When
Alumni Career Forum and Q&A
Friday, November 7, 2025, 2:30 p.m.
AME S212
Current undergraduate and graduate students are invited to the Alumni Career Forum and Q&A. The panel brings together students and alumni to explore career paths, industry insights and personal experiences in the engineering field.
Learn about the panelists' unique perspectives and professional journeys, then get suggestions for how to make the most of your studies while preparing for success beyond your degree.
Panelists
Bob Rutherford
Bob Rutherford is an independent defense aerospace consultant. His background includes over 40 years of engineering, business development, flight test and program management in both industry and the government.
Bob earned his BS in aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona in 1978 before embarking on a 30-year career in carrier-based naval aviation flying operational light attack and strike fighter aircraft worldwide. He has served as a senior leader in deployed naval combat operations, defense acquisition, and broad-spectrum aerospace systems development.
As a former Navy test pilot, Bob has flown extensive developmental and operational tests, particularly carrier suitability and weapons system integration. He is a graduate of the RAF Empire Test Pilot School.
After retiring from the Navy, Bob joined the private sector and worked in the defense aerospace industry for ten years, where his focus was on military unmanned aerial systems, air space integration and program management. He was extensively involved in Northrop Grumman’s Fire Scout, Triton, and X-47B UAS programs.
Bob remains active as a board member for several nonprofits and serves as a pro bono STEM tutor for local high school students in AP physics and calculus.
Hannah Budinoff
Hannah Budinoff is an assistant professor of systems and industrial engineering at the University of Arizona. She holds a PhD and MS in mechanical engineering from University of California, Berkeley and a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona. Her research interests include automated manufacturability analysis with a focus on additive manufacturing processes, design and development of CAD-based design support tools and engineering identity and design skill development. Hannah actively collaborates with government, academic and industry researchers supported by funding from a range of sources including National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology,and Department of Defense agencies. Hannah has also worked in engineering roles at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies and Arizona Public Service.
Anthony Mulligan
Anthony Mulligan is the founder and CEO of Hydronalix, a developer and manufacturer of small unmanned surface vehicles used by first responders, military, earth sciences and port security. He has founded 3 defense contractor technology companies since 1989, all of which achieved commercial successes, with one being acquired by a large DOD prime. Mulligan has been appointed and served on numerous community boards including the Pima County Work Force Development Board, the AZ MEP board, the Small Business Technology Coalition, the Small Manufacturers of Tucson, the University of Arizona College of Engineering Industrial Advisory Board serving one term as President with additional appointments on the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board and the Electrical and Computer Science Advisory Board and the Defense Science Board Task Force for Manufacturing. He was also the recipient of many awards including a 1996 and 2015 Tibbets Award, the 2011 Hall Of Fame Tibbet's Award, the University of Arizona Professional Achievement Award, the University of Arizona Thomas Hart Humanitarian Award, Popular Science Magazine Grand Invention of the Year Award 2010, Time Magazine #7 Best Inventions of 2010, 3 NASA Technical Achievement Awards, the Thomas R. Brown Outstanding Entrepreneur Award, the Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award and many others. Mulligan earned his BS degree from the University of Arizona in 1988.