Chemical Engineering Overview - PowerPoint - Podcast

	B.S. - Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
	Chemical Engineer
	"I think the co-op is very important. I also think that even if you don't co-op, whether you do research or if you maybe go to a plant and visit, find out something about what you're going to be doing and make sure that it's what you want to do."

Morack: "The units I'm working on are cartridge actuated devices. They are units that are used in the aircrew escape systems in aircraft. We get the units in and then perform vibration, shock, temperature, humidity and altitude simulation, cycling, and then we fire the units as if they were actually being fired in the aircraft. Then we have to use data analysis on the results of that testing to make sure that these units will perform when they're needed. I do a lot of writing. Like this past week I've been writing specifications, performance specifications for these units."

Q: What are some of the specific responsibilities of your job?
Morack: It comes in different sequences. We start with the qualification testing. We get the units in and perform vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, and altitude simulation cycling, and then fire the units as if they were actually being fired in the aircraft, or whatever their use is. Then we have to use data analysis on the results of that testing to make sure that these units will perform when they're needed.

Q: How do you use chemical engineering in this work?
Morack: The job I do is more of a general engineer. I do more program management than chemical engineering. The engineering that I've gotten from my education is more towards the writing abilities, the problem solving. It gives me a better viewpoint on what I'm doing, like if I'm doing some testing and the results show this, I can say, `Well that's because of the chemicals that are in this unit.' I can relate it that way.

Q: Do you have a typical day here?
Morack: I do a lot of writing. This past week I've been writing specifications, performance specifications for some of the units I'm working with. Most of it is behind the desk. Very little is actually witnessing the testing. Most of it is documenting the testing.

Q: What process did you go through to get this job?
Morack: I have a friend who works at the shipyard for the Navy. The government has a system where you can go in and see vacancy announcements; she saw them and called me. Then I had to call this number to get the information so I could apply. Then they interviewed me for it.

Q: You work for the Navy but you're not enlisted?
Morack: No, I'm a civilian. The workforce at Indian Head is mostly civilian, I'd say 80 percent. In the building where I work, there are very few enlisted officers.

Q: What do you like about working for the Navy?
Morack: I'm a government employee. It's a very stable position. Even if something happens to my position, I could probably find another one on station or somewhere else for the government. I feel that this environment here at Indian Head allows me to perform to my fullest potential because there is supervision, but not so much that it's restricting.

Q: What college courses did you find to be most helpful, in terms of your work now?
Morack: I had a technical writing course that was very helpful. I had one course that was a design course-we designed a butane plant. You had semi-annual reports for the class that you had to give a presentation on and tell how far you are along. That was also helpful since you do a lot of report writing.

Q: Were you involved in any extracurricular activities?
Morack: I was involved in three fraternities. I was a sister at Alpha Gamma Delta and I was in Sigma Phi Iota, which is a music fraternity, and I was also a little sister of Alpha Chi Sigma, which is a chemistry fraternity.

Q: Were there any skills or experiences that you took from your extracurricular activities that you're able to use now?
Morack: Yes, from being in those fraternities I had a few leadership positions. I was treasurer at one, and it gave me experience working with other people in a team environment. That's very useful here.

Q: What about internships or co-op experience? Did you have any?
Morack: I didn't have any internships or co-ops but I wish I would have. I felt like a co-op when I first started working here at Indian Head because I had just come straight from school to go into the engineering environment. I spent a lot of that time learning the basics of working as an engineer.

Download Full Profile as PDF