after his graduation at stanford university in 1938 bergman moved into the industry. he joined c. f. braun & company, in alhambra, california, an engineering company, which designed petroleum and chemical processing facilities and was later acquired by kbr inc.. he started as stress analyst, was chief research from 1940 to 1944, and staff consultant from 1944 to 1958. in 1959 he became senior staff member at the national engineering science companyin pasadena.