Doug Stone and the Freedom to Troubleshoot

While Nathan was developing as a technician, Doug Stone gave him a simple way to approach equipment that had already failed: if it was broken, careful troubleshooting was an opportunity to understand it rather than a reason to be paralyzed by fear. The lesson changed Nathan's willingness to explore difficult systems. Its influence later extended beyond communications equipment into software development, where confidence to inspect, test, and learn became foundational.

During Nathan's early Navy service aboard USS KEY WEST, he was developing as a communications technician and learning how to approach unfamiliar or failed equipment responsibly.

Inexperience and fear of causing additional damage could make difficult troubleshooting feel risky, even when the equipment was already broken and needed careful investigation.

Doug Stone reframed the situation for Nathan: failed equipment was an opportunity to inspect, test, and understand the system rather than a reason to become paralyzed by fear. Nathan adopted that disciplined, exploratory approach.

Good mentorship does not remove responsibility; it creates enough safety for someone to practice it. Careful exploration, supported by sound judgment, can turn fear of failure into durable technical confidence.