Professor Jon Satko's biography

EDUCATION

M.S., University of Colorado (Colorado Springs), 2001, Physics

B.S., College of William and Mary, 1994, Physics & Mathematics

ACADEMIC INTERESTS

Astrophysics, philosophy of science, theology     

BIOGRAPHY

While studying physics and mathematics at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, I was also training in Army ROTC to become a U.S. Army officer.  At the U.S. Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia, my physics expertise helped me to ponder such questions as "When jumping out of an airplane at an altitude of 1300 feet, how much time do I have before my parachute needs to open?" (Answer:  The rest of my life.)

As an Army officer, I served as the Radiation Safety Officer at Fort Carson, Colorado, where I oversaw the safety program for all medical and dental nuclear / x-ray activities.

I received a high school (mathematics) teaching license in Colorado Springs.  My education courses and one year teaching in government (aka public) school convinced me that I would homeschool my children.

I have been teaching physics, astronomy and mathematics at Porterville College since 2002.

I have been studying Japanese martial arts since my first self-defense class at the College of William and Mary in 1991.  I earned a 1st degree black belt in Jujitsu from the Institute of Martial Arts (Colorado Springs), and have taught Jujitsu at Ironhouse Gym in Porterville.  I now study Aikijujitsu under Michael Tan, at Tan Aiki Dojo in Exeter.

                                Aikido / Jujitsu demonstration for Physics 102A class