I was born in New London, Connecticut, which is at the intersection of two major engineering opportunities - Electric Boat Corp., one of the largest nuclear submarine shipbuilders that established standards of excellence in the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the U.S. Navy, and Pratt & Whitney, the storied global aircraft engine manufacturer powering the most advanced aircraft in the world. It might be said, I was destined to be an engineer (and eat a lot of lobster).
Fortunately, I had a love for aviation from an early start, from the aviation club in high school, to each summer I spent attending the airshows at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. So when it came to getting my undergraduate degree, it was a natural decision to choose aerospace engineering as my field of study. Worcester Polytechnic (WPI) is one of the first engineering and technology universities in the United States, with a world-renowned aerospace engineering focus, so it was a natural choice to choose the school for my undergrad. Hence, my aerospace career took flight.
After my graduation, however, I got a job offer at Electric Boat, where I took to the waters instead of the skies. I helped design new technology for the electric generators to make them quieter and more reliable. While the work was challenging and fulfilling, my dreams were still up in the clouds with aerospace and aviation.
Luckily, right “up the street” was Pratt & Whitney. They offered me the chance to get back to my first love - aviation and aerospace. I started off as a project engineer designing, testing, and manufacturing complex engine hardware. But I was really looking to be involved in hands-on projects after learning I really desired to connect with people, solve problems, and experience the excitement of aviation that one doesn’t get sitting at a desk, managing spreadsheets. I decided then to move to the engine test department building and testing engines. All of the complexities and nuances involved with this area was fascinating, fulfilling, and personally exciting for the chance to experience so many places around the world. We tested engines from Chad to Bolivia, Germany to Chile, France to Northern Canada… the world opened up to me. I really enjoyed the international component of my work as well. Meeting new people, seeing how different organizations worked and solved problems, and being able to share a common passion of the industry was so meaningful.
After moving to San Francisco, California, to work closely with one of the largest global airlines in the world to see how they used and maintained our product, I realized our customers were able to teach me so much about the engines we manufactured from a different point of view. This empowered our teams to support the customers’ needs so much more effectively and influence our own strategies we had in place for the future. I also had the opportunity to work with the client on billion-dollar contracts involving engine parts, which was an excellent introduction into the commercial intricacies of running an airline and running an engine manufacturer - and how the two symbiotic relationships work.
While in San Francisco, I enrolled in one of the nation’s top-rated business schools, Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley, where I juggled my full-time job with the demanding rigors of earning my MBA on nights and weekends. While I made some of the most amazing friends from my cohorts there (including who was the officiant at my wedding), one of the most important things I got to experience wasmeeting some of the most intelligent, ambitious, professional fellow students. And as (if not more) importantly, I got to learn from some of the forefront leaders in their fields. It was an incredible, eye-opening experience.
Several years after graduation with my MBA, I had an opportunity to move back to Toulouse, France (14 years after my original stay), to work on a high-profile project of major importance to Pratt & Whitney testing new engines. I packed up everything - including my wife - and moved to Toulouse… just in time for Covid-19 to hit. Like everyone else, I ended up adjusting and adapting to a brand-new world. Working remotely was difficult, but I still managed to win an award within the company for continuing effectively and efficiently moving forward with the huge project. Fast-forward a few years - which also includes an eight-month stint in London, United Kingdom - the project has now drastically changed, and I am ready and open for the next chapter in this adventure. After 25 years of experience in engineering, I can’t wait to use my experience and expertise for the next opportunity.
Is this with you?
