Name: Ryan Clay

Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio

AAE Major/Minor Concentration: Propulsion / Dynamics & Control

Student Classification: Senior

Co-op or internship: Co-op

Name and location of company: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, GA

Job duties: My team does sustaining engineering work for the G450, G550, and G650 aircraft. We are responsible for the engines, ECS (environmental control system), fuel system, and APU (auxiliary power unit) and our job is to find solutions to problems that customers are experiencing.

Currently, I'm working on designing a fire test article. The fire test will be performed to ensure that a new component we've added between the engine apron and thrust reverser is compliant with FAA regulations. 

Why did you want to do this co-op/internship? This co-op with is a great opportunity for me to develop skills and gain experiences that I can't get at school. Gulfstream is the best in the world in business aviation, so it's a great place to start working and to learn from experienced mentors.

What do you hope to gain from this experience? I hope to further develop my problem solving skills and soak up as much as possible from my teammates. I also hope to learn more about what kind of role I want to be in later in my career as an engineer.

Have you done other co-ops/internships as an AAE student? I completed two work sessions at GE Appliances in Louisville, KY. During my first rotation, I worked on a dishwasher assembly line and managed production, quality, and employee safety. Next, I worked in a quality lab where we conducted reliability tests on laundry appliances.

In my first rotation with Gulfstream, I was working on the development of new test labs. My team did mechanical design work for all lab components and oversaw fabrication and installation. 

What are your ultimate career goals? My goal is to help expand our presence in outer space by getting humans to Mars and beyond.