Guest Speakers

Bio

William A. (Bill) Crossley is the Uhrig & Vournas Head of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Professor at Purdue University, where he has been a member of the faculty since August 1995.  His teaching and research interests are in design optimization for aerospace systems and for system-of-system design problems.  Recent applications include consideration of environmental impact of aviation and examining future advanced air mobility as part of a transportation system.

Bill has received numerous teaching awards at the School level. He received the College of Engineering A.A. Potter Best of Engineering Teaching Award in 2007, was inducted into the Purdue University Book of Great Teachers in 2013 and received the Charles B. Murphy Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2022.

Bio

As Vice President, Yen Matsutomi leads the Engines Design Office that supports all Blue Engines programs at Blue Origin. Matsutomi is responsible for all Blue Engines engineering skills in design and development from engine components to the integrated systems and technical processes definition from concept through flight.

Matsutomi has been with Blue Origin since 2010, spending her early years developing the BE-3 main injector that has flown on all New Shepard missions. As a Propulsion Engineer, she supported subscale injector development testing at West Texas launch site and full scale thrust chamber assembly testing at the NASA Stennis Space Center.

Later, she focused on injector and combustion stability verification through full-scale integrated engine development testing, culminating in a successful engine acceptance test program.

After multiple New Shepard missions, Matsutomi transitioned in 2015 to a lead role establishing technical standards, improving processes and advancing analysis tools for injector and combustor development across all Blue Engines. The responsibilities later expanded to cover all engineering aspects for all engine products. In 2016, she was appointed as Injector Lead, and in 2018, she was appointed as Director for Combustion Devices for Blue Engines. She was appointed to Sr. Director, Engines Design Office in 2019 and promoted to VP, Engines Design Office in 2022.

She represented the Blue Origin team that won the 2016 Collier Award for the first New Shepard flight. Matsutomi received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University.

Bio

Emma graduated from Purdue with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2018. Passionate about mentorship and outreach, Emma was a prominent student leader during her time on campus, supporting organizations such as the Honors College, Purdue Student Engineering Foundation, Purdue Foundation Student Board, The Stamps Scholars, and Stempower.

Beginning her career in advanced manufacturing technology for precision agriculture, Emma spent 6 years working for John Deere in a variety of roles. After helping establish a novel organization and operating model for data science, controls, and robotics engineering, she made the giant leap from ag into aerospace.

Since 2022, Emma has held roles of increasing responsibility at Relativity Space. Today, she serves as the Chief of Staff to the CTO, accountable for the success of Relativity’s medium to heavy class reusable launch vehicle Terran R.

Emma continues fulfilling her passion for outreach by partnering with various Purdue organizations as an advisor and mentor, and she cherishes any opportunity to return to campus and connect with students. 

Bio

Chris Azzano is vice president of Test & Evaluation (T&E) for Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector, a premier provider of military aircraft, autonomous systems, aerospace structures and next generation solutions. The Test & Evaluation organization conducts complex test programs to ensure the safety, quality, and performance of our platforms through rigorous test execution, delivering on our promises to enable the wartime missions of our customers.

In this role, Azzano is responsible for all Test & Evaluation personnel, processes, and tools for manned and unmanned aeronautical programs either developed or tested within the Aeronautics Systems sector. The nearly 2000-person strong T&E discipline operates a wide range of system integration labs, structural test facilities and wind tunnels to support experimental, developmental and acceptance testing. Flight testing is accomplished in 12 different aircraft types by 19 distinct operating units.

Prior to leading T&E, Azzano was vice president and deputy program manager for the B-21 Raider program within the Strike division at Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems.

Azzano served over 30 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a major general. In his last role, he commanded the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California where he directed a $31 billion enterprise of more than 18,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel across Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB and Arnold AFB. A command pilot, he has more than 2,900 flying hours in 35 aircraft types. He was previously a commander at the squadron, group, and twice at the wing level.

Azzano graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering and from Stanford University with a Master of Science in aerospace engineering. He also received a master’s degree in strategic studies from Air War College and is a graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and Air Force Legislative Fellowship program.

