Talon Talks

Latest Episodes:

Ron Fielding (’86) – Boeing weapons systems, composites, aircraft standards Jan 28, 2022

Show notes

Ron has been an engineer at Boeing for 30 years. He has worked on testing weapons systems for unmanned aerial vehicles and was involved in the early years of using carbon fiber composites in aircraft construction. He now collaborates with other manufacturers in setting international standards for aircraft components. He also is an early member of the Prescott Campus chapter of Alpha Eta Rho, and studied engineering at both the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses.

**Evacuating Kabul – Doug Mayo (’11), Matt Steele (’09, ’18), and Adam Cooper (’13)** Dec 17, 2021
Show notes

We interviewed three alumni who supported Operation Allies Refuge, the international airlift that evacuated 120,000 people from Kabul, Afghanistan in August 2021, for “Providing Refuge,” a story in the Fall/Winter 2021 issue of Lift Magazine. This episode of Talon Talks is an edited version of the interviews recorded for that story, and includes details that wouldn’t fit in the print piece. The nature of its purpose means the audio is also a bit rougher than usual.

Our guests were Adam Cooper (’13), Doug Mayo (’11), and Matt Steele (’09, ’18), who all commissioned out of Embry-Riddle’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 157 and are active in the United States Air Force.

Find the story at lift.erau.edu/providing-refuge

**Hina Kazmi (’93) – An engineer’s vision of humanity in space** Nov 19, 2021
Show notes

Hina Kazmi has led an impressive career since earning her aerospace engineering degree from Embry-Riddle in 1993: from spacecraft engineer at Boeing to program manager for NASA’s SOFIA airborne telescope. She is now working in Northrop Grumman’s Tactical Space Systems Division and teaches public policy at George Mason University.

We discussed how space exploration can unite humanity; her thoughts on the intersection of engineering and public policy; and the relationship between public and private interests in space. We also talked about how the classic novel *Moby Dick* weaves technical aspects of whaling with commentary on the human condition.

**Kathy Wood (’93, ’18) – From Engineer to Embry-Riddle Faculty** Oct 27, 2021
Show notes

Kathy Wood (’93, ’18) spent most of her career in aerospace engineering, working for 12 years as director of nacelle programs at Collins Aerospace and at United Technologies. She is now a visiting associate professor at the Prescott Campus College of Engineering. Embry-Riddle has multiple open faculty positions and is encouraging experienced alumni to apply. We talked with Kathy about her career, the transition to academia, and her love of horseback riding and polo.

**Nishigandha Kelkar (’17, ’21) – Aircraft touchscreens; student mental health** Aug 30, 2021
Show notes

As Integrated Product Lead at Collins Aerospace, Nishi is working to integrate the first-ever touch screen cockpit displays on commercial Boeing aircraft. She is also the founder of Project LaunchPad, an organization that focuses on student mental health awareness as well as democratizing knowledge for pursuing higher education.

We discussed her work at Collins, why she chose to move around the world to attend Embry-Riddle, and how that experience of culture shock combined with her own high standards for academic achievement led her to create a support program for students facing difficulty with transition to college, attaining mental health support and academic success.

**Lisa Anderson ('99, '03) - United Nations Air Travel Safety** Jul 26, 2021
Show notes

Lisa Anderson (’99, ’03) is one of our Distinguished Alumni Award winners for 2021. She is chief of the commercial air travel safety unit at the United Nations, a program she developed. She has a long history working in aviation and in industry groups, and volunteering with a variety of organizations doing good around the world.

We talked about the reasons that UN program exists; what triggered her career change away from flying; how vocal coaching affected her job prospects; why volunteering and mentoring is important to her; and much more.

*The views that Lisa shares are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.*

Matt Savoca (’94) May 20, 2021

Show notes

Matt Savoca is co-founder of Kutta Technologies, which is a manufacturer and supplier of command-control-communications software applications and components, with a focus on government and defense applications. He is now the company’s executive vice president, since its acquisition by Sierra Nevada Corporation in 2015.

He graduated from Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus in 1994 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and served as SGA President at the time, advocating to the Board of Trustees against moving the Prescott Campus to a new location.

We talked about his choice to attend college in his mid-20s, why he chose to run for SGA president, and where his career led him, as well as technical details of Kutta Technologies’ drones and components.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected