A graduate of the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, John (Kris) Rahall has accepted a position as a skill welding instructor. In addition to this most recent training, Kris completed the welding program at Mercer County Vocational Education Center in West Virginia and served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, honorably discharged as a Sergeant.

Kris has much to offer the HIWT students, as he brings six years of practical experience in welding and fabrication to the Hobart Institute. His leadership and communication skills acquired from instructing and supervising employees in previous positions provide him with the background necessary to make him a great teacher.

“It is important to the training of the students at the Hobart Institute to maintain a good teacher-student ratio,” says Ron Scott, Vice President. “Increasing enrollment at the Institute has made it necessary for us to seek new instructors. Their experience in industry backed by a strong welding education here at HIWT is essential to providing continuing, quality training.”

“I accepted this position because of the personal challenges associated with training inexperienced students,” says Kris, “giving them something I’ve learned that may be valuable to their success and the security of our industry.”

In addition to his industrial experience, Kris served eight months in Operation Enduring Freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan, and seven months during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, with the United States Marines.

“Several of our instructors are military veterans,” says Ron. “The discipline and attention to detail that they experience through military training provides practical experience that is helpful in carrying out their duties as a teacher.”

Kris is currently teaching gas metal arc welding classes and resides in Troy. He has a 10-year-old son, Blake Rahall, who resides in Princeton, West Virginia.