External advisory board

Lars Q. Andersen (BSAA '68)

Vice President, Advanced 777 Product Development
Boeing Commercial Airplanes  (Ret.)

Lars Andersen earned a B.S. from A&A while concurrently earning two varsity letters in Crew and the Inspirational Award in 1969. Upon graduating he worked as a propulsion engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines while simultaneously completing a MS in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1972.

He began working for Boeing in 1973. After thirty-four years of Leadership at Boeing, culminating as Vice President and Program Manager with responsibility for all models of the 777 family of airplanes, Anderson retired in 2007.

Three years later he returned to Boeing as Vice President of 777 Product development reporting to the CEO. He was charged with leading the definition of the next derivative of the 777 that would have better fuel efficiency than the bestselling 777-30er.

Jason Andrews (BSAA '94)

President
Spaceflight Industries

Jason Andrews is an American space and technology entrepreneur. He co-founded Andrews Space in 1999 with his wife Marian Joh, founded Spaceflight Inc in 2010, BlackSky Global LLC in 2013, and integrated all three entities together in 2015 under Spaceflight Industries. From 2013 to 2018, Jason raised over $200M in capital to fund the development and growth of the BlackSky business plan.

In 2019, he founded BigIdea Partners, a Seattle-based idea lab and startup studio. He co-founded Orbite Inc with Nicolas Gaume, an astronaut training and space experience company, and in 2020 founded BluOasis, which builds units that generate electricity and water from sunlight and air, to bring essential resources to those who need it most.

Brian Argrow

Professor
University of Colorado - Boulder

Brian M. Argrow is the Glenn L. Murphy Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and a leading expert in uncrewed aircraft systems, high-speed aerodynamics, and dense gas dynamics. He founded the IRISS program and directed the Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles. A Fellow of AIAA and member of the National Academy of Engineering, Brian has advanced UAS applications for atmospheric research and served in advisory roles for NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the National Academies.

Emilio Beltran (BSAA '99)

Principal Software Engineer
Microsoft

After graduating from A&A, Beltran worked as a staff engineer with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he operated thermal technology hardware labs focused on thermal dynamics, heat transfer and hardware testing before starting his position at Microsoft in 2000 as a Software Development Engineer in Test. He has since been in software engineering development various features in the C# AND C++ automation. He is currently the Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft.

He serves on the UW Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees. In 2013, he and his wife Neely created the Beltran Endowed Fund for Undergraduate Student Support to help A&A undergraduates from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds who are also the first in their families to attend college.

Paul Bevilaqua

Chief Scientist
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (Ret.)

Paul Bevilaqua has spent much of his career developing Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft. He joined Lockheed Martin as Chief Aeronautical Scientist and became Chief Engineer of the Skunk Works, where he played a leading role in creating the Joint Strike Fighter. He invented the dual cycle propulsion system that made it possible to build a supersonic VSTOL Strike Fighter, and suggested that Air Force and Naval variants of this aircraft could be developed to create a common, affordable aircraft for all three services. He subsequently led the engineering team that demonstrated the feasibility of building this aircraft.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, he was Manager of Advanced Programs at Rockwell International's Navy aircraft plant, where he led the design of VSTOL interceptor and transport aircraft. He began his career as an Air Force officer at Wright Patterson AFB, where he developed an ejector lift system for an Air Force VSTOL Search and Rescue Aircraft.

He earned a B.S. in aerospace engineering at the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University. His study of re-entry wakes set new directions for turbulence research. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He received the Guggenheim Medal and the Collier Trophy. He also received AIAA & SAE Aircraft Design Awards, and AIAA & AHS VSTOL Awards. He was awarded an Honorary Ph.D. by the University of Cranfield and voted Engineer of the Year by the readers of Design News.

Olivier de Weck

Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Olivier de Weck is the Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he is the Associate Department Head of Aero Astro. His research is in Systems Engineering with a focus on how complex technological systems are designed and how they evolve over time. He is a Fellow of INCOSE and AIAA and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. His textbook “Technology Roadmapping and Development" received a most promising textbook of 2024 award.

