Finding a new way to enjoy work

"It's incredible how many things we see around us every day are powered by diesel."

Jeffrey Jackson likes to fix things.

He’s good at it, too. So good that Jackson, a Diesel Technology student at Francis Tuttle Technology Center, recently placed third at the TMC FutureTech National Student Technician Skills competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

But for the former computer programmer, this career path he started on less than a year ago still feels very new.

“To be honest, where I have placed in these competitions, it’s all been kind of a shock to me,” Jackson said.

Jackson grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana. He studied computer science in college and worked in programming for several years before he realized it wasn’t exactly what he wanted to do.

“I enjoyed the work of computer science and computer programming, but I didn’t like the environment,” he said. “I didn’t really like sitting behind a desk all day.”

He was hired by Schlumberger – now SLB – to work out in the oil field. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he had to find work elsewhere.

So after some online refresher courses, he went back to computer programming. That worked out well until he also lost that job in a round of layoffs.

“I really started to think about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life,” Jackson said.

By then, his two sons were training in aircraft maintenance at Canadian Valley Technology Center. While he wasn’t sure about that specific field, it did show Jackson the hands-on job opportunities available through training at a CareerTech center.

After some research and considering his options, Jackson decided to train as a diesel technician. He saw an opportunity to take what he enjoyed about programming and apply it to a job in an environment he enjoys.

“I love the hands-on aspect and the troubleshooting part of it,” he said. “Really, that’s what I liked about computer programming. I liked the problem-solving part of it.”
Jackson started the Diesel Tech program in January 2026. A few months into training, students began preparing for competitions. He finished first SkillsUSA state and sixth in the national competition. 

He also placed second at the SuperTech national competition, hosted by Francis Tuttle. That was enough to earn a school-sponsored trip to Pittsburgh for TMCFutureTech.

“For me it’s about being able to test yourself, and not really about being better than the other competitors,” Jackson said. “It’s a way to challenge myself to see what I know and what I still don’t know.”

Jackson has also already landed a job before he completes the program later this year. He spends Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Parallel Ag, a farming equipment dealership in Chickasha.

The Diesel Technology program at Francis Tuttle has a reputation of being well-connected with industry. Jackson said it’s one of the aspects of the program that made him want to enroll.

“I decided to come here because of the connections they had. That seemed like a better choice for me if my goal was to get a job. And that turned out to be very true.”