Building bonds at work and home

An aircraft production engineer’s passion for building soars during home renovation projects with family.

August 08, 2023 in Defense

Vernon Bright, V-22 production engineering manager, and his son, Noah, build a playground. (Courtesy of Vernon Bright Jr.)

Vernon Bright Jr., a V-22 production engineering manager, at the Boeing Philadelphia site. (Boeing photo)

Bright’s passion for engineering extends into his home life. Pictured here are terraced garden beds built by the V-22 engineering manager. (Courtesy of Vernon Bright Jr.)

Vernon’s son, Noah, in front of the terraced garden beds his father built. (Courtesy of Vernon Bright Jr.)

For Vernon Bright Jr., achieving first-time quality when building aircraft like the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey requires good collaboration with teams and customers.

Bright has spent the past 10 years at Boeing Philadelphia supporting the V-22 program — from industrial engineer, to operations manager, to his current role as production engineering manager for Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM), the V-22 modification program with the U.S. Marine Corps.

“The V-22 team is a family that has a truly diverse culture,” Bright said. “The various levels of experience and backgrounds unite for the better good of the product and program.”

Bright’s collaborative spirit extends even into his home life. His most recent off-hours endeavor, creating a remote control V-22 model out of popsicle sticks, allows him to share his passion for aerospace and building with his children.

“I remember my excitement seeing my first engineering projects come to fruition,” Bright said, reminiscing about his childhood. “I continue that same spirit when building projects with my kids.”

Whether replacing floors, remodeling bathrooms, or building terraced garden beds and even a playground, Bright has been a lifelong innovator who enjoys hands-on problem-solving — and now shares those bonds with the next generation.

Home renovation projects only enhance his role at Boeing, Bright said. “These help me realize the importance of detailed work plans and the right tools to enable productivity.”

Thanks to the creativity and camaraderie of team members like Bright, Boeing has upgraded and delivered 10 of 25 aircraft to the Marine Corps, with additional deliveries scheduled through 2025.

By Quinn Marciano