NSBE - Convention 2010 - (Page 19)

bryan agard of ITW Lifting Lives through Engineering By Phaedra Brotherton b ryan C. Agard Sr. is a young engineer who has proven that dedication and commitment are the key ingredients for success. A skilled and rising star in the field of electrical engineering, he first dabbled in engineering at age 11, when he modified a personal Walkman’s Digital-Analog Converter to output into a high-quality set of speakers. This was the beginning of a childhood interest turning into a fulfilling career. “I always wanted to discover how things worked,” he says. Today, Agard is a lead design engineer for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) Military GSE, which designs, manufactures and sells aircraft ground support equipment and electronics for military agencies worldwide. Agard’s position requires ongoing designs of ground support equipment ranging from High-Power AC/DC, DC/DC, DC/AC Power Converters, Air Conditioning and Aircraft Electronic cooling units. He also designs graphical user and hardware/software control interfaces on embedded platforms. Employed at ITW since 2005, Agard enjoys the range of projects and challenges of his work. The company recognized Agard’s leadership and technical abilities and selected him to oversee design and development roles on a major contract: the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Despite being fresh out of college, Agard succeeded in managing and delivering the project — for one of the most advanced, sophisticated and versatile military fighter jets — within specifications and on time. Agard credits his father for introducing him to engineering and technology early on, and he fondly remembers building his first computer with him. “It meant a lot to me to share this experience with my dad,” he says. For most young boys it was either outdoors or sports, but for Bryan it was mostly indoors experimenting with computers. In high school, the computer hobby turned into a part-time job and eventually his own business. After Agard helped his English teacher fix a problem with her computer, she referred him to her husband, who then hired him to work as a technician for ACS, his computer business. Agard soon began serving his own clients on the side, after encouragement from his father. “It was like the Geek Squad, but there was only one geek, me,” says Agard. After getting an associate’s degree, Agard planned to pursue his bachelor’s degree in computer science. But he decided to switch his major to electrical engineering. “I wanted to do more than just fix computers; I wanted to know how to design one,” he says. While Agard was earning his B.S.E.E. from the University of South Florida, his father told “I’ve been him about an opening for an internship at his employer, ITW GSE Group, the parent company successful not of ITW Military GSE. only because I After his internship, Agard worked full time for the company as a systems administrator, love engineering. before becoming a test engineer in 2007. The I also love the consultant engineer whom Agard worked with was impressed with Agard’s work as a test challenge.” engineer. A year later, Agard was promoted to electrical engineer for ITW Military GSE. In addition to his work as a design engineer, Agard enjoys volunteering as an engineering and math tutor. He has participated in youth programs that gave him opportunities to be a panelist for mentoring underserved teens. He continues to encourage them to build on their strengths while emphasizing the need for more African Americans to pursue engineering. For Agard, engineering is a creative and practical way to improve people’s lives while making their lives more enjoyable. He admits that his immediate family, including his infant son, is among those who benefit. “For my newborn son, the list of toys to build is long,” says the proud new father. “But that is what makes engineering fun; you can create something that you can’t buy in a store or online.” To succeed as an engineer, he says, “You have to be motivated, and you need perseverance.” But most of all, Agard says, “you have to love engineering. I’ve been successful not only because I love engineering. I also love the challenge.” ■ nsbe magazine www.nsbe.org • convention 2010 • 19 http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Convention 2010

NSBE - Convention 2010
Contents
Get Involved
What Makes Us Great
Sandra Edmonds of Intel
Dr. David Freeman of MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Dwayne James of Jacobs
Jean Paul of Philadelphia Gas Works
Ernest Levert of Lockheed Martin
Bryan Agard of ITW
Bettye Moddy of Navair
International News
Chapter News
Region I Jobs Outlook
Engineering a Global Impact
Things To Do In Toronto
Career Fair Recruiters Speak
Golden Torch Award Winners
Save Our Kids 2010
CE Cover: Advanced Degrees
Employer Profiles
AE Members On the Move
Advertisers Index

NSBE - Convention 2010