aerospace engineering - Department of Aerospace and Mechanical ...

FEEDBACK
• After finishing Air Force career in satellite development/acquisition, am now with Motorola
Computer Group in Tempe, AZ, as Manufacturing Engineer/Process Development.
• I pursued a master's degree in Aeronautics immediately upon completion of my ME degree.
I have worked in a variety of domains since then. After five years in the aerospace industry,
I migrated to IT systems and have worked on the procurement of Dept. of Defense IT
systems every since. Although I never actually used the design engineering I learned at
UofA, the problem solving techniques have stood the test of time!
• I graduated from UA May 1980. I have worked all 20+ years for McDonnell Douglas (now
Boeing) in St. Louis. I am glad to see the new crop of students receiving such useful handson
training in addition to their usual coursework. I would like to see the University become a
partner with industry, providing industry with research/lab facilities and receiving valuable
training. Although I am a little far away, I would enjoy the opportunity to work with the AME
Dept. in this endeavor.
• I'm glad things are progressing. There was NO CAD in the mid-80's when I graduated and
the machining was out of the 60's.
• I am working as a Process Engineer for an environmental engineering company (scrubbing
systems, process waste water treatment, etc.). I feel that my education was in some
respects superior to my European counterparts, especially with regard to
theoretical/mathematical understanding. However, I was at a REAL disadvantage when it
came to practical knowledge (i.e., which is a better type of pump for this situation, etc.). I
am glad to hear that the senior design project is being revamped. However, I hope that the
practical part of the AME program starts well before senior year. I remember feeling rather
lost--after so many theoretical classes and minimal hands-on tooling/machining labs., I was
suddenly told to go out and make something! It was hard enough to design, but to then be
expected to do (possibly) precision machining . . . At any rate, I look back fondly at my
years in sunny Tucson and hope I can someday return for a visit. With that in mind, I wish
the college all the best and send my kind regards.
• I have retired from engineering (being 68 now) and am attending local colleges in their
senior programs. Keep developing projects like this as they are very helpful for design
engineers.
• I was able to visit your facility recently. Dr. Perkins showed me the new buildings and the
machine shop with projects in process. UofA AME department has come a long way since I
graduated in 1986. I worked as an industrial designer (medical instruments) for six years,
then moved into environmental engineering, earning an MA in Enviro. Engr. while working. I
took early retirement last year due to health reasons. I am doing well now, if a little slower! I
enjoyed my career and am grateful to UofA for my beginnings.
• After graduating W'94 as an ME, I was commissioned into Naval Service. I was active duty
until Jan'01 then started working for General Dynamics in Redmond, Washington. I work in
the Ordinance and Tactical Systems Division as a Component Engineer. We work closely
(sometimes) with U. of Washington on senior project support. We have two interns from
their ME department.
• As one of "Baldy" Thornberg's boys (BSME 1957), I had a rewarding ME career with 17 yrs
building power plants then 17 yrs in aerospace--flight testing rockets and jet aircraft. My
UofA engr's background (Prof. Thompson's thermodynamics) was the key to success for
good and exciting jobs!
Aerospace Engineering Attachments - Page 57