Category: Alumni Highlights

With a long and illustrious list of accomplishments, the career of Frank Gillette was as powerful and high-flying as the fighter jets that rely on his engine designs. And his success story took off in Gainesville, where he graduated from UF in 1962.   “He just loved his job and appreciated the education he got at […]

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida proudly recognizes seven distinguished alumni from the class of 2024, each exemplifying the highest standards of engineering excellence and leadership in their respective careers. Ms. Shitarria Battle: BSME ’10 – Ms. Battle serves as the Chief Engineer for the Command and Control, Battle […]

The phrase “homegrown talent” is a familiar one to sports fans—and when it comes to Steven Botwinik, it applies equally well to aerospace engineering. From his beginnings as a University of Florida MAE student to his current role as Vice President of Advanced Programs Execution and Transition at Lockheed Martin’s Sand Lake Road facility, Botwinik […]

When in-person classes became one of the many aspects of normal life that fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, most people grumbled and resigned themselves to a period of languishing in a mire of pajama pants and low productivity. Juliana Mishur, meanwhile, saw an promising opportunity and followed a hunch that has led her to […]

Mitchell “Mitch” Waldman’s long and illustrious career practically brims with prestige and honor.  The UF MAE alum served for nearly 30 years in a variety of executive positions with the federal government, including as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy, director of cost engineering and industrial analysis for Naval Sea Systems Command, and deputy program […]

RaveBio Inc., a biotech equipment startup spun out from the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department, beat out over 140 teams at UF’s Big Ideas business plan competition last week, winning 2nd place and a $10,000 prize.  RaveBio began in Fall 2022 as a student team in MAE’s EML4502 senior design course. The team was […]

During her undergrad days, while she was just launching her career from the labs and classrooms of UF MAE, Erin Winick Anthony considered herself a “weird” engineer. She was one of the astronomically few who actually enjoyed the writing and communication element of science. Now, her penchant for science communications has earned her considerable recognition […]

When NASA establishes the first ever long-term human presence on the Moon, and eventually uses that base as a springboard to Mars, this seminal achievement will undoubtedly go down as one of the most significant events in the history of our species. And humanity’s upcoming return to the magnificent desolation, as Buzz Aldrin described the […]

What brought you back to UF MAE to serve as a member of the External Advisory Board? Mary Church visited Denver on a trip to reconnect with alumni in Colorado. I really enjoyed getting to know her and the MAE mission for industry outreach. I do serve on two other university boards but Florida is […]

What brought you back to UF MAE to serve as a member of the External Advisory Board? As I have advanced and matured in business, I find that doing work that is impactful is my goal.  Joining the UF MAE has been a significant way for me to invest my time and energy. What has […]