I studied mechanical engineering in college and wanted to work in the aerospace industry, especially with Boeing. After my sophomore year at the University of California, Los Angeles, I had a summer internship with a software company that provided my first exposure to finite element analysis. I was drawn to computers and computational methods of structural analysis during my internship, and I never strayed from that initial discovery. So, my field really chose me, in part by the fortune of getting that internship.
The most rewarding aspect of my work is collaborating with teams and individuals across Boeing to help improve and streamline their loads, dynamics and stress processes with judicious application of finite element technology. Seeing processes that I helped develop or heavily influenced go into production and maintain their effectiveness over decades, and seeing the engineering results of those processes in flight, is very fulfilling. I also enjoy teaching and training. Seeing students succeed and grow into both technical and management leaders makes me feel good, knowing that I contributed to their achievements.
The Technical Fellowship is all about having the mentality to lead Boeing to strategic solutions and processes, but it is not an individual activity. It means working within teams to help improve their local tactics and, more importantly, working across teams to align and connect their tactics into strategic organizational solutions that drive our competitive advantage.
I am excited about the growth and demand for commercial, space and military aerospace products. These future products come with extremely challenging performance, rate and business metrics, and it’s these challenges that are our opportunities. They are the north stars that guide us and drive us to develop the best products for our customers and, ultimately, for the betterment of humanity.