Ken Pascoe

Kenneth Pascoe's career experience includes working as an engineer. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1990 to 2011. Pascoe earned a graduate degree from the University of Dayton in 1995, a bachelor's degree from Michigan Technological University in 1989, and a Ph.D. from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2004. Pascoe has been affiliated with Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dr. Ken Pascoe is a 21-year Air Force veteran with experience developing technology, setting policy for large organizations including the entire Air Force, and writing plans for complex, multi-year projects. He is well versed in technology, with BS, MS, and PhD degrees in electrical engineering, and a career developing and testing new systems. Ken has seen how changes in technology will change organizations and how they operate. He has served Albuquerque on the City Council Redistricting Committee in 2022 and now as chairman of the Public Safety Tax Advisory Board. Ken is a problem solver with a philosophical bent. He puts in the effort to understand and define a problem, instead of rushing off to the easy solution that sounds good but doesn't work. Ken and his wife have four children, a grandchild, and another grandchild on the way. All four children are graduates of APS and UNM, and one is also a graduate of the CNM Registered Nurse program. All four children have professional careers. Ken loves Albuquerque, first moving here in 1996 when assigned to Kirtland AFB. He wants to see a vibrant, successful community for his family and everyone in the city.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

New technology has good and bad effects that must be addressed. Online learning and artificial intelligence (AI) together pose a threat to education. Students will be tempted to rely on AI instead of doing the hard work of learning. CNM needs to set policy to ensure students are really learning the material, not just turning in AI answers. If CNM graduates know how to use AI but don't understand their classes, they will disappoint their employers and hurt CNM's reputation.CNM has no strategic plan! CNM needs to plan for the future so the college leadership can focus on what is important and ensure the college stays strong. This is true of any large organization, but is vital now as technology changes, budgets change, and education must change in response. Why does CNM have no strategic plan? The Governing Board needs to lead the development of a plan that looks at the changes today and what is coming in the near future, so CNM can chart the best course.The Governing Board needs to reach out to employers to make sure CNM graduates have the right mix of skills for the jobs of today and the near future. CNM is an amazing community resource and needs to continue to uphold quality education while adapting to the needs of companies that employ CNM graduates. A strong CNM means a solid career for your family.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about good governance. At every level, government must represent the people, not the people with power and money. Government must act in the open, so people know what is being done with public funds. The New Mexico Open Meetings Act requires the government to conduct business in full view of the public. The CNM Governing Board must be transparent to taxpayers and families.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I met Air Force General Lester Lyles, a man of unquestioned integrity. Everyone knew he was a straight shooter who cared about the people under his command. He was impressive in person, living up to his reputation.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official must analyze the problems of the day with wisdom and humility. There's a temptation to skim the surface of a problem and not really understand it. That leads to a call for an easy answer that doesn't really solve the problem. The easy answer may even be harmful in the long run. An elected official needs the wisdom to look deeper into the roots of a problem and the humility to learn new things, even to change his or her mind as new facts emerge.

An elected official must lead with integrity. The purpose of public office is to serve the public, not to enrich the office holder or be a stepping stone to higher office a way to stroke the office holder's ego. The office holder must always keep focus on what is best for the people.

An elected official must be ready to learn. The official may know some issues quite well, but others will come up and must be addressed. The official needs to take in the new information, understand how it fits together, and show the right amount of skepticism for what is being presented.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The CNM Governing Board sets policy to guide CNM in every aspect of the institution. This includes new education programs, changing the scope of existing programs, oversight of financial matters and capital outlay, and planning for the future. The Board must reach out to the community to ensure that CNM graduates are well-received and ready to work. The Board must set policies that reflect changing educational technology, to ensure students are learning. The Board must talk to the faculty and students to get a feel for how CNM is operating, to understand 'the CNM experience' from their point of view.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my children and grand children to be successful and live in a safe community with opportunity to prosper. I want CNM to continue to be the amazing community resource that it is today. I want to be remembered as a man who always tried to do what is right, who pioneered new ideas and achieved great things.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The 1972 presidential election. A girl in my kindergarten class sang out "Nixon, Nixon, he's our man! McGovern goes in the garbage can!" T the time I had no idea what she was talking about.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I had a paper route, delivering a local paper called The Macomb Daily. I had it for a few years. As 'the paper boy' I picked up and delivered the paper, interacted with customers, and addressed their concerns.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Lord of the Rings is a brilliant story with layers of meaning, delicately-crafted prose, an amazing adventure, genius world-building, and memorable characters.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Sam Gamgee. The gardener, not at all a warrior, just kept going when it looked like all was lost. In the end, he did what everyone needed him to do.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I'm not really a 'people person'. I am not always comfortable in social situations. I don't know if I'm doing the thing everyone expects.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

City Councilor Renee Grout

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

A retired math professor really shared my concern about artificial intelligence and online education.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I made three significant, original contributions to the field of electrical engineering. In solving a problem in radar target recognition, I had to solve two other problems, one advancing the art of signal processing and another in the application of stochastic estimation.