Extracurricular Activities:American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
What career or personal update would you like to give to your fellow Florida Tech Panthers alumni?
I am currently on a 6-month TDY/Fellowship to Washington DC through my company, Lockheed Martin Space, to learn about how the company interacts with the government on commercial civil space. This fellowship will allow me to see how programs are developed and presented for consideration to NASA and other partners who may be interested in helping develop new technologies and products. At the end of my fellowship, I will be returning to my job as a Mechanical Test Engineer on Orion, where I am responsible for testing the life support systems for Artemis 2 and beyond, helping get humanity one step closer to a permanently manned settlement on the Moon, and eventually to Mars.
How did your time at Florida Tech help get you to where you are today?
I think that the knowledge that Florida Tech imparted on me when I was getting my degree definitely got me to where I am now. The variety of courses and opportunities that Florida Tech provided allowed me to shape what I wanted out of my degree. I focused primarily on the space side of my degree, taking courses in Space Systems Engineering and joining AIAA in my Freshman year to get hands-on experience to see how the concepts I was learning in class directly translated into practical engineering. All of these small steps culminated in me getting my first job out of college working at NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, and eventually in my current role as a Test Engineer with Lockheed Martin on the Orion spacecraft.
What is your favorite Florida Tech memory?
I think that my favorite memories are working on the drones during my time in AIAA Design/Build/Fly competitions. Getting together with like-minded individuals and figuring out a way to build an aircraft to accomplish a set of requirements was a fun experience. It allowed me to make new friends, and develop leadership skills as I progressed through my time at Florida Tech.
Was there a mentor or professor who had a big impact on you personally and/or professionally?
Dr. Kimberly Demoret and Dr. David Fleming were two big mentors that had a big impact on me during my time at Florida Tech. Dr. Fleming was our faculty advisor for AIAA and later a professor that I took many classes with. He is a great individual to talk to if you ever had questions, either with the courses you were taking, or if you needed career advice. Dr. Demoret became a mentor in the 2nd half of college when we started the CAPSTONE project. She had a great way of preparing you for work when you got done with college and tried to ensure that everyone's projects had the support they needed to be successful.
Please share any advice you have for current Florida Tech students.
The only advice that I have is don't give up. College is hard, and it will always be difficult, but remember that it's only 4 years (or more if you want), and at the end of it, you come out with a degree that you worked hard for, in a field that you are passionate about. And remember that you have resources available to you at any time to help you through difficult times. Reach out to your friend and fellow students if you are struggling on an assignment, and professors aren't just there to teach, but also guide you to being a successful member of your chosen profession.
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