From Criminal Justice to Electrical Apprenticeship: Thomas McDonough Finds His Path at Roger Williams University

BRISTOL, R.I. – When Thomas McDonough first arrived at Roger Williams University in 2018, he imagined a future in Criminal Justice. Nearly eight years later, he is graduating from the RWU Extension School’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program while working toward becoming a licensed journeyman electrician.

For McDonough, the path to finding the right career was not linear, but it ultimately led him back to the university where he first began exploring his future.

Originally from Warwick, R.I., McDonough spent his early years at RWU studying Criminal Justice while becoming involved in campus life through student organizations. One of his most memorable experiences was founding the Hook Club, a music discussion group where students listened to and discussed albums together.

“Each meeting there was an album that everybody had to listen to, and then at the meeting, we would discuss the album, pick out our favorite songs, and then we’d vote for the next album to listen to,” McDonough said. “And then by the end of the year, there’d be a playlist of all the voted-on favorite songs from all the albums.”

Outside the classroom, McDonough worked at the Rhode Island State House in roles connected to Veterans Affairs and the proofing department. His responsibilities included reviewing legislation and official documents before publication, giving him firsthand exposure to government work.

As he continued his studies, however, McDonough began reconsidering whether criminal justice was the right fit. During that period of reflection, he returned to an interest he developed as a child while watching a family friend complete electrical work at his home.

That curiosity eventually became a career path.

“I haven’t looked back since, and I love what I do,” McDonough said. “I’m really happy that I found electrical.”

In 2022, McDonough secured an apprenticeship with F&S Electric Inc.. Since then, he has combined field experience with classroom instruction through the Electrical Apprenticeship Program at the RWU Extension School. Rhode Island electrical apprentices are required to complete 8,000 work hours and 576 hours of classroom instruction before qualifying to sit for the journeyman licensing exam.

One of the most unexpected parts of the experience was returning to the Bristol campus through apprenticeship projects. During his first weeks as an apprentice, many of the projects he worked on were located at RWU.

Throughout the apprenticeship, McDonough said the connection between classroom instruction and field experience became one of the program’s most valuable aspects. Concepts introduced during evening classes often appeared on job sites the next day, reinforcing his understanding in real time.

“I found that the schooling really did inform the work, and the work informed the schooling,” he said. “There’d be something that I learned in class one night, and then I’d go to work the next day, and that concept would show up.”

McDonough credited the program’s faculty with helping him strengthen both his technical skills and understanding of electrical theory. He specifically pointed to lessons in electrical theory and motor calculations taught by Richard Besser as especially influential.

“I got a lot out of the Roger Williams program. I wouldn't be the electrician that I am without some of those classes,” he said.

The wide range of projects he encountered at F&S Electric also helped shape his professional interests. Over the course of his apprenticeship, McDonough has worked in schools, factories, government buildings, animal shelters, multimillion-dollar homes, and older residential properties.

While he appreciated the variety, he found himself drawn to residential work because of the relationships it allowed him to build with homeowners.

“I like doing residential work the most, because it's where you get to have the most connection with your customers,” he said.

One experience early in his apprenticeship left a lasting impact. McDonough and another electrician were sent to install a floodlight for a homeowner in Tiverton. The homeowner’s wife was battling cancer, their dog was sick, and they had become concerned about coyotes in the area. After the installation, the homeowner became emotional while thanking them.

“You have no idea how much this means to me,” the homeowner told them, according to McDonough.

The moment changed the way McDonough viewed the profession and reinforced the importance of helping people through his work.

“It was just like, we just installed a light for this guy,” McDonough said. “That really stuck with me, because I’ve always liked human connection like that. I like being able to help people.”

Beyond technical knowledge, McDonough said the apprenticeship strengthened his communication skills and taught him how to explain complex concepts clearly to customers and newer apprentices. Working alongside many different licensed electricians at F&S Electric also exposed him to a variety of leadership and teamwork styles, experiences that now influence the way he mentors others entering the field.

“A big skill that I’ve learned is the ability to teach,” he said. “I know I'm still an apprentice, but I like teaching some of the newer people, sharing things that I know, and helping them understand some of the things that maybe I was kind of confused on for a little bit.”

After receiving his journeyman license, McDonough plans to continue working with F&S Electric while eventually pursuing his master electrician license. Long term, he hopes to open his own company focused on residential electrical work. He also plans to return to RWU to complete an associate degree, likely in business, to support his future goals as a business owner.

Now as he graduates from the Electrical Apprenticeship Program, McDonough said he never expected his path would lead him back to the university where he first started.

“After COVID hit and I left Roger Williams University, I never thought that I would find my way back there,” he said. “And I definitely never would have thought I’d find my way onto the graduation stage. I’m really grateful.”