<![CDATA[Alexandra J. Forsythe - Blog]]>Mon, 04 May 2026 13:03:39 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[May the Fourth be with you. Always!]]>Mon, 04 May 2026 12:05:33 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/may-the-fourth-be-with-you-always
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Happy May the 4th! May the Fourth be with you. Always.
Today I’m celebrating with two fully-functional, movie-accurate droids I designed and built entirely from the ground up: a screen-accurate, fully-functional R2-D2 and a Mouse Droid.
These were challenging, long-term projects, but incredibly rewarding. Bringing these iconic Star Wars creations to life using engineering, fabrication, and problem-solving skills were some of my favorite builds to date.
If you enjoy seeing the design process, technical challenges, and final results behind projects like these, I’d love for you to check out my engineering YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@AlexandraForsythe
]]><![CDATA[My Master's Thesis is Done!]]>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:59:58 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/my-masters-thesis-is-done
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Thrilled to share a major milestone: my thesis has been officially approved! 🎉

After months of in-depth research, multiple rounds of revisions, countless late nights, and numerous presentations, the committee has given it the green light.

This journey has been challenging yet incredibly rewarding, teaching me resilience, critical thinking, and the value of perseverance.

A huge thank you to my advisors, committee members, peers, and family for their unwavering support.

Onward to the next chapter! 🚀
]]><![CDATA[The NOVA Award!]]>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/the-nova-award
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The NOVA Award! The NOVA is Lockheed Martin's highest honor, presented annually to individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the corporation's mission. Less than 0.5% of Lockheed's employees have received the honor. The NOVA for Technical Innovation is awarded to those who demonstrate exceptional technical skills and innovation in their respective fields. My team and I received the NOVA for Technical Innovation after designing, building, and delivering advanced hardware prototypes, exceeding customer requirements and delivering mission-critical, next-generation capabilities. To say that I feel honored and grateful is an understatement!
]]><![CDATA[Lifelong Learning: Growing as an Electrical Engineer and Beyond]]>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:59:23 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/lifelong-learning-growing-as-an-electrical-engineer-and-beyond
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In a world where technology evolves daily, it is critical for engineers to have lifelong learning as a mindset, not just as a professional requirement.

As an electrical engineer, I thrive on solving complex problems and designing innovative solutions. But what keeps me energized is my commitment to expanding my skillset every day, both on the job and in my personal life.

On the job, I tackle new challenges that demand creative solutions, and this continuous learning keeps me sharp and adaptable in a rapidly evolving field. In the evenings, I’m pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering, which pushes me to stay ahead of emerging technologies and refine my expertise.

Beyond my career, I’m passionate about learning new skills through my hobbies, home improvement projects, and car maintenance. These activities aren’t just fun or cost-saving; they keep my mind sharp and my life vibrant.

For example, last weekend I rolled up my sleeves and replaced the brakes and brake light on my R50 MINI Cooper. It was a rewarding challenge that added more tools to my skills toolbox.

I also think it’s important to share knowledge whenever possible, whether I’m speaking to the next generation of engineers at colleges and high schools, or taking on a mentee at work. A few years ago, I even created a light-hearted instructional video about the unique oil change procedures for my MINI Cooper, which you can view on one of my YouTube channels (https://www.youtube.com/@AlexandraForsythe). Sharing knowledge helps me stay engaged and connected with others who love learning.

For me, growth is a lifelong journey. Whether I’m mastering new concepts in electrical engineering or tackling a DIY project, I’m driven to keep learning, evolving, and embracing new challenges, both in my profession and beyond.

In engineering and in life, lifelong learning isn’t optional: it’s essential.
]]><![CDATA[International Women in Engineering Day]]>Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:51:59 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/international-women-in-engineering-day
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Being asked to mentor or speak to future engineers is one of the greatest privileges of my professional life. I never take it for granted. 

Every time I meet with engineering students, I'm reminded of how much promise the future holds. Their questions are thoughtful, their enthusiasm is contagious, and their ideas are inspiring - there is passion in their eyes and boldness in their visions. The conversations take me back to the spark that first drew me to engineering, and they reaffirm every reason why I still love this field. Every day is a new, exciting adventure. I get to solve meaningful problems, work alongside brilliant minds, help create next-generation technology, and best of all, I keep learning every single day. I truly wouldn't trade this path for anything. I have the best job in the world!

Today, I'm not only celebrating the next generation of engineers, but also those who came before me. I owe so much to all the men and women who have taken the time to mentor, guide, and encourage me along the way. Their support made all the difference, and I truly wouldn't be where I am today without them. I carry their impact with me every day, and I hope to offer the same level of encouragement to rising engineers that I received (and continue to receive).

The legacy of past engineers is nothing short of extraordinary, and the path ahead is filled with possibility.
]]><![CDATA[A New Chapter]]>Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:29:30 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/a-new-chapter
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I have an announcement: I'm embarking on a new, exciting chapter in my life! 

