It is rocket science

What’s more impressive on an engineer’s résumé than a stint at NASA?

With four successful co-op assignments at NASA under his belt, Reeve Ingle already boasts a pretty impressive list of qualifications as he approaches graduation this May.

In his four years at Georgia Institute of Technology, the electrical engineering major with a minor in Spanish has gained valuable experience working at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston and through an internship at the US Department of Defense in Ft. Meade, MD.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my co-op experience as a student at Georgia Tech,” said Ingle. “I feel like the research and various technical projects I have worked on have been an excellent supplement to my coursework and studies.”

Last month Ingle was named 2007 Student of the Year by the Cooperative Education Division of the American Society of Engineering Education (CED – ASEE) for his work co-op work at NASA.

In his four terms working at NASA, Ingle was involved with a number of projects. He worked developing an RF spectrum map for the SCOUT Project (NASA’s “moon-buggy” robot rover), developing electrical systems drawings for the International Space Station Japanese Experiment Module, and investigating methods of cleaning clothing in space. There was one project in particular, however, that Ingle singled out as his favorite.

“I particularly enjoyed working on the design of a dashboard display unit for the SCOUT rover,” said Ingle. “This unit displayed vehicle speed, distance traveled, battery voltage, temperature of electronics compartments on the rover, and emergency stop status.”

The level of participation he had on this project was one of the things that made it so beneficial for Ingle.

“One of the main things that appealed to me about this project was that it was a start-to-finish project that gave me experience with the entire design process, from preliminary research and design to development and testing,” said Ingle. “With the help of another intern, I researched the necessary components, designed the physical and electrical layouts, modeled the device in a CAD program, machined the casing in the machine shop, designed and soldered control boards and interface connectors, and tested the final product. It was a fun project that gave me experience with everything from circuit theory to hands-on development.”

While at NASA, Ingle also trained to be a back-room flight controller in Mission Control Center, wrote a technical report on space exploration research, which he presented at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Banquet in Spring 2005, and was the only co-op student selected to support NASA robotics field testing at Meteor Crater, AZ., in Fall 2006.

Ingle has served as a mentor for the NASA Explorer Schools Reduced Gravity Program and as a Texas Aerospace Scholars Volunteer Leader for a rover design program for college students.

Apart from his co-op work, Ingle, a Carrollton, GA. native, also serves as a dedicated member of his community. He received the 2003 Outstanding Service in Historical Preservation Award from the Carroll County Historical Society for design of the Carrollton Main Street Association Web site, served as a committee chair for Tech Beautification Day and the TEAM Buzz Volunteer Service Organization, and tutored students with disabilities through the Georgia Tech ADAPTS program.

Among the awards Ingle has received are the NASA-JSC Outstanding Co-op Award; Georgia Tech Outstanding ECE Sophomore; and inclusion in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program.

When he was not working for NASA, he has kept very busy on campus. He has been actively involved with Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Honor Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Christian Campus Fellowship and intramural sports. Additionally, he has volunteered as a host for Connect with Tech, a weekend for prospective students, conducts research and works as a teaching assistant.

I am currently working on a culminating design project with a team of senior ECE students, conducting undergraduate student research in an optics lab at Georgia Tech, and I am a teaching assistant for a Calculus II class at Tech,” said Ingle. 

But his work with NASA will continue after he graduates from Georgia Tech and looks to further his education.

“This summer, I will return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center for a co-op term in a Radio Frequency (RF) test and verification laboratory, and I will begin a PhD program in electrical engineering this fall.”