Opportunity Knocks: Physics Grad Co-Founds Thriving Company

Opportunity Knocks: Physics Grad Co-Founds Thriving Company

By Eric Breier

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Madison Perry didn't have any type of physics background when he wandered through Science Hall 2 looking for research opportunities after his first year at Cal State San Marcos.

Perry wasn't worried about pay or even the tasks he would be doing. He simply wanted an opportunity to gain some hands-on experience.

It wasn't an easy sell, even if CSUSM is known for high-impact, experiential learning. Perry wasn't a physics major (he was studying mathematics at the time), and he didn't have any lab experience.

Perry wasn't having much luck when he knocked on the door of physics professor Stephen Tsui.

"He just said, 'Sure, why not?' " Perry said.

The simple gesture was the catalyst for Perry's switch to physics and the beginning of his journey to co-founding TP Engineering Services, a Poway-based company that builds laser and electro-optic systems for defense and fusion applications.

The company has flourished since its founding in 2017, but a fusion contract that it secured three years ago has accelerated its growth.

"It's pretty insane to think about us getting to this point already," Perry said. "Did I ever think we'd get here? Yeah, but I had no idea what it was going to look like, and I had no idea how it was going to happen."

The experience is similar to the one Perry had at CSUSM, where he practically lived in Science Hall 2 as a student. In fact, he was there so early and so late that the physics department eventually entrusted him with keys and after-hours access to conduct his work.

"That was my thing - just being in a lab setting, being around hardware, being around something that was tangible, something that wasn't just theoretical," he said. "It was where I could put my hands on hardware and get some experience."

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After graduating in 2016, Perry headed north to UC Santa Cruz, where he earned a master's in phototonics. His master's thesis - on the design and development of a deep ultraviolet fiber laser system - caught the eye of a defense contractor who funded the project, leading to the formation of TP Engineering with his mother and father.

TP Engineering quickly grew from an optics table in Perry's bedroom where they navigated every project to the Poway lab it calls home today. The company has expanded from the initial trio of co-founders to over 20 employees, including two from CSUSM.

The university still holds a special place in Perry's heart. It's where he met his wife, Amanda, who earned a bachelor's in kinesiology. More than a decade after they met while both lived on campus in the University Village Apartments, they welcomed daughter Elli, who will be 3 years old in December. And he still returns to campus every year for Super STEM Saturday, an annual one-day science festival that brings thousands of community members to campus.

A longtime supporter of CSUSM Giving Day, Perry increased his contribution last year with a matching gift for the physics department.

"He's an alum who really believes in giving back," Tsui said. "It's nice that so many of our graduates remember us so fondly and want to see younger alums and students do well."

That's certainly the case for Perry. He doesn't take for granted the impact that people like Tsui had on him and his career.

"CSUSM took a chance on me a long time ago, and I want to support them being able to give other students a chance as well," Perry said. "My professors gave me a unique perspective on life. If Dr. Tsui hadn't given me that opportunity to work in his lab, I don't know if any of this would have happened. They gave me a chance, and that changed me forever."

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