Alumni Ne ws > 37
Engineering Me My Name: Frank He Degree: M.S., Materials Engineering, 2006 Job title: Project Engineer II
In 1972-73, he flew more than 100 sorties in Vietnam. In 1980, he was selected as an astronaut by NASA, flying two space shuttle missions as pilot and two missions as commander. Following the Challenger accident in 1986, Bolden was named the chief of the Safety Division at the Johnson Space Center. He became assistant deputy administrator of NASA headquarters in 1992. Bolden received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.S. in systems management from USC. The third African American to fly in space, Bolden met with President Obama at the White House on the same day the Hubble space telescope was relaunched from the shuttle Atlantis, marking NASA’s fifth and final visit to the storied telescope since Bolden helped launch it in 1990. The announcement naming Bolden as Obama’s candidate to head the civilian space agency came four months after the departure of former Administrator Michael Griffin, a rocket scientist and Viterbi alum appointed by the Bush administration to oversee the shuttle’s 2010 retirement and a planned return to the moon. “The president could not have made a better choice,” Griffin told CBS News. “Charlie Bolden is an accomplished pilot, a veteran astronaut and an old friend. He has spent his life in the service of his country, and our nation is the better for it. NASA will be in good hands.” //
Lifelong dream: I would like to become successful enough to donate at least one building to each of my alma maters. Favorite Viterbi prof: It’s hard to pick among Mike Kassner, Ed Goo and Florian Mansfeld. Book I’m reading: Other than textbooks, I’m reading The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin. On my Ipod: I don’t waste my time with frivolous toys. Words to live by: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7, the Bible). Engineering hero: There are three: First is my adviser at UC Berkeley, Ron Gronsky (a materials engineer). Second and third are USC engineering alumni Ron Tutor and John Mork. Next trip: Bandon Dunes in Oregon to play golf Best time of day: Early morning Favorite gadget: Titleist wedges and ProV1 Balls Best USC memory: Playing nine quick holes of golf with my friend John Buckhalter between classes and going back to work, sometimes sneaking out of class a bit early! Toughest engineering class: Electrochemistry Number one URL: www.jacobs.com. I work for the company and own the stock. Number of Trojans in my life: Other than friends and coworkers, I don’t have any family who graduated from USC. Sadly, none of my current girlfriends are Trojans either, but that can always change. Proudest moment: I hope it’ll happen soon, but it’ll probably be the moment I get married. Or the moment I donate my building. Biggest challenge: My pet project to build my own golf course. I need to sell the land, which is too small for an 18-hole course and get more land with a better view. Marriage and kids have taken away some potential partners.
Me...Engineered