DAHLGREN, Va. –
Virginia Tech graduates more than 400 mechanical engineering students every year. The major's program requires each student to complete a capstone project during their senior year. Much like real life, the project is completed in teams as students solve real-world problems while facing practical issues such as budget, design deadlines and risk assessments.
The capstone project culminates in the Senior Design Expo, where the students present their finished products to be judged by a panel of experts. This year, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) sent Kevin Cogley, high power microwave weapon systems division head, and Alan Overby, high power microwave effects and modeling and simulations branch head, to serve as judges. For NSWCDD, this was another opportunity to strengthen longstanding relationships with organizations like Virginia Tech. Through this event, our engineers witnessed the innovative thinking of this new generation of mechanical engineers while getting the chance to promote the work that happens at NSWCDD.
"What impressed me the most was the creativity in the student teams' solutions," said Cogley, a Tech alumnus. "That's the exciting part. Seeing how students from varying backgrounds and experiences successfully tackle a problem with a unique solution."
Cogley wants to see NSWCDD become more involved at Virginia Tech. "The opportunities are exciting. Hopefully, we can continue to find ways to increase our engagement in the coming years.