The next chapter of Devante Cofield’s life after military service began taking shape in 2017. That’s when the Marine Corps veteran enrolled at Virginia Peninsula Community College, seeking a new direction for the future.
A Newport News resident and North Carolina native, Cofield is now in a position he enjoys. He has spent the past five years as a facilities internal technician for Wawa, keeping the company’s stores running smoothly from top to bottom. It’s not light work as his responsibilities run the spectrum. He touches nearly every system in the stores, from electrical outlets and plumbing to condensing units and rooftop HVAC systems.
While good at the hands-on tasks, Cofield said problem-solving is where he shines, thanks to lessons learned at VPCC.
“The fact that I got my associate degree kind of put me ahead in the game,” he said. “I have a foundation to go on before I actually start my troubleshooting process. (A problem) can be either mechanical or electrical. Once I get that figured out, I’m in my zone, ready to work and take care of business. So, I learned how to think through a problem instead of just reacting.”
Cofield joined Wawa after five years in the Marines, doing automotive maintenance, primarily working on diesel trucks. He also earned certification as a motor vehicle air conditioner refrigeration technician while serving. Despite the skills and certification, he was undecided about his next steps when he left the military and “waited around” for a year.
Once he decided on electrical engineering, he looked to VPCC. When he learned the program wasn’t available, an adviser suggested HVAC instead. Cofield gave it a shot because it suited his mechanical background and problem-solving mindset.
“I got into it and it worked out really well for me,” he stated.
He graduated in 2019 with an associate degree in Technical Studies, specializing in HVAC-R. Later, he earned another associate degree from Paul D. Camp Community College, but this time in electrical and electronic technology, along with certification in industrial wiring.
Although Cofield, 33, is the youngest technician on his team at Wawa, he believes his education gives him an advantage.
“Getting that two-year degree helped build on my mechanical and electrical skills,” he said. “It made it a lot easier for me to diagnose and troubleshoot problems that would come up.
“It also made me feel confident in myself. I keep the (textbooks) and use those as well,” said Cofield,adding he earned his journeyman’s HVAC license last year and has twice received “Best Tech” and “Best Peer Tech” awards at the company.
Family ties led Cofield to Virginia from his rural North Carolina origins. His wife is from Newport News, and his brother had settled in nearby Suffolk. Visits to the region convinced him to stay.
“I grew up in a small town with a population of maybe 200. The only jobs in the area were just farming. And luckily, that’s pretty much what I did while I was there, until I actually got old enough to sign up for the Marine Corps and then leave,” he said.
Today, farming remains part of his life. He delights in growing tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, avocados and even lemon trees. Naturally, Cofield is also an electronics enthusiast, building radios and handheld arcade games. He likens one of his games to the old-school favorite Battlestar Galactica. Another point of pride is the calculator he initially built for use on his homework, then gave to his son.
Cofield said the motivation to create electronics essentially comes from doubters.
“I like to show people I can actually do everything I said I’m going to do. When I graduated from Paul D. Camp in 2024, I said, ‘I’m going to start building stuff.’ The first things I built were three radios,” he recalled enthusiastically, noting the hobby snowballed from there.
He admits he’s a “serial” learner bent on continuously building his knowledge and skills in areas that interest him. He’s pursuing a plumbing apprenticeship and hopes to earn bachelor’s degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering at either his “dream school,” North Carolina State University, or Norfolk State University.
As for career aspirations, he wants to become an entrepreneur.
“My goal,” he said, “is to become a contractor so I can employ people like me because I came from nothing. I just want to help people who want to learn the trades.”
In all things, said Cofield, his family remains his greatest motivation.
“My wife and kids tell me they’re proud of me every day, which makes me tear up. I really didn’t hear that growing up. It means a lot to me,” said the father of two (a son and daughter), also acknowledging his eldest brother and father-in-law for their strong support and influence.
For Cofield, VPCC wasn’t just a steppingstone. He said time spent at the College put the building blocks in place for all he’s since experienced academically and professionally.