Expert: Paul Soderman - 9/13/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hey Mister My name is Alberto and I am currently going to Paint Branch High School in Maryland. I am wondering if i can survey you on a base of series questions for my engineering class. I would truly appreciate it if you can take my survey.  If you are not an aeronautical Engineer then could you please notify me with someone.  thank you for your time I truly appreciate it.

ANSWER: Sure, why not.........

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your time. The Questions are as followed:

•         Please describe your engineering field.

•         What is your current job title?

•         Please describe your particular job and duties.

•         If you had it to do over, related to your career or education, would you do anything differently?

•         What advice would you give to me as someone interested in pursuing a career path similar to yours?


Answer
Aeronautical Engineering is my field, which deals with the technology of flight.  My current job is Engineering Consultant, but am mostly retired.  My full time job was as an Aerospace Engineer and Group Leader in research at NASA Ames Research Center.  That job involved planning and conducting wind tunnel tests designed to improve the technology of aircraft or aerospace products.  To do that we measured the aerodynamic performance of aircraft configurations and devised ways to improve that performance.

I loved my job and can't think of anything I would change.  Perhaps more education is always a plus.

Stay in school, study hard, have fun and do what makes you happy.  Working as an intern would be a good way to see if you like a particular profession.

Paul