What is your next adventure?

I'm starting a full-time job at Relativity Space working on their rocket on the structures team in Southern California, in Los Angeles, in Long Beach. 

What about your next adventure are you most looking forward to?

I’m excited to get accustomed to Los Angeles and the new area. I'm going to be living there with a couple of my friends. We will be able to go out and explore the city. There's a lot of stuff to do around LA. I can’t wait to visit the beaches. I’m also obviously looking forward to working in industry for the first time. It will be an amazing experience. I get to grow really fast and learn more.

Did you have any previous co-op, internship, or research experience in this area?

Starting in my second year at Georgia Tech, I joined the Ramblin’ Rocket Club with several friends. That was my first hands-on experience in aerospace and structural analysis. I worked on design, analysis, and testing for our rocket, which really inspired me to pursue this field.

The following summer, I interned at Whisper Aero, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) company, as a mechanical design engineering intern. That experience gave me valuable insight into how the industry operates and deepened my interest in mechanical and structural engineering.

In my third year, I became the lead of structures and mechanisms in the rocketry club. Georgia Tech provides incredible resources for student organizations, which allows us to take on ambitious projects. This leadership role gave me a strong foundation in structural design and analysis.

This past spring, I also did research in the Space Systems Design Lab with Dr. Brian Gunter where we're working on a lunar drone for the moon. This research was interesting because I joined the project pretty much when it started at the concept point. So, there was nothing existing on this. I was able to bring the first vehicle iteration to life, which we're actually testing now in the Indoor Flight Lab. Again, all of the resources at Georgia Tech are just incredible and allow us to do anything.

This past summer, I interned at Relativity Space, which was an amazing opportunity and really solidified my passion for this field. After two years of hands-on experience and internships, I’m confident this is the career path I want to pursue. I’ll be returning to Relativity Space after graduation.

How did your educational experience at Georgia Tech help you to achieve your goals?

One of the biggest advantages of Georgia Tech is the incredible support for student clubs and organizations. I didn’t realize how well-funded these clubs are until I joined one. The resources available allow students to pursue almost any interest, knowing that Georgia Tech will provide the backing to make it happen.

For example, in the Ramblin’ Rocket Club, we received more than enough funding to build multiple rockets. That level of support was instrumental in helping me grow, learn, and gain hands-on experience in the field I wanted to pursue. Beyond funding, Georgia Tech provides access to essential resources like machine shops and dedicated spaces, which are critical for developing skills in design and analysis. These opportunities have been a major factor in my growth.

What advice would you give to an underclassman who would like to follow the same path?

At the end of the day, if you're interested in going into industry and following a field, the number one thing that you can do at Georgia Tech is figure out a project or a team you're interested in and just try to take ownership of a project. Every single time I ask anyone about how an interview went, they always get asked about something that they've personally taken ownership of, or what they have led from concept to finish. So, for any underclassmen in any field of aerospace engineering, I think having total ownership over something is really the best way to put yourself in a position to succeed. Georgia Tech will always help you with that along the way by giving you all of the resources you need to take your idea to fruition.