Portland State Electrician relies on skilled technicians to keep classrooms, labs, and research facilities operating smoothly. Leroy Laush, an instrument technician at the university, has spent nearly three decades ensuring electrical systems and scientific equipment function properly across campus.
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Laush began working at Portland State in 1996 after gaining experience at NSI (now Leviton), where he repaired electronics and installed lighting control systems from 1993 to 1996. He studied at Portland Community College and Portland State University, combining hands-on technical training with theoretical knowledge. He lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and continues to apply these skills daily in his university role.
His consistent performance over the years has earned recognition from campus leadership. Performance evaluations highlight his ability to maintain high-quality work standards, reflecting why so many departments trust him with critical electrical and instrumentation needs.
What Does a Portland State Electrician Do?
You might think electricians only fix lighting and outlets, but university instrument technicians handle far more complex responsibilities. Laush works primarily with scientific instruments used in research labs and teaching facilities—equipment like spectrometers, gas analyzers, and electron microscopes that cost tens of thousands of dollars.
His daily work includes repairing electronic circuits, designing custom components when manufacturers don’t offer suitable replacements, and troubleshooting systems that combine electrical, mechanical, and digital elements. This requires understanding both traditional electrical theory and modern electronic controls.
Each morning involves checking critical systems before students and faculty arrive. This preventive approach catches potential failures before they disrupt classes or research projects. Throughout the day, he responds to service calls ranging from flickering lights in residence halls to malfunctioning lab equipment.
The surface mount electronics facility he maintains allows researchers and students to build custom printed circuit boards for their projects. This capability supports innovative research that requires specialized electronics not available commercially.
Special Projects and Campus Upgrades
Major installations and system upgrades form a significant part of the job. Laush installs new lighting in lecture halls, adds equipment to research spaces, and ensures all work meets both National Electrical Code standards and university-specific requirements.
Campus-wide transitions to LED lighting systems have become increasingly common as institutions seek energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs. These projects require careful planning to minimize disruption while updating decades-old infrastructure. The work involves more than swapping bulbs—it often means replacing fixtures, controls, and sometimes entire electrical panels.
Emergency repairs test both technical skill and composure. During one campus event, the main stage lost power minutes before a performance. Laush quickly traced the problem to a tripped breaker caused by an overloaded circuit, restoring power before the audience realized anything was wrong. While such dramatic moments are rare, they demonstrate why experienced technicians prove invaluable.
Regular preventive maintenance prevents many emergencies. This includes testing backup power systems, inspecting aging infrastructure, and documenting all work for safety compliance and future reference. Finding small issues during routine checks stops them from becoming major problems later.
Challenges University Electricians Face Daily
Working at a large university presents unique obstacles. Each building has different systems, ages, and requirements. A repair technique that works in a modern science building may not apply to structures built decades ago with outdated wiring.
Portland’s wet climate adds complexity to outdoor electrical work. Rain and moisture require extra precautions when working with exposed circuits or installing exterior equipment. Projects must be scheduled around weather while still meeting deadlines for academic terms and research schedules.
Time management becomes critical when balancing routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and major projects. Buildings must remain accessible to students and faculty, so many upgrades happen during breaks or after hours. Safety protocols cannot be rushed regardless of time pressure.
Older buildings often contain wiring systems that predate current safety standards. Updating these systems safely requires knowledge of both historical construction methods and modern code requirements. Sometimes this means creative problem-solving to bring old infrastructure up to current standards without complete replacement.
How Electricians Enable University Research and Teaching
Research depends on functioning equipment. When a mass spectrometer or environmental chamber fails, experiments stop until repairs are complete. Laush’s ability to quickly diagnose and fix these specialized instruments keeps research projects on schedule and prevents data loss.
Students gain hands-on experience with electronics through facilities he maintains. The ability to design and build custom circuits teaches practical skills that complement theoretical coursework. Many graduates credit this hands-on experience with helping them secure jobs in technical fields.
Beyond direct repairs, experienced technicians mentor students and interns interested in technical careers. Sharing knowledge about troubleshooting methods, safety practices, and problem-solving approaches helps develop the next generation of skilled workers. This mentorship addresses ongoing demand for qualified electricians and technicians across industries.
Evolving Technology in University Facilities
The electrical trade continues advancing as new technologies emerge. Modern university electricians must understand building automation systems that integrate lighting, HVAC, and security through networked controls. These systems require knowledge of both electrical work and data networking.
Renewable energy integration has become increasingly important as institutions work to reduce energy costs and environmental impact. Solar panels, battery storage systems, and smart grid connections all require specialized knowledge to install and maintain safely alongside traditional electrical infrastructure.
Ongoing professional development helps technicians stay current with code changes, new equipment, and safety standards. Universities often support continuing education because updated skills directly benefit campus operations. Training covers topics from arc flash safety to programmable logic controllers used in modern building systems.
Digital diagnostic tools have transformed troubleshooting. Modern multimeters, thermal cameras, and circuit analyzers provide data that speeds repairs and improves accuracy. However, these tools complement rather than replace the fundamental electrical knowledge and hands-on experience that skilled technicians develop over years of practice.
Why Experienced Technicians Matter
Leroy Laush represents the essential technical expertise that keeps large institutions functioning. His nearly 30 years at Portland State demonstrate both his skill and the value the university places on experienced facilities staff.
As campuses adopt more complex systems, the role of electricians and instrument technicians expands beyond basic maintenance. They become integral to sustainability initiatives, research capabilities, and the overall campus infrastructure that supports teaching and discovery.
The combination of technical knowledge, problem-solving ability, and institutional memory that experienced technicians bring cannot be easily replaced. They understand not just how systems work, but how different campus buildings interconnect and where potential issues may arise based on past experience.
For the Portland State University community, this expertise touches nearly every aspect of campus life. From ensuring research equipment operates reliably to maintaining safe electrical systems in student housing, skilled technicians enable the university’s core mission of education and research.
