Jacob Haga will head Southeastern Community College’s newest technical program, Electrical Lineman Technology, as the Electrical Lineman Program Coordinator. Since coming on board at SCC, Haga has been tasked with building his program, creating curriculum and acquiring the necessary training technology for his future students.  

Haga’s classes will be a basic introduction to line work with learning how to climb a powerline pole, work from a bucket, set poles with digger trucks, pull wires, hang transformers by hand and by truck, service hookups and learn underground wiring. 

“I want to give them a real hands-on experience to what life in the field is actually like,” Haga said. “This September will be 19 years of work experience for me in this field.” 

Haga attended Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, graduated from the Aviation Mechanics program in 2004 and earned an airframe and powerplant license. He worked on airplanes for six months before landing a four-year apprenticeship with Duke Energy. He gained another four years of work experience with Duke Energy before doing contract labor and working for the city of New Bern.  

“Then I spent the last nine years working in California,” Haga said. “Doing a little bit of everything but mostly construction and finally becoming a crew foreman.” 

Haga was born in Idaho but moved to Salt Lake City, south Florida, and finally to North Carolina when he was in the seventh grade. He went to high school in Garner and said that is where he grew up. Haga said he left North Carolina to “chase money” in California, where he gained more work experience. 

After suffering injuries from a 40-foot fall on the job and with persuasion from his wife, Sara, Haga moved his family of five back to North Carolina. Haga said that he would “probably not” return to field work and said that teaching was the best route for him. After searching online for instructor positions, he decided on Southeastern Community College. 

“While I’m here, I hope this gives these students a good foundation for leading the future in lineman work,” Haga said. “I want them to have a solid, well-rounded foundation when they go into the working world.” 

Haga’s favorite part of lineman work is storm restoration. The combination of traveling the country, meeting new people and learning new systems operation makes for a “good time.” 

“It’s a lot of hard work, but with the right group of people, it’s a fun time,” Haga said. “I enjoyed teaching my apprentices and getting up in the air with them and actually showing them what to do. Since I liked the teaching part then, I will enjoy the teaching part here at Southeastern.” 

The transition to life in North Carolina has restored some of Haga’s free time, he said. Instead of working almost 80 hours per week and now working 40 hours, it has given him more time with his family. He and his wife reside in White Lake with their three children: Jeremiah, Seth, and Tagan. 

“I’ve been taking them to school every morning,” Haga said. “I’ve never done that and never had a chance to. It’s been great having this extra time with them and not getting a phone call to go to work on the weekends. I’m loving life now.” 

Outside of work, Haga’s favorite hobby is gun shooting and perfecting his aim. He likes to go camping, and he plans to spend more time fishing.   

To learn more about the Electrical Lineman Technology program, contact Valerie Register at 910-788-6397 or [email protected]