Getting to know datacenter employees: Orin Herrod
Microsoft’s success depends on our people. We are proud to introduce some of the talented folks in your community who work in our global datacenters. Discover what inspired them to pursue a career in the tech industry, the different pathways they pursued, and what a day in the life of a datacenter employee looks like.
Introducing Orin Herrod
Datacenter Technician
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Employee since 2020
Early days
Orin Herrod grew up in Georgia, raised with an older sister and a younger brother. He enjoyed spending time outside and playing video games, and started working after-school jobs as a teenager. Orin’s dad was in the military, and Orin himself was in JROTC in high school, followed by a stint in the Air Force.
The path to technology
After the Air Force, Orin went on to get a bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science, and was debating his next steps when he connected with Troy Amick from Laramie County Community College (LCCC). Orin realized that IT was a booming industry, and a career change would provide the chance to learn new things and have job security. Orin then enrolled in the Datacenter Academy at LCCC.
Superpowers
Orin notes that his willingness to learn new things helped make his career change successful. “Every night after class, I would study over and over again because I was so determined to further myself.”
Since he was hired to work in the Cheyenne datacenter, one of Orin’s favorite parts of the job has been collaborating with his teammates to solve problems. “The most enjoyable part for me is having everyone throw out their ideas and figuring out how to overcome an issue.”
A day in the life
When Orin arrives at work, he’s given a rundown of what to expect for the day, then starts tackling tickets. Orin enjoys working on “break-fix”, the term for repairs, upgrades, or installation of systems, since it gives him the opportunity to learn and grow when he gets stuck on something. He spends time investigating issues with servers and likes the camaraderie of working with his team.
Favorite childhood food
Pasteles.
Orin’s mom is from the Virgin Islands and would make this traditional food of fried dough stuffed with ground beef.
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