Journal Contributor Mike Poliszuk writes:
I was born in Baltimore, MD and received my BS in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1981. I earned Master of Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1991. While my interest in the space program began early and has continued until today, I have worked my whole career for the Department of the Navy (since NASA hasn't been hiring much over the last several years!)
I began my career in 1982 at the Naval Aviation Depot at Cherry Point, NC,
working as a structural engineer supporting the H-46 helicopter program. In 1984
I began working on the V-22 Osprey program (that's one behind me in the picture),
developing structural repair designs for the composite structures of the
aircraft. In 1993 I had the unique opportunity to move to the Boeing Helicopter
Company as a government member of the team that designed the production version
of the Osprey, remaining there until 1998. I am currently working for the Naval
Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD, in the Program Office for the F/A-18
Hornet fighter jet. There, I am a Systems Engineer responsible for engineering
oversight of the Hornet's structural and mechanical systems.
My love for the space program began in the second grade, when I saw photos of the Apollo 7 splashdown in the newspaper. I avidly watched and followed all the Apollo flights, and have read as much as I could on the subject since then. I live in Waldorf, MD and my hobbies include reading, flying (though I admit my medical certification has lapsed) and scuba diving.