Meet Allie

During her time at South Alabama, she captured the attention of the Mechanical Engineering department chair, who extended her the opportunity of a potential internship at Airbus, “It caught my interest and I thought it would be a great opportunity, so I started the internship and interned for two years.” Allie told the Hub team. 

Her first stint (more on that later) at Airbus as an Intern saw her intricately involved with the A380 Linings Team, assuming a pivotal role in the development of a hinge for the catering door cover for Emirates. Tasked with the creation of hinge designs, she navigated the complexities of the project diligently and creatively. 

In the Navy

While she was in college, Allie also enlisted in the Navy, joining the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC). The program allows university students, as soon as they graduate college, to be commissioned as a Naval Officer, with the opportunity to become an instructor, Naval Reactors Engineer, Submarine Warfare Officer, or Surface Warfare Officer.

Allie was given orders to the naval base in Charleston, South Carolina, where she assumed the role of a nuclear power school instructor. There she delivered comprehensive instruction in two distinct subjects: physics and reactor principles. “[After the course], my students would get sent on to their next stop in the training pipeline, and then eventually were sent to operate the nuclear reactors on submarines and surface ships,” Allie commented.

The Navy taught her several key skills and lessons. 

It really propelled me in leadership, responsibility and teamwork in a very short timeframe [...] I thrived in the environment of good order and discipline and it was a really great experience.

After three years of service and attaining the rank of LTJG, she returned to Airbus Engineering.

Back to Airbus

After her time in the Navy, Allie rejoined Airbus as a Stress Engineer. Allie cherishes the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of individuals in her daily professional capacity, collaborating with both version engineers and the upgrades team. 

Her job as a stress engineer is to certify equipment for installation into the aircraft. This means that the equipment is structurally strong and does not exceed Airframe allowable limits, and that the equipment meets or exceeds the regulatory requirements.

In her current role, Allie primarily focuses on the stress topics related to the projects that are handled by the Mobile Upgrades team. Allie humbly acknowledges her ongoing journey within her team, emphasizing the abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth within her role. “I still have a lot to learn from my team members. There is still so much to grow into,” says Allie. 

Leadership and the importance of core values

Allie remembers a significant moment during her military career where a mentor provided her a thought-provoking message: “When you're a leader, ask yourself if you would want to work for you.” It's something she keeps in the back of her head at all times. She emphasized the importance of adapting to other leadership styles, and the importance of learning from others. 

When asked about the Airbus Values that resonate most with her at Airbus, Allie identified Respect and Teamwork. 

Teamwork/Trust and Respect are two foundations required for every relationship, both personal and professional. Coming from the military, respect and teamwork mean a lot to me. It is important to stay grounded and know that you always have something to gain by working together as a team, and you always have room for growth and improvement. It is really valuable to make the effort to work together; and this is something that we can all continue to improve on.

Allie was recently recognized for these tenets of her professional life when she received the Mobile Area Council of Engineers Aerospace Engineer of the Year award. “It’s a matter of showing up every day. Asking questions, staying curious, trying to do your best - I ask myself constantly, am I doing the best I can?” 

Home renovations: Allie style

Allie enjoys spending time with her husband, and her professional organization extends to her life at home, “I have a spreadsheet of all the home projects I have for the next five years. We just bought our house last April, and since moving in we’ve had a lot of projects around the house to keep us busy. As an example, this past year we replaced our front doors.” 

During our discussion, Allie elaborated that the quality control of her work fully extends to all of her home improvement projects as well… as with Allie’s work at Airbus, quality is everything.