Cybersecurity-CTA
Info Card - Climate and Power
Info Card - Cyber
Joan Wada, BS ’85, Electrical Engineering
Systems Engineer and Technical Fellow, Boeing Co.
Submarine warfare, competitive figure skating and unicycle musicianship are all part of Joan Wada’s story. Growing up in Gardena, she played the clarinet – sometimes while riding a one-wheeled cycle.
She chose a UC because she wanted to stay near family. “It was a small, but reputable UC school, where I thought I would not get lost in the crowd,” Wada says. “It offered the opportunity for more personal interactions with professors and other students. It was all I thought it would be and more!”
Wada knew she was good at math and science at a young age, but she hadn’t realized engineering was an option until high school when she began applying to colleges. After graduating from a UC with a degree in electrical engineering, she joined Rockwell International’s defense and aerospace arm (now owned by Boeing Co.) where she has worked on Minuteman III missiles, satellites and currently, sonar training equipment for P-8A anti-submarine aircraft pilots. She has 17 patents for innovative instruments in the area of guidance and control, and autopilot subsystems.
Most of Wada’s challenges on the job involve dealing with contracts, funding and work scope. “Once that is worked out, the reward comes when the product is finally delivered to the customer,” she says. “That represents a team accomplishment that marks how we overcame technical challenges and worked closely with our customer to provide a product with superior performance, now and in future years.”
The Chinese Institute of Engineers named Wada Asian American Engineer of 2007, and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers recently honored her with a career achievement award. During her off hours, Wada glides around ice rinks, participating in various adult ice skating competitions.