Luckiest Engineer: From Farm Boy to Skunk Works and Beyond

(Paperback)

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What does it take to design and build the world's most sophisticated aerospace hardware The coordinated efforts of thousands of people at all levels of design, fabrication, manufacturing, and test. In this memoir, a farm boy-turned-engineer relates with humor and aplomb 40 years of work in the aerospace industry.Specializing in rescuing troubled efforts that were over budget and behind schedule, he relates his own stories of pulling a project's bacon out of the fire while sharing insights about growing up in a values-driven Western Pennsylvania community and working his way through technical school and college. He reflects on life's idiosyncrasies, the knowledge he's collected, and struggles with spirituality. As an added bonus, the story illustrates the humorous side of aerospace engineering, with hilarious personal anecdotes coloring the pages.Aspiring engineers, seasoned professionals, and anyone fascinated by the history of aerospace will find this enjoyable memoir both inspirational and informative.

Author Bio

Robert Retsch has spent the last four decades in the aerospace industry, including working on Fixed Based Operators, Gas Turbine Engines, Aircraft, Satellites, Boosters and Reentry Vehicles. His training and education was in Aircraft Maintenance and Mechanical Engineering. Concentrating mostly in development, he has held positions ranging from mechanic to engineering aid, designer, lead design engineer, cost account manager and project manager, culminating as a subject matter expert.