Alumni Magazine - Summer 2008 - (Page 70) PA C E S E T T E R S “I can honestly say there is nothing more satisfying than serving the people of the United States.” secretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, Young advises the secretary and deputy secretary of Defense on all matters relating to the Department of Defense Acquisition System. His weighty portfolio embraces research and development; advanced technology; developmental test and evaluation; production; logistics; installation management; military construction; procurement; environmental security; and nuclear, chemical and biological matters. Young told his audience that most people come to government with backgrounds in political science, public policy, law, humanities and political campaigns. And while their contributions to policy and decision making are important, a critical perspective is often missing. Policymaking would be optimized “if scientists and engineers, with their unique technical training and perspective, are guiding America’s decisions and policies in an era where technology is a major factor in our economy, security, international relations and daily lives,” he said. “In big and small ways,” he continued, “engineers and scientists need to participate in the government process to ensure programs are well managed, to ensure solid technical insights are brought to bear on problem solving and to ensure the nation’s policies foster development of technology and technical talent.” He cited an example from the Iraq war of the effectiveness of an engineering approach to problems. It involved the U.S. troops’ reliance on Humvees, which left them vulnerable to deadly attacks from improvised explosive devices planted along the roadside. The solution, according to Young, has been the rapid purchase and deployment of mine-resistant, ambushprotected vehicles, or MRAPs. The $24 billion program is on a scale not seen since World War II. Production of MRAPs rose from dozens a month to more than 1,000 per month by December of last year, to 1,200 a month by March, and “we are maintaining that pace.” In addition, “we took steps to ensure there was sufficient tire and steel production to support this program,” along with a spare parts supply chain and the necessary training in MRAP operation and maintenance. “Most important of all,” he added, “we took steps to save the lives of people who volunteered to give their lives for America’s security.” Following his remarks, Young was presented with a presidential citation in recognition of distinguished service by Tech President Wayne Clough. The award was all the more meaningful for Young because the seed for public service sprouted while he was a student at Tech. He had long been interested in all things aeronautical, particularly advanced fighter jets and missiles, and toyed with the idea of one day working in Washington. When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor spoke on campus in 1985 as part of the Institute’s centennial lecture series, Young was in the audience. “She urged us to get involved not just in engineering the systems that the nation needs but to get involved in the policy aspects of those systems — and that resonated with me.” Young spent a quarter in Washington, D.C., as an intern to Sen. Sam Nunn, Cls 60, and “that further got the idea of public service in my blood,” he says. “I decided to combine my interest in engineering with a desire to be part of the public policy process from a technical point of view.” As a co-op student, Young worked for General Dynamics, now Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was involved primarily in the F-16 program and advanced fighter technology efforts. It was during one of his work quarters that Young met his future wife. “Barbara was a student at Texas Christian, and we met out there and dated,” he says. The relationship persevered during Young’s on-campus quarters, aided no doubt by the packages of cookies and other treats she sent to Young’s Georgia Tech mailbox. “She was really great about doing that,” he says. The couple married after Young graduated from Tech. They are the parents of two teenage sons, Nathan and William, and an 11-year-old daughter, Kathryn. Following a stint at BDM Corp. in Huntsville, Ala., Young received a full scholarship to Stanford University, where he received a master’s in aeronautics and astronautics in 1987. Young credits his Tech experience with both his admission and the financial award. “I think Stanford respected the work experience I got as a co-op,” he says, “and they also respect a Georgia Tech education.” Young returned to Georgia to join the technical staff at Rockwell Missile Systems in 70 Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine • Summer 2008
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.