Casey Mattingly

Background

About Casey Mattingly

As the son of a mechanic, I grew up tinkering with electronics, small engines, and anything else that needed “figuring out”. If I wasn't learning from my father, I was learning from MacGyver. Resourceful and possessed of an encyclopedic knowledge of the physical sciences, he solved complex problems with everyday materials he found at hand, along with his ever-present duct tape and Swiss Army knife. I knew at an early age that I wanted to be an engineer, and enjoy a career of problem solving, although I had no clue what kind of problems I would want to solve. Early in my college career, my love for math and physics pointed me into the direction of receiving a Physics degree from Morehead State University. Upon the completion of Morehead State University, I continued on my path of becoming an engineer by enrolling in the University of Kentucky. Initially I set forth on a course of becoming a roller coaster designer. During my first few semesters of engineering school, on weekends I often found myself trying to get away from the “rat race” that was college and enjoying the landscapes that Kentucky has to offer. Specifically Keeneland Race Track and the Red River Gorge. While in my early years of engineering school, I proved to myself that my skills as a horse racing handicapper would not provide me the financial success that I had once hoped. During this time I was introduced to the UK Bio-System and Agricultural Engineering program’s stream restoration class, and all the stars lined up. Upon completion of my Engineering degree, I was fortunate enough to begin a career in stream restoration and I am pleased that I have been able to continue that career path. Although my duct tape and Swiss army knives were replaced by AutoCAD and Engineering scales, I often still prove to myself, that the life as a horse racing handicapper would not have worked out.