plans to continue looking for opportunities that include innovative hands-on projects, outdoor travels and time spent with his family. 

From uncertain beginnings to drilling deep in the Gulf of Mexico, Cameron's journey is far from over. Wherever the next chapter takes him, one thing is certain: His passion for engineering and adventure will continue to guide his path.