ENGINEERING ENGINEERING - - A Noble ProfessionA Noble Profession

Ralph Dergance, Program DirectorRalph Dergance, Program DirectorShades of Blue Engineering WorkshopsShades of Blue Engineering Workshops303.795.9475303.795.9475rhdergance@msn.comrhdergance@msn.com

Who Am I?Who Am I? Education: Aeronautical Engineering and Business Education: Aeronautical Engineering and Business

Management degrees from CU Boulder - 1964Management degrees from CU Boulder - 1964 Retired from Lockheed Martin in 1999 after 36+ year careerRetired from Lockheed Martin in 1999 after 36+ year career Career Highlights:Career Highlights:

Intern with Martin Marietta for Six Summers During High School Intern with Martin Marietta for Six Summers During High School & College& College

Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer – Analysis, Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer – Analysis, Design, Test, Hardware DevelopmentDesign, Test, Hardware Development

Vehicle Systems EngineerVehicle Systems Engineer Chief Systems Engineer on Robotic ProgramChief Systems Engineer on Robotic Program Chief Engineer on SICBM Post Boost VehicleChief Engineer on SICBM Post Boost Vehicle Principal Investigator on Many Independent Research Principal Investigator on Many Independent Research

&Development Projects&Development Projects Program ManagerProgram Manager New Business DevelopmentNew Business Development Competitive Proposal Creation and ManagementCompetitive Proposal Creation and Management Personnel ManagementPersonnel Management Subcontract Management and ProcurementSubcontract Management and Procurement

Engineering DefinitionEngineering Definition The creative application of scientific principles and The creative application of scientific principles and

mathematics to design or develop structures, machines, mathematics to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all with respect to an intended function, conditions; all with respect to an intended function, economics of operation, and safety for life and property.economics of operation, and safety for life and property.

American Engineers’ Council for Professional DevelopmentAmerican Engineers’ Council for Professional Development

Or, Simply StatedOr, Simply Stated

THE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC, THE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND PRACTICAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO INVENT, DESIGN, KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO INVENT, DESIGN, BUILD, TEST, OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND BUILD, TEST, OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND IMPROVE EVERYTHING.IMPROVE EVERYTHING.

ENGINEERING RecipeENGINEERING RecipeSS - Scientist - ScientistTT - Technician- TechnicianEE - Eager/Energetic- Eager/EnergeticMM - Mathematician- Mathematician

Necessary ATTRIBUTESNecessary ATTRIBUTESTo Be An ENGINEERTo Be An ENGINEER

CURIOSITY – how do things work?CURIOSITY – how do things work? INQUISITIVEINQUISITIVE INTERESTEDINTERESTED

CALCULATING – must like math, numbersCALCULATING – must like math, numbers CAREFUL – don’t make mistakesCAREFUL – don’t make mistakes CONSERVATIVE – calculated “safe” risksCONSERVATIVE – calculated “safe” risks CHALLENGED – always want to improveCHALLENGED – always want to improve CONSCIENTIOUS – really careCONSCIENTIOUS – really care COMMITMENT – make it happenCOMMITMENT – make it happen COOPERATIVE – be a TEAM playerCOOPERATIVE – be a TEAM player

Educational Educational RequirementsRequirements Science and Mathematics Throughout Primary and Secondary Science and Mathematics Throughout Primary and Secondary

SchoolsSchools Sample Available Courses in Different Engineering FieldsSample Available Courses in Different Engineering Fields

ArchitectureArchitecture Aeronautics/AerospaceAeronautics/Aerospace ChemicalChemical CivilCivil Computer Sciences/SoftwareComputer Sciences/Software Electrical/ElectronicsElectrical/Electronics MechanicalMechanical Systems EngineeringSystems Engineering

Attend Special Classes and Camps that are Available (e.g. Attend Special Classes and Camps that are Available (e.g. Shades of Blue)Shades of Blue)

Take Advantage of Available Internships – WE CAN HELP YOUTake Advantage of Available Internships – WE CAN HELP YOU Use the Internet – It is All ThereUse the Internet – It is All There

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering is a good start is a good start Attend a College/University with Excellent Engineering Attend a College/University with Excellent Engineering

CredentialsCredentials

Career AvenuesCareer Avenues Analysis – determine the item’s Analysis – determine the item’s

requirements requirements Design – define the itemDesign – define the item Development – determine that it worksDevelopment – determine that it works Test – verify its performance, reliability, Test – verify its performance, reliability,

etc.etc. Manufacturing – build the final productManufacturing – build the final product Operations – run itOperations – run it Research – find new, better ways to do itResearch – find new, better ways to do it All of the aboveAll of the above

Some Representative Some Representative Results ofResults of

First-Class EngineeringFirst-Class Engineering

The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line Everything Must to be “Engineered”Everything Must to be “Engineered” Start NowStart Now FocusFocus Learn All You CanLearn All You Can Make the World a Better PlaceMake the World a Better Place

Above all, Have Fun!Above all, Have Fun!