Michael DiPaulo, CDT: U.S. Navy

My military training provided a strong foundation on which I built a successful career in this industry. I enlisted in the Navy in 1971, after completing a two-year program in dental laboratory technology at a trade school. I eventually received orders to attend U.S. Navy dental technician class “A” school in San Diego, CA, and learned chairside assisting, dental hygiene, X-ray and some field medic skills.

Because of my civilian schooling, I was able to skip the Navy’s next level of dental technology training and immediately started serving at the Naval Dental Center Area Dental Laboratory in Washington, DC. It serviced sailors at 80-plus naval bases and a fleet of 200-plus ships. I had numerous roles and ended up on the partial denture frameworks team in the top position of surveyor and designer.

One aspect of Navy training that stands out is how comprehensive it was. I learned all the specialties and acquired so many different skills,...