Jet engines: compression, combustion, thermal energy, thrust. Simple enough right? The basic principles that keep huge chunks of metal flying through the air, getting people from point A to point B, are ones that people might take for granted. Spinning at more than 10,000 rpms, reaching temperatures hot enough to melt metal, and producing enough thrust to hurl a pilot through the air faster than the speed of sound, it’s a wonder how feats like these are possible. As a project engineer for Pratt & Whitney compression systems, I am responsible for ensuring that our engines do just that, by leading and managing cross-functional teams and delivering on projects. I interface with the United States Air Force to:• Assess their fleet sustainment needs • Manage project schedules and budgets • Ensure the quality of our products are maintained Communication is the key here. Rather than assess the structural load on an airfoil, for example, I facilitate the communication of those results to the design, the aero, and other stakeholders. The communication of the project engineer is the glue that holds all the disciplines together. Additionally, I have held roles in design engineering and worked on 4 separate engine programs, for both sustainment and development efforts. Although the majority of my experience comes through project management roles, I have a strong technical background through my mechanical/aerospace engineering degree from OSU, and industrial systems engineering master’s from UF. I am also pursuing my MBA through UF to expand on my abilities in project management and team leadership. Since the military relies on one of the most complex pieces of machinery on the planet to keep their planes in the air, they must also rely on engineers that have a passion for innovation within their field. If you want to connect with someone who shares this passion and loves to go fast, don’t hesitate to send me an invitation.