Ryan Udell

About Ryan Udell

Ryan Udell is a Technical Program Manager at Boeing supporting the development of execution strategies and program management excellence across Boeing Technology Innovation.Previously, he was a Systems Engineer in the Boeing Satellite Systems Engineering Rotation Program as a Mission Systems Engineer in the Experimental Systems Group and the Chief of Staff to the Space Intelligence & Weapon Systems Functional Integration Chief Engineer. Previously, he engaged with the Core Stage and Exploration Upper Stage design, electrical, and propulsion teams for NASA\'s Space Launch System rocket to once again take humans to the Moon and onto Mars. Additionally, Ryan was a Mechanical Design Engineering and a Project Management and Engineering Intern for two summers, as well as continuing to work part time during his studies supporting numerous International Space Station (ISS) projects. Ryan\'s primary interests lie in Commercial Spacecraft, Advanced Space Exploration, and Human Spaceflight. