“A background in both science and engineering is invaluable as a systems engineer: you need to be able to speak the language of both camps, training as both, and doing whatever you can to ‘straddle the fence’. Learn to understand the desires of science (and how it can sometimes be fuzzy) and the limitations of engineering (and how it doesn’t permit any fuzziness) and how to find a harmony between the two.
“In recent years, great strides have been made in gay rights and in the visibility of LGBT people. From Barney Frank to Michael Sam to Ellen DeGeneres — there are numerous examples for LGBT people to look up to. But I think most people outside the field would be hard pressed to name a living scientist or engineer … much less one who identifies as gay. While being gay has never impacted my opportunities for employment, my ability to do my job, or my relationship with my colleagues, it is an important part of who I am. I have to actively work against its invisibility. I want my colleagues to know —perhaps one of them has a family member who is struggling to come to terms with their sexuality. I want to be available as a resource and as a friend. I also want the public to know — perhaps an LGBT youth aspiring to a career in science or engineering might have me to hold up as an example.”
— Troy Hudson, Instrument System Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory