The 787 Dreamliner: Karen Brack's Dream Job
October 31, 2008
If you have the opportunity to fly in one of Boeing’s brand-new $200 million 787 Dreamliners, you can thank LSU graduate Karen Brack (1984, BS, EE) for making it a safer and more enjoyable flight.
Brack works for Honeywell, a Fortune 500 company with a workforce of more than 100,000. Honeywell was selected to provide the Flight Control Electronics package including autopilot for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. She began working for Honeywell in 1997. Her current title is ASIC Technical Manager (ASIC means Application-Specific Integrated Circuit).
“My role has been the project leader of a ten-member team for the development of the programmable, electronic hardware components for the Flight Controls Electronics on the aircraft. I’m using my Electrical Engineering degree in the areas of digital electronic design, semiconductors and computer engineering,” Brack said.
Speaking of her latest project, the 787, Brack cited, “The 787-8 Dreamliner will carry 210-250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles while the 787-3 will accommodate 290-330 passengers and be optimized for routes of 2,500 to 3,050 nautical miles.”
She pointed out, “The 787 will provide airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size. It will fly at speeds up to Mach .85 (560 miles per hour).”
Brack is a member of the Advisory Board for the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at LSU and is president of the San Diego LSU Alumni Association Chapter.
When asked what interested her to pursue this field, she replied, “I had a very strong math and science background before I got to college. My Junior Division counselor suggested three ways I should consider going: Computer Science, Quantitative Business Analysis or Electrical Engineering. I chose EE. My primary mentor at LSU was Dr. Ralph Kinney, now retired.”
Karen Brack will be speaking on campus at the Manship School of Mass Communication in the Holliday Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7pm. Karen will be featured with three other alumni to speak on her job-related experience. The event is free, and all alumni, faculty and students are welcome. In addition, Karen Brack will be visiting the Introduction to Engineering (Eng 1050) and Circuits I (EE 2120) classes.
Please go to http://www.homecoming.lsu.edu/ for additional Homecoming event information.
Excerpt taken from Fall 2008 LSU Alumni Magazine by Ray Dry.-30-
