Virginia Children’s Engineering Convention 2010
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Richard Boutwell, Manager of Training Services, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Dr. Boutwell’s 25 years of experience include leading the Central Design Group for curriculum development and workforce performance and organizational consulting. His professional interests range from STEM student development to continuous improvement analysis and evaluation, human learning strategies and enlightened management techniques.
He is responsible for curriculum development at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. He has a Masters Degree from the University of California in Educational Psychology and a Doctorate in Cognitive Psychology from Brigham Young University. He has been a professor at Bucknell University, University of Southern Illinois, George Washington, Old Dominion and Florida State Universities.
He is a member and Major Initiative Team Leader of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) and past Education Committee Chairman of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). He is the founder of SNAME’s Student Steering Committee and the founder and Faculty Advisor of the SNAME Student Congress, Apprentice School Student Section at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, and founder of The Apprentice School Boat Competition. He is a SNAME Fellow.
As a member of the Design Competition Team, Dr. Boutwell works as a mentor and helps guide the Team Leads with the many responsibilities of a project this size. His dream is to make this competition a national event.
Dr. Boutwell enjoys playing the guitar, singing folk music and staying in shape. He’s a Red Sox fan from Boston and an Official US Rowing Association Referee.
Susan Kilrain, NASA Astronaut & Space Shuttle Pilot
Susan Kilrain is a veteran of two space shuttle flights. She is one of only three women to ever pilot the shuttle. Her first mission to space was cut short due to a life-threatening systems failure. Her second mission lasted 16 days in space.
Susan is a graduate of the Naval Test Pilot School. She has flown over 30 different types of aircraft for more than 3000 hours. Most of her flight time was in the F-14 Tomcat, EA-6A Electric Intruder, and the TA-4J Skyhawk.
Susan is the recipient of the following military awards:
Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal
Other awards include: NASA Space Flight Medals, Ten Outstanding Young Americans, and DAR Good Scout Award.
Susan Kilrain is formerly Susan Still of Augusta, GA. She holds a Masters Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech. She is married to Captain Colin Kilrain, a Navy SEAL, of Braintree, MA. They currently live in Virginia Beach, VA with their four children.