Lance Price
Engineering manager in Fort Wayne, IN, United States
Controls Engineer | Entrepreneur | Military Vehicle Specialist
The Profile
I am a Controls Engineer by trade and a mechanical re-builder by obsession. With a BSEE and a career rooted in the heavy industries of Northeast Indiana, I specialize in the architecture of complex control systems for large-scale refineries. I don’t just design the logic; I own the hardware. I am a "DIY of everything" practitioner who believes that true engineering happens where the metal meets the heat.
The Philosophy: Leadership from the Trenches
Beyond the schematics and the steel, I am driven by a fundamental belief: We collectively move forward, in earnest and with great expectation.
In my world, leadership isn't a title; it’s a shared burden. I used to work for many who would say they would never ask someone to do something they wouldn't do themselves—but I honestly rarely saw them lift a finger beyond their desks. I say I’ve never asked someone to do something I haven't already done myself. If you are unwilling or feel the task is too large, then watch and learn. Whether it’s managing maintenance and engineering crews for 24/7 operations or troubleshooting a critical failure at 3:00 AM, I tackle every challenge alongside my brethren and co-workers.
Field-Proven Experience
My expertise isn't confined to a clean office. I am a "FR-on, harness-up" engineer who is at the ready at all times. I’ve spent my career:
Managing 24/7 Operations: Leading crews through the high-pressure demands of continuous industrial production and equipment maintenance.
Assessing Equipment Fatigue: Personally crawling through curing ovens and other equipment to verify structural integrity and hardware health.
Industrial Integration: Troubleshooting 480V drives and bridging the gap between high-level PLC programming (Rockwell PlantPAx, Node-RED) and the physical reality of the plant floor.
Tactical Engineering & Innovation
When I’m not optimizing refinery systems, I am pushing the limits of tactical machinery and performance design:
Excavation:
As one of my large hobbies, I am a fully licensed CDL class A driver. I play in the dirt with my wheeled excavators. A Gradall 4100XL weighing 51,000 lbs, and a Gradall 3100XL weighing 36,000 lbs. I also own an old county dump truck. I ised this hobby to install my own geothermal, open water sources, and get myself into all sorts of trouble. I am currently working on making the 3100XL into a remote controlled machine. Cause it would be fun!
Military Vehicle Restoration: I've restored and sold several M998, M1097A1, M1097R1, M1097A2, M1123, and currently operate M1151A1 HMMWVs and MRZRs, integrating custom upgrades like PA151 hellfire missle storage containers, PLCs, custom armor, 360 degree nightvision, and motorized turret systems.
Product Prototyping: Developing a custom, FDA-compliant mouthguard and the Ark Treadmill—projects born from the philosophy that if you can't find the help you need, you get to build something really cool yourself. Sometimes you have to do all your own stunts.
The Daily Grind
I apply the same engineering precision to my personal life as I do to a refinery. Whether I’m training for a full planche at 4:30 AM with my oldest or coaching 6-8U, 10-11U, and 12-14U youth hockey, I believe in optimization through discipline and the constant pursuit of moving the needle forward.