I was approached with a once-in-a-lifetime offer: the opportunity to become a research engineer for a national advanced technology lab. I'll be helping to develop new solutions in wide-ranging areas such as energy and power, artificial intelligence, robotics, human-machine symbiosis, hypersonics, spectrum operations, and cyber. This role will provide a new challenge each and every day. It will allow me to utilize my full skillset, expand my horizons, expose me to new mindsets, and encourage me to grow both personally and professionally.

The chance to work in the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories is the stuff dreams are made of, working on generation-after-next technology - things that have never been imagined before - in an entrepreneurial research environment supported by the national labs, academia, and multibillion-dollar global organizations. I'm one of the youngest members of the team, so I'll be surrounded by seasoned experts in almost every discipline of engineering. This will give me the chance to learn and grow within my own field and beyond. 

I never intended to leave Intel; Intel is like family to me. I am incredibly grateful for their support and for the valuable experiences and knowledge I have gained over the years. It has been an honor working alongside such talented individuals, and as I move forward I carry with me the lessons learned and the strong relationships forged. 

While it is bittersweet to bid farewell to Intel, it's time for me to embark on this new chapter in my career, and I couldn't be more thrilled about the incredible opportunities that lie ahead! Working outside the box, doing something different every single day, and contributing to a wide variety of groundbreaking research and development projects will turn every workday into an exciting adventure. 

Here's to new adventures, and to pushing the boundaries of innovation!
]]><![CDATA[Engineering Innovation Challenge]]>Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/engineering-innovation-challenge
As the International Women in Engineering Day approaches, I find myself thinking back to the most impactful experiences I had while I was an undergraduate student studying electrical and computer engineering. I particularly enjoyed the Innovation Challenge which allowed me to combine my engineering expertise with new skills in business planning and marketing. Learning those skills allowed me to become more well-rounded and to better understand the business perspective of my future employers.
]]><![CDATA[Staying young!]]>Tue, 11 Apr 2023 15:19:11 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/staying-young
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What's not to love about blacksmithing? Fire! Sledge hammers! Fun people!

I love learning new skills, regardless whether those skills are work-related or just for fun. On-the-job-training and formal classes toward my master's degree in electrical engineering are important to me, but I believe it is equally important to learn car and home maintenance, and to continually learn new hobbies and skills like blacksmithing, glass-blowing, welding, felting, and crocheting. Adding in different sports like curling helps to round things out. 

The excitement of learning new things makes me feel alive and gives me the feeling that I am constantly moving forward, while the challenge of learning each new skill forces me to keep my mind open to different ways of thinking and problem solving. All of this combines to help me be a better engineer and a happier person.

When people ask me what I do, I know they're asking about my professions: System-on-chip Design Engineer and adjunct professor. But the real answer to their question is far more complicated than that, and my goal is to make sure it remains complicated for the rest of my life. I plan to continue to expand my world by trying new things.

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." - Henry Ford

Staying young sounds pretty good to me!
]]><![CDATA[Team Building!]]>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 20:16:07 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/team-building
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I got together with Intel colleagues for a fun team building event. We did some indoor rock climbing, then we had a scrumptious dinner afterward. It was so much fun! Events like this encourage cohesiveness and create a sense of belonging. I love my job and I love my team! 
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]]><![CDATA[Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day]]>Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.alexandraforsythe.com/blog/introduce-a-girl-to-engineering-day
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It's "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" - my favorite part of National Engineer's Week! This year's theme is "Creating the Future".

Creating the future is the hallmark of what engineers do, and every single day I feel fortunate that I am in this profession. Not only do I get to help create the next generation of Intel products, but I am also lucky enough to teach the next generation of engineers.

When I think about my students, I am confident that tomorrow's engineers will create a brighter future for all of us. However, I would like to see more women among the ranks. Check out these sobering numbers:

In the United States, only 14% of engineers are women.
Only 18% of tenure-track engineering faculty are women.
Only 9% of electrical, electronic, or computer hardware engineers are women.
Of 15-year old girls, only 6% want to pursue a career in engineering.
While in college, over 32% of women switch out of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degree programs.
Among 25- to 34-year-old women with a bachelor's degree in STEM, about 70% are employed in non-STEM occupations.
Just 20 years after graduation, only 30% of women with a bachelor's degree in engineering are still working as engineers.

Those numbers are not particularly encouraging, but they can change. One role model or one moment can make all the difference in each girl's life. It can change a girl's perception of engineering, give her a sense of belonging, boost her self-esteem, and alter the course of her career.

Today, on "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day", I encourage each of you to take some time out of your day and make a difference in the life of a young girl. Just one moment or one word could change the course of her life, and she will go on to create a brighter future, not only for herself, but for all humankind.
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