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.
Additional panelists to be announced.