Distinguished Alumni Awards
Each year the faculty of the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics recognizes outstanding contributions to aerospace engineering and the nation's progress in air and space by electing a Distinguished Alumnus.
2011 Distinguished Alumnus
Lars Q. Andersen, BS '68
Lars Q. Andersen earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics & Astronautics from the University of Washington in 1968, while also earning two varsity letters in rowing. He worked as a propulsion engineer at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Engines from 1969 to 1973, concurrently completing a master of science in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1972.
Andersen began his career at Boeing in 1973 as a propulsion engineer, working on the 7X7, 707/CFM-56 re-engine, 757 and the 7J7 programs. In 1978 he received a United States Patent for a noise suppression engine exhaust mixer. He also served as a Propulsion Engineering Manager for the 747 and 767. Among other duties, he was responsible for the preliminary design of the propulsion system on the 767-X, which became the 777 when the program was launched in 1990.
In 1989, Andersen assumed the newly-created position of chief engineer for 777 Extended Range Twin Operations (ETOPS). He worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), airlines, pilot unions and passenger advocate groups to develop regulations that would allow 180-minute ETOPS Approval both for the airplane and for the airline at entry into service. Andersen also coordinated the development of plans for obtaining approval of 180-minute ETOPS for the 777 and for specific airlines with both the FAA and the JAA to ensure that the ship and lines would meet the requirements for ETOPS approval upon first delivery of the 777 in 1995. This approval was crucial to the success of the 777 and allowed the initial customer, United Airlines, to launch its first two flights over the Atlantic between London and Washington, DC.
From 1993 to 1994, Anderson was 777 chief engineer for ETOPS, Certification, Safety and Reliability. He was responsible for working certification requirements and compliance with the US FAA and the European JAA. Anderson served as 777-200 deputy chief project engineer and, 1994-1995 chief engineer for Propulsion. In this position, he managed the 120-member Propulsion organization to certify and obtain extended-range twin-operations (ETOPS) approval for Pratt & Whitney, General Electric and Rolls-Royce engine types. From 1995 to 2000, Andersen served as chief project engineer for the 777 Program.
Andersen was program manager for the 777 longer-range airplanes – the 777-300ER (Extended Range), 777-200LR (Longer Range), and the 777 Freighter. These 777 Derivatives make up nearly 100% of the 777 deliveries in the future and account for 586 of the 1163 777’s sold to date. Andersen oversaw all aspects of introducing the new airplanes into service, from the design and production to flight test and certification, including a 777-200LR world record flight for distance traveled ( by a commercial airliner) of 11,664 nautical miles that took 22 hours 42 minutes from Hong Kong to London eastbound. The flight was captained by Suzanna Darcy-Henneman.
From 200 until his retirement in 2007, Andersen was Vice President/Program Manager of Boeing Commercial Airplanes 777 Program in Everett. He was responsible for all models of the Boeing 777 family of airplanes. However, three years later the company called him back to serve as Vice President of 777 Product Development for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, responsible for planning the future of Boeing’s twin-aisle airplane. He reports to Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Albaugh and also serves on his Senior Advisory Group