In 1983, I rode the Boeing JETFOIL, a commercial hydrofoil, when Indonesia's ship industry was interested in purchasing it. We were "flying" with this amazing vessel across the Java Sea to see the Krakatau volcano. The ride was so smooth and we didn't feel the waves at all for the nearly four-hour ride.

Twenty-five years later, I joined Boeing as an industrial engineer for the 787 program -- and it is amazing to be part of Boeing's 100 years.