Bio

Brad has 42 years of experience in experimental testing and advanced technology program management, including advanced materials demonstrations.  

He served for several years as the Chief Experimental Engineer for Rolls-Royce for the F136 Joint Strike Fighter engine under the GE/Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team partnership, with responsibility for ground and flight testing.  He coordinated an international team as part of that assignment.  

Brad has successfully managed multiple contracts for USAF technology demonstrator core engines –two of which resulted in Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurel awards. He served as the Integrated Product Team Lead for the mechanical systems on the Joint Strike Fighter LiftFanä for the Concept Demonstrator Aircraft (CDA / X-35).  Brad has also successfully managed multiple company-funded Research & Technology programs for future products, and holds 4 US patents, plus additional trade secret records of invention.

Brad is an AIAA Fellow and is a past Chairman of the AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Technical Committee.  He has served 12-years on the Board of Directors for the Purdue Engineering Alumni Association, including 2-years as the president of the Board.  

Brad is also a founding, and 30-year continuing member of the Industry Advisory Council for the Purdue A&AE School. In 2004 the School recognized him as an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer.

Bio

Shannon Fitzpatrick is a Senior Executive serving as the NASA Director for Planetary Science Flight Programs at NASA Headquarters. In this role she manages the $5B annual budget; spacecraft and instrument projects in formulation, development, or operations; and a team responsible for managing the Discovery, New Frontiers, and Solar System Exploration Programs. She oversees planning, budgeting, and coordination for Planetary missions through every phase of the mission life cycle and collaborates with interagency and international partners for the successful execution of these missions.  

Ms. Fitzpatrick has held many other leadership positions within NASA, including the Chief of the Wallops Launch Range and has spent years of her career developing and leading state of the art missile defense systems for the Missile Defense Agency.  

Shannon brings over 25 years of experience in Engineering, Leadership and Program Management and holds both Bachelors and Master of Science degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University.  

She holds several patents in hypersonic propulsion technology from her time as a Navy aerospace engineer and has been the recipient of numerous NASA, DoD, and private industry awards.

Bio

Markus Heinimann is the Director of Technology at ATI Specialty Rolled Products. In this role he is responsible for new product development and introduction as well as product and process engineering to support market driven growth strategies and process improvements to meet customer needs in aerospace, defense, energy and other demanding markets.

Prior to joining ATI in 2024, Dr. Heinimann held technology, engineering and quality leadership roles with Howmet Aerospace, Arconic and Alcoa. He started his career in engineering and engineering leadership roles at Cessna Aircraft Company.

Dr. Heinimann holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue University’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He serves on several technical and industrial advisory committees and is a Fellow of ASTM International, where is the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Fatigue and Fracture.

Bio

Kathleen (Katie) Johnson is a 1993 graduate of Purdue University’s Department of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering. Katie also holds a Masters in Engineering Management from Washington State University.

She began her career as an intern at The Boeing Company in 1993 as a Flutter Engineer working on a product development innovation team. Katie will be celebrating 32 years of Boeing service in August 2025. 

Bio

Jamie Krakover (she/her) is a Senior Manager for Boeing Enterprise Engineering Technical Growth & Development. She leads onboarding and retention initiatives to reduce risk for nearly 60,000 engineers by enhancing engineering career development opportunities and creating knowledge management and mentorship strategies for Boeing’s diverse talent.

Since joining Boeing Research & Technology as a Strength Engineer in 2006, Jamie has grown steadily in her career, showing her versatility in design, strength, materials and processes, teardown and cost engineering on a range of programs before becoming a first line manager on the F/A-18 program.

Jamie is a life member of the Society of Women Engineers. She holds a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University and a Master's in the same field from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jamie is passionate about mentoring, especially women in STEM, and students looking to pursue STEM fields. In her "free" time, Jamie writes and publishes Middle Grade and Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy short stories and novels featuring young women with a knack for STEM and enjoys spending time with her husband, their son, and their dog Rogue named after the X-men not Star Wars (although she loves both).

