Pursuing Your Passion is the Key to Success: Following Al Krejmas

Al Krejmas' fondest memories over his 30-plus years as a self-proclaimed propulsion "tester" involve flying high-angle of attack conditions in a Boeing 747 over Edwards Air Force Base with Pratt & Whitney's JT9D engines during inlet distortion testing.

"I had so much fun enjoying the associated zero gravity conditions that simulated weightlessness in the cockpit," he said. "As the test conductor, I'd use my pencil as a 'G-Force' meter. When it floated off my fingertips, I knew that we were at slightly negative-G and had achieved the desired test condition."

Krejmas' career has allowed him to fulfill a lifelong passion for propulsion and propulsion system testing. What began as a strong interest in motorcycle racing as a young man led him to a 26-year career in flight test before joining Pratt & Whitney in 2010.

Krejmas has always been intrigued by propulsion technology and the "jet age," beginning with gazing at 747 airliner contrails above his childhood home in western Massachusetts. His experiences naturally led him towards the math and sciences. After an athletic injury ended his chances of attending the U.S. Air Force Academy to become a pilot, Krejmas changed paths and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to pursue aeronautical engineering.

His early life experiences and propulsion system background are the driving force behind Krejmas' passion and success as a senior fellow discipline lead. "I've always advocated testing products in the flight environment and to the corners of the intended flight envelope to demonstrate product robustness," he said. "Many times I've personally found issues with jet engines that were discovered during flight test that had not presented themselves during ground testing. Thorough testing is critical because it establishes our products' true capabilities and exposes issues and learnings well in advance of our customers finding them.

Krejmas' career advice to young engineers is simply to follow their passion. "Doing what you love will allow you the most future success," he said. He also advises new engineers to take full advantage of Pratt & Whitney's Engineering Development Program and to work in several different areas during their first two years of employment, after which they can better choose the area they enjoyed the most.