John Sullivan: From Gator Engineer to Aerospace Leader and Mentor

John Sullivan, chair of the External Advisory Board, has devoted his career to advancing aerospace engineering. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Sullivan began working at Pratt & Whitney as an analytical engineer. During his time there, he developed expertise in subsonic, transonic and supersonic aerodynamics while also gaining practical skills such as effective communication, focus and essential planning. Sullivan identifies these qualities as critical for a successful engineering career.

“As chair of the External Advisory Board, I believe it is our responsibility to support the university in shaping curriculum and fostering student engagement to help instill these skills before students graduate,” he said.

Throughout his career, Sullivan continued his education by completing graduate coursework and writing a technical paper on axial compressor design. He later expanded his turbine design expertise internationally, working for Pratt & Whitney Canada as director of component engineering. There, he was responsible for the analytical design, development and certification of all major jet engines and components.

In the early 2000s, Sullivan returned to the U.S. and joined Hamilton Sundstrand as vice president of engineering for engine and control systems. In this role, he was appointed chief engineer for the Boeing 787 aircraft program.

“My work on this project was the most challenging and rewarding accomplishment of my professional career.”

The project involved over five major aircraft systems, all of which were newly developed. As Chief Engineer, he was personally responsible for all technical matters, budget management, scheduling, and the certification of both individual components and the complete aircraft system. I was put on the program T minus 3 years until certification, and I think I aged 10 years on it!” said Sullivan.

In his retirement, Sullivan enjoys giving back through volunteer work. Outside of his role on the MAE external advisory board, he volunteers for Meals on Wheels and spent the past six months providing relief for the victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Sullivan’s advice to current MAE students who will soon enter a similar field is to “Learn how to learn.” He says, “Expertise is fleeting, technologies are constantly changing and learning how to learn will help you in the long run.” Sullivan’s lifelong commitment to service, growth, and adaptability continues to inspire the next generation of engineers.