Honoring a Profession

Mid to late February marks an annual tradition for innovators around the country. National Engineers Week is an opportunity to celebrate a great profession, reflect on accomplishments that changed the world and most important inspire the next generation. It also is an event I look forward to every year.

I cannot remember any point in my life when I didn’t want to be an engineer. From an early age, I had to understand how things worked. I would take things apart to understand their mechanics. As a young boy I can remember taking apart watches and clocks and trying to reassemble them. And was very excited when I successfully disassembled and reassembled our lawnmower, though my father was pretty concerned when he walked in halfway through. This curiosity naturally evolved into a desire to solve problems and overcome challenges. As every engineer knows, there is no better way to follow your passion than by making it a career.

It is that innovative spirit in each engineer that continues to move and improve the world. Engineers have etched their names into the history books because of their innovations. As I walk the halls of Wabtec’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, I see images of the company’s three forefathers and engineering icons – George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison and Louis Faiveley. In fact, our theme for this year’s Engineers Week is “Standing on the shoulders of giants.” It pays tribute to the great scientists and engineers of the past and reminds of us that we are building a better tomorrow.

Like those engineering legends, great innovators focus on three critical areas in their work – feasibility, viability and desirability. All three pillars must align for any invention to be successful. I have applied those standards to all my engineering endeavors throughout my career from the gas and wind turbines while I was at GE Power to today with Wabtec’s FLXdrive Battery Locomotive, digital solutions for automation and braking systems for transit. These new innovations are feasible from a technology standpoint, viable in terms of cost and desirable to customers because they are driving sustainability. More important, they are solutions that will disrupt the industries we serve – a goal every engineer aspires to achieve.

Successful engineers also have a voracious appetite for knowledge. Personally, I constantly read about all types of technologies, case studies and technical documents. Beyond that, I speak with colleagues at all levels of the profession. These interactions are key. All of us can learn from one another and inspire each other. That is what drives the innovative spirit in all of us.

Finally, it is important that engineers share their knowledge with the next generation as those before us did. Get involved with local schools. Promote the importance of pursuing science, technology, engineering and math fields. Fostering the next generation is critical for all engineering companies. I am proud that Wabtec is active in STEAM initiatives year-round. Despite the COVID restrictions this year, Wabtec is moving forward with a virtual Engineers Week STEAM Fair to inspire the innovators of tomorrow.

So, as we commemorate Engineers Week, take pride in knowing you are part of a profession that created the first lightbulb, put a man on the moon, established the internet and many other feats that continue to advance our society. Reflect on your accomplishments. Continue to collaborate with one another and drive innovation. Make time to inspire the next generation of engineers. It will be a rewarding experience for you and the aspiring engineers.

Enjoy Engineers Week 2021.