[onewhippedpuppy]

I would definitely try to speak to some in the industry to get the real world perspective. Just because you get into automotive, doesn't mean it will scratch the passion itch. I went into aerospace because I love aviation, and ended up with an aerospace engineering degree. At the moment I'm at an aerospace component manufacturer that pays the bills, but doesn't do anything from a passion standpoint. There's way more to it than simply picking the right industry. Some internal reflection is also in order, try to figure out the nature of work and types of roles that really make you happy.

With all that said, I totally agree with Paul regarding the DoD. Moving internally is likely way easier than starting off fresh elsewhere, and the diversity of potential roles there is staggering.