Bio

Dr. Lindsay Millard is a Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.  In this role, Dr. Millard is responsible for advising the Office of the Under Secretary on the Department of Defense’s research and engineering portfolio, to include space and missile technologies. 

Previously, Dr. Millard served as the Assistant Director for Space Security at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Working for the President’s Science Advisor, she led implementation of the National Cislunar Science and Technology Strategy including development of the first policies establishing Lunar Coordinated Time, Lunar Reference Systems and the National Cislunar Science and Technology Action Plan.  

Prior to working in the White House, Dr. Millard was the Principal Director for Space Technology at the Pentagon and held positions at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), RAND Corporation, and NASA.  

Dr. Millard holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University.

Bio

Tamaira Ross is chief engineer for Rapid Space Capabilities in Boeing Space Mission Systems. Her background is as a Technical Fellow and aeronautical engineer in Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) where she did preliminary vehicle design and rapid prototyping.

She has done large launch vehicle development and system architecture on New Glenn at Blue Origin.

Tamaira holds a B.S. and a M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University. She also attended the University of Washington where she obtained a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Technology Management MBA.

Her professional interests include aircraft design, spacecraft design, multi-disciplinary optimization and alternative energy.

Tamaira has taught classes on multi-disciplinary design, wireless power transmission, and engineering design methodology. She is an affiliate instructor in the Industrial & Systems Engineering department at the University of Washington where she teaches graduate classes in technical leadership. 

Bio

Breanne Sutton is the manager of the aerothermal/performance analysis department at Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Control group.

Her prior experience includes systems engineering, structural analysis, and performance analysis on a variety of solid rocket motor propulsion systems. Immediately preceding her current role, Breanne was the lead analyst on the Orion Launch Abort System Attitude Control Motor.

Breanne earned a Master’s of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s of Science in Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. She is an member of AIAA, founding member of the Northrop Grumman PS&C STEM council, and founder and current chair of the Northrop Grumman Women’s International Network Employee Resource Group Chapter at her site.

Bio

Astha Tiwari is a Program Integration Manager (PIM) on the 777X Airplane Level Integration Team (ALIT) at Boeing, based in Everett, WA.

She is an active participant in Leadership Next (LX), a highly selective enterprise wide development program that accelerates the readiness of aspiring people leaders, and a graduate of Boeing’s renowned Engineering Career Foundation Program (ECFP), where she honed her technical expertise across a wide range of business units and product lifecycle stages.

With five years of experience at Boeing, Astha has built a diverse skill set in systems integration, structural analysis, supply chain industrial engineering, and production engineering, contributing to platforms like the 777X, 787, AH-64, CH-47, F-15, and MQ-25.

A proud alumna of Purdue University, Astha earned her Bachelor’s (2019) and Master’s (2022) in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.

Bio

Rhonda Walthall is a Senior Technical Fellow at Collins Aerospace Systems in Charlotte, NC, a division of RTX. In her role, she focuses on Designing for Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) and Connected Smart Products.  She is an avid supporter and mentor for women in STEM roles. She is an industry recognized leader in the development of industry standards and best practices for Integrated Aircraft Health Management (IAHM) solutions. She holds five PHM-related patents and numerous publications.

Rhonda earned her BS degree in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University and her MBA from Pepperdine University. She is a member of the Purdue University AAE Industrial Advisory Council and was recognized as an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer in 2020. 

Rhonda is a Fellow of the PHM Society and a member of the Board of Directors. She is a Fellow of SAE International and is an active member and chair of six standards development committees and steering groups. She is a current member of numerous board-level committees and a past member of the Board of Directors. She is a member of the Maintenance Programs Industry Group (MPIG) where she is advancing the use of IAHM as an alternate to scheduled aircraft maintenance. She is a member of Women in Aviation International, Society of Women Engineers, and Toastmasters International.

Rhonda has received numerous industry awards. Her book, “Flight Paths to Success: Career Insights from Women Leaders in Aerospace”, won a prestigious award from the Independent Press.