After serving in the military, Colton Warkenthien made a sharp career turn. The move led him to influence a new generation of welders in the classroom.
A former U.S. Coast Guard machinery technician turned welder, he is big on craftsmanship and mentorship and firmly believes in education as a game changer.
Warkenthien grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, where he graduated from Niles North High School. Raised “on the water,” he said a love for boating made the Coast Guard an obvious career choice in his 20s.
“I’ve been on the water my entire life,” he reflected, “so joining the military felt like a natural fit.”
After four years of military service, he faced the challenge many veterans meet: finding a meaningful career as a civilian. He discovered welding while using his GI Bill benefits at Virginia Peninsula Community College.
“I never thought about welding until I moved down here,” said Warkenthien, reflecting on how the field changed his life.
Enrolling in VPCC Workforce Development’s Welding Program in 2019, he eagerly dove into his courses. He completed the training in just seven months, earning certifications in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and 6G pipe welding.
“These certifications opened every door for me,” he exclaimed.
Warkenthien’s experience in the field came at Newport News Shipbuilding when he became a structure welder, working on the Columbia Project. He said it’s one of the U.S. Navy’s most crucial projects.
“We were building the newest, biggest submarine in the world,” he said proudly. “It’s going to redefine how we defend our country underwater.”
Looking back on his student experience, Warkenthien credits seasoned VPCC instructors David King and Cameron Smith for guiding him and giving him the confidence to enter the professional world.
“David taught at the shipyard for over 45 years, and he’s the reason I’m back here teaching now," said Warkenthien, who became a VPCC instructor last May having left his position at the shipyard.
Elated about returning to VPCC, he teaches evening classes at the Hampton Campus training the next wave of welders. He also fills in as needed at VPCC’s Trades Center in Toano. For him, it’s more than a job. Teaching is a way to give back.
“Seeing what I got out of it with the instructors here, how they took the time to make me take it seriously, that’s what drives me," he explained.
The personal connection with students, especially those who might be struggling, is a big part of his approach.
“We get a lot of younger students who might not see an immediate future or career path. I try to show them how it changed my life, and I tell them, ‘If you listen and work hard, you’ll have a future of your own.’”
Teaching alongside the mentors who helped shape his career is rewarding.
“The school didn’t just give me an education, it directed my future, and I still work with King to this day. It’s pretty awesome,” he said.
“Working with Mr. Earl Williams, Desi Bailey, and Mr. (Joe) Crosby is awesome. These guys put in so much effort, and I want them to see how much of a difference they’ve made. Hopefully, I can make that same impact on other students,” he added.
Away from the classroom, Warkenthien focuses on his family. The father of four (three daughters and a son) lives in Grafton with his wife Angela, who he met while in Yorktown for Coast Guard schooling.
“Family is everything to me,” he said, adding that his love for fishing and hunting is something he enjoys sharing with his son, just as his father did with him.
As for goals, Warkenthien said teaching is it for the long haul. He hopes to become full-time at VPCC and continue preparing others for the growing field.
“The welding field is booming. Pay is going to skyrocket because so many people are retiring. This is a great time to get into welding, and I hope more people take the opportunity.”