Bonnie Dunbar

Professor
Texas A&M University

Bonnie Dunbar’s professional experience spans industry, academia, government and the non-profit sectors. She has been a practicing engineer, leading national teams evaluating future space exploration technology development, microgravity science development and human space operations for the National Academy of Engineers.

Dunbar is a five-time space shuttle astronaut with more than 50 days in space and an integral member of the research and operations development teams for those flights. She has been recognized with NASA Spaceflight and Leadership medals, seven honorary academic degrees and invited university lectures.

She has also been recognized for developing and supporting STEM programs in schools and with Informal Science Education (ISE) institutions. Bonnie is an internationally recognized speaker who is requested to lecture on topics related to human spaceflight, spacecraft design, spaceflight research operations, microgravity research and STEM careers.

Laila Elias (BSAA ' 98)

Director, Propulsion Systems Engineering
Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Laila Elias is Director of Propulsion Systems Engineering at Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA). She previously served as Propulsion Systems Director for the VC-25B Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization and as Propulsion Systems Director for the New Mid-Market Airplane (NMA). Laila has held several engineering and leadership roles in BCA Propulsion Systems on the 787, 777X, 737NG, 737 MAX, and ecoDemonstrator programs since joining Boeing in 2011.

Prior to Boeing, Laila worked at Blue Origin on the development of commercial vehicles for human spaceflight, and at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on the development of future generation space-based telescopes.

Laila earned her B.S. in our department, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Aeronautics & Astronautics at M.I.T. with a concentration in structural dynamics and control systems.

Laila serves as the Boeing executive focal for the department. She is also proud to serve on the Board of Directors at FareStart, an organization dedicated to developing sustainable solutions to disrupt poverty and homelessness. She enjoys running, skiing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and three children.

Ann Karagozian

Professor
University of California, Los Angeles

Professor Ann Karagozian is the inaugural director of The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA, where she is also a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The Promise Armenian Institute is a hub for world-class research and teaching on Armenian Studies, and for coordinating research and public impact programs across UCLA and with the Republic of Armenia and the diaspora.

Ann is also a University of California representative on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Armenia, which operates under the auspices of the University of California. Her scholarly research and teaching lie in fluid mechanics and combustion as applied to energy and propulsion systems. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and also has served on the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.

Gary Lai (BSAA '99)

Co-Founder and CTO
Interlune

Gary Lai is currently co-founder and CTO of Interlune. Previously, he was a Senior Director of Program Management at Blue Origin, overseeing all upgrades and next generation designs for the New Shepard human spaceflight program. He joined Blue Origin in 2004 as one of its first 20 employees and has filled key leadership roles in growing the company to over 3,500 employees. His prior positions at Blue Origin include Senior Director of New Shepard Design Engineering, New Shepard System Architect, Crew Capsule Element Lead, NASA Commercial Crew Development Program Manager, Lead Systems Engineer, and Pathfinding Lead with responsibility for all company advanced research and development.

During the time Gary led the New Shepard technical team as System Architect in 2016, the program won the prestigious Collier Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association “for successfully demonstrating rocket booster reusability with the New Shepard human spaceflight vehicle through five successful test flights of a single booster and engine, all of which performed powered vertical landings on Earth.” Gary has also received a Stellar Award from the RNASA Foundation in 2017, and was the 2019 recipient of the Blue Origin Founder’s Award given by Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos to the Blue Origin employee with the greatest record of technical ambition and achievement.

Prior to joining Blue Origin, Gary worked as a Flight Test Engineer on autonomous air vehicles at Dara Aviation, and as a Systems Engineer at Kistler Aerospace Corporation where he performed payload integration activities for the K-1 reusable satellite launch vehicle. Gary graduated from Cornell University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics, and from the University of Washington in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.

Andrew Madar (BSAA '82, MSAA '85)

CEO
Aerozon Aviation

Andrew Madar earned a B.S. and M.S. from our department before started work at Boeing in 1985. While working, he earned an MBA degree from Rutgers University. At Boeing, he worked in many positions including technical research and development, airplane design and performance, and airline operations before eventually ending up in a fellowship role in airline development in the Chinese market.

In 1997, while living in China he consulted for their airlines and the government in China to develop their industry. He remained in China until 2010.

After Boeing, he joined GE Aviation within China to develop their business in PBN – Performance-Based Navigation. There, he worked on some of the biggest projects in PBN technology in the world.

Following his time at GE, he joined COMAC to assist with their marketing and airline support groups on developing and introducing their new products, the ARJ21 and C919.

In 2013, Andrew started as CEO at Aerozon Aviation, a consulting group in Hong Kong and Cyprus.

Laura McGill (BSAA '83)

Deputy Laboratories Director - Nuclear Deterrence & CTO
Sandia National Laboratories

Laura J. McGill (BSAAE ‘83) is Deputy Laboratories Director - Nuclear Deterrence & CTO at Sandia National Laboratories. McGill originally joined the Tomahawk Program Office at Raytheon in 1992 as the Avionics program manager. She began her career at General Dynamics as a test integration engineer at the corporate wind tunnel in San Diego, where she developed and conducted aerodynamic testing for commercial and military aircraft. She also supported the establishment of a wind tunnel facility for the Taiwan Air Force as part of the Indigenous Fighter Development Program, developed test-integration plans for the Atlas II Launch Vehicle, and led the Lean Operations Task Force to institute manufacturing process improvements on critical programs. She is currently serving as AIAA’s president.

Jennifer Mendeck

Commercial Element Manager
International Space Station
NASA

Jennifer Mendeck began her career at NASA in the Mission Operations Directorate. She was then selected for the Space Shuttle and worked in Mission Control for 13 shuttle flights.  In 2010, she joined Visiting Vehicle Officer group, leading the team that was responsible for joint rendezvous operations with cargo vehicles supplying the ISS. In 2015, Jennifer left Mission Operations for the ISS Program. Her roles there have included assessing commercial launch vehicles used to launch cargo to ISS, and later leading integration of the SpaceX Cargo Dragon spacecraft with the ISS. In 2022 she left that role to start her current job as Commercial Element Manager. She is responsible for technical integration of the future Axiom Space Station with the ISS for the period where the two space stations will be flying jointly.

Roger Myers

Consultant
R Myers Consulting

Roger Myers is an experienced aerospace leader with over 30 years of experience. From 1996 to 2016 he held executive positions at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Redmond Operations, the world’s leading supplier of spacecraft propulsion systems. He focused on technology development and strategic planning for next-generation in-space missions and architectures, propulsion, power and integrated systems. Prior to joining Aerojet Rocketdyne in 1996, he worked at NASA’s Glenn Research Center leading research and development of advanced space propulsion technologies. He has led dozens of development and space flight programs and published over 80 papers on electric and chemical propulsion technology and in-space transportation architectures.

Additionally, Roger served as chair of the Washington State Joint Center for Aerospace Technology Innovation and President of the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society (ERPS). He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), was elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences in 2012, won the AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award in 2014 and was elected to the Board of Trustees for the Seattle Museum of Flight in 2015. He has served on several committees for the National Research Council.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering, summa cum laude, from the University of Michigan. He received his Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University.

Alex Pietsch

Associate Vice President for Corporate Relations
Washington State University

Alex Pietsch is the Associate Vice President for Corporate Relations at Washington State University. In this position, Pietsch leads the University’s Office of Corporate Relations, which serves as the system-wide facilitator and coordinator of educational, research, business and philanthropic partnerships with private companies and their industries.

Prior to coming to WSU, Alex was director of the Office of Aerospace for the State of Washington, serving as the principal advisor to Governors Jay Inslee and Christine Gregoire on aerospace-related issues and coordinated activities and promoted the growth of the industry throughout the state. In this capacity, Alex worked with stakeholders across the state to develop and implement Washington’s first ever statewide aerospace industry strategy and was the principal architect of the state’s successful effort to secure production of the Boeing 777X.

Alex is also president of the Board of Directors of the Washington Aerospace Partnership, a collaboration between government, business, and labor which is working in support of its vision of Washington as the recognized worldwide center of excellence in aerospace innovation, design, and manufacturing.

From 2001 to 2012, Alex served as the Administrator of the City of Renton’s Department of Community and Economic development which has oversight of all land use planning and building activities in the city, economic development, and intergovernmental relations. He was responsible for the city’s award-winning community marketing campaign—Renton. Ahead of the Curve.

He began his career in television news in several western U.S. markets, including Yakima, Wash., where he was a news anchor and reporter for the local ABC affiliate.

Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in history and communications from Washington State University and grew up in Seattle. He now lives in West Seattle with his wife and three daughters.

Alton Romig Jr.

Executive Officer, National Academy of Engineering
Vice President, Advanced Development
Programs Engineering and Advanced Systems
Lockheed Martin (Ret.)

Alton D. Romig, Jr. is the Executive Officer of the National Academy of Engineering. Under Congressional charter, the Academy provides advice to the federal government, when requested, on matters of engineering and technology. As Executive Officer, Alton is the Chief Operating Officer responsible for the program, financial and membership operations of the Academy, reporting to the President.

Prior to joining the Academy, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Advanced Development Programs, better known as the Skunk Works ®.

Alton spent the majority of his career at Sandia National Laboratories, operated by the Lockheed Martin Corporation. He joined Sandia as a member of the technical staff in 1979 and moved through a succession of R&D management positions leading to appointment as executive vice president in 2005. He served as the deputy laboratories director and chief operating officer until 2010 when he transferred to the Skunk Works.

Alton graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in materials science and engineering and then received his M.S. and Ph.D. there in 1977 and 1979, respectively. Alton is a Fellow of ASM International, TMS, IEEE, AIAA and AAAS. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003 and the Council on Foreign Relations in 2008. He was awarded the ASM Silver Medal for Materials Research in 1988.

Khaled Shahwan

Senior Advisor – Technology & Strategy
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Khaled Shahwan is a senior advisor for technology and strategy at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

Previously, he has was FCA’s Chrysler Technology Center since 1999, and has held several technical leadership positions in the industry. He has participated in the chairing of various pre-competitive joint collaboration activities with other OEMs, suppliers, and US-DoE (e.g., USCAR, USDRIVE). Khalded chaired USDRIVE’s Materials Tech Team, USCAR’s Automotive Composites Consortium, and led numerous advanced enabling-technology development projects on lightweight and high-performance composites. In his role within the advanced vehicle development and engineering organizations he has been responsible for initiating and championing some of the first work within the auto industry that focuses on addressing several key and fundamental virtual-technology engineering challenges in understanding and predicting the response of high-performance composite structures.

In addition, Khalded has been extensively involved in various active safety technologies and regulations, including driver assistance/ADAS. For years he has worked on the development of analysis technologies for computational assessments of several ADAS subsystems (e.g., ESC, FCW), radar and vision recognition systems, tires and rollover sensing, and vehicle dynamics and control.

Prior to joining FCA, Khaled worked for several years on advanced technology development assignments (onsite) at Ford Research Labs and Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Technologies/Engineering, including Vehicle Safety Engineering, CAE and Core Methodology Development Departments.

Khaled is an elected Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations, and over 50 corporate and industry-government collaboration reports. He served and continues to serve on the editorial boards of international engineering journals (J. Engr. Mechanics ’04-’14, Int. J. Vehicle Design, Int. J. Vehicle Safety, and Int. J. Automotive Composites). He is a member of ASME, is a co-lead instructor at two SAE Engineering Academies on lightweighting and composites, and serves on the advisory board of the College of Engineering at San Francisco State University. He holds an EIT Certificate, as well as course-training certificates in Quality and DFSS.

Khaled holds a Ph.D. (‘95) and M.S. in aerospace engineering and an M.S. in civil & environmental engineering, all from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and a B.S. in civil engineering from SFSU.

Rao Varanasi (AA PhD '68)

Chief Engineer, In-Service Structures and Aging Fleet
The Boeing Company (Ret.)

Having worked over 45 years at The Boeing Company, Rao Varanasi held various positions in the fields of research and development in structural engineering, computational mechanics, analytical modeling of engineering systems, and management of military and commercial airplanes. Most recently, Varanasi served as Chief Engineer for Structures and Aging Fleet in Boeing Commercial Airplanes and as a technical leader and engineering liaison for aircraft structures for the Federal Aviation Agency and the European Aviation Safety Agency before retiring in 2011.

Rao has been a great contributor to A&A over the years. He is an affiliate professor in our department. He has also served as Chair of the Diamond Awards Committee for the College of Engineering.