Alumni

AE Alumni Awards

Where Are They Now?

Our graduates are employed in world-class companies, government agencies and engineering services.  They work in aerospace design, aerodynamics, navigation, thermal protection, flight testing, stress analysis and so much more.

Click on their photos to learn more about our alumni's career trajectories and get their perspective on how to succeed in AE:

Photo Name Current Position Program/Grad Year
Denise Lainez

Denise Lainez

Mechanical Engineer,
Lockheed Martin Space

B.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU (2019)

Ali Guarneros Luna

Ali Guarneros Luna

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Program Manager,
NASA Ames Research Center

B.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU

Sara Ortega

Sarah Ortega

Systems Engineer, Lockheed Martin Space

B.S. Mathematics, SJSU
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU (2018)

Seruvizhi Maharajan

Seruvizhi Maharajan

Product Development Engineer, US Steel

B.S. Electronics and Communication Engineering, Anna University, India
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU

Arash Alex Mazhari

Arash Alex Mazhari

Manager, SpaceShop Rapid Prototyping Facility, NASA Ames Research Center

B.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU
Ph.D. Computer Engineering, UC Santa Cruz
(Expected 2021)

Aaron Mazzulla

Aaron Mazzulla

Systems Engineer, NASA Ames Research Center

B.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU

Anima Patil-Sabale

Anima Patil-Sabale

Scientist-Astronaut Candidate, (Commercial Space 
Projects), Software and Aerospace Engineer

B.S. Physics, North Maharashtra University, India
M.S. Computer Applications, North Maharashtra University, India
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU

Tara Samuels

Tara Samuels

Aerospace Engineer, NASA Ames Research Center

M.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), SJSU
Ph.D., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
(Expected 2022)

Miki Sode

Miki Sode

Commercial Innovation Manager

International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory/Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS)

B.A. Physics with Astrophysics minor emphasis, University of California (UC) at Berkeley

M.S. Aerospace Engineering, San Jose State University (SJSU)

Ph.D. Bioengineering, UC Berkeley & San Francisco Joint Graduate Program

Jay Westerwelle

Jay Westerwelle

Mission Operations Manager, Space Systems Loral (SSL)

A.S. Computer Aided Drafting & Design, ITT Technical Institute
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, SJSU


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