Alumni Spotlight - Michael J. Golden

Because of his impressive career record and dedication to PSU Triangle, this month’s newsletter will feature Brother Michael J. Golden.

Brother Michael Golden is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a BS degree in Engineering Science, the university’s honors engineering curriculum. Following graduation, Br. Golden accepted a position at AT&T-Bell Laboratories as a development engineer in Allentown, Pennsylvania. During this time, he attended graduate school at Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA) earning an MS in Electrical Engineering.

In 1983, Br. Golden received a commission as an ensign in the Navy’s Reserve Engineering Duty Officer Program. During the first two years of Br. Golden’s naval career he served as the Machinery Repair Division Officer (R-2 Division), Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) Philadelphia. Follow-on U.S. Navy billets Mr. Golden held include: R-2 Division Officer, USS EMORY S. LAND (AS-39) in Norfolk, VA, Engineer, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Honolulu, HI, Action Officer, Navy Vendor Program, Naval Support Systems Engineering Station (NAVSSES), Philadelphia, PA, Commanding Officer, NAVSEA Engineering Unit 1404, Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Office, Groton, CT, Watch Captain, Navy Operations Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC, Military Deputy, Supervisor of Shipbuilding (Submarines) SUPSHIP Offices, Groton, CT where he managed the SSGN conversion of the USS MICHIGAN (SSGN 727) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Seattle, WA, Military Deputy, Supervisor of Shipbuilding (Surface Ships), SUPSHIP Office, Pascagoula, MS.

Br. Golden retired with the rank of Captain, United States Navy in January 2014 during which he was awarded four Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, a Battle “E” ribbon and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

In Br. Golden’s civilian career, he was transferred to AT&T-Federal Systems Division, Greensboro, North Carolina, in January 1986. In this capacity, he worked as an engineer developing fiber optic communication systems for the U.S. Government. In July 1989, Br. Golden was promoted to Manager of AT&T’s Government Programs supporting AT&T’s Microelectronics Programs within all of AT&T’s Government Businesses, also in Greensboro, NC. In July 1995, Mr. Golden was transferred to AT&T Bell Laboratories in Whippany, NJ where he assumed the additional duties of Program Manager Wireless Infrastructure Programs. In October 1998, Mr. Golden assumed the position of Lucent Technologies, Program Manager, Wireless Infrastructure Programs as a result of the Lucent Technologies “spin-off” from AT&T Corporation.

In March 2005, Br. Golden accepted a position with Scientific Research Corporation in Shrewsbury, NJ as a Senior Program Manager. In this Position Mr. Golden supported the United States Army as a Project Manager of two sub-projects of the Army’s WIN-T (Warfighter Information Network – Tactical) Project. Br. Golden managed the WIN-T Regional Hub Project while at Fort Monmouth, NJ and the WIN-T Secure Wireless Project at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

In December 2020, Br. Golden joined the United States Government, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense – Acquisition & Sustainment as the Director – Navy Programs and Microelectronics Projects.

Br. Golden does travel to the Triangle Fraternity “Club House” where he is an active participant in the Penn State Triangle Fraternity alumni work weekends. In 2020 through 2021 the Alumni work parties have renovated six (6) of the “Club House” rooms including turning room 28 into a state-of-the-art student study & library. During a recent Penn State Arts Festival Brother Golden executed a flawless “Triple Lindsey” at University’s Olympic size swimming pool. Although those reports are largely unsubstantiated according to Dr. Eric Barron, Penn State President.

Br. Golden’s education also includes an MS in Business Management, George Washington University (1994) and the AT&T Emerging Leaders Program (1991).

Br. Golden holds the U.S. Patent # 6,490,456 - Emergency Locate of TDMA wireless terminals (1999).

Br. Golden has one son, Patrick, who also graduated from Penn State with a degree in industrial Engineering, recently accepted a position with the United States Postal Service as an engineer working in New Castle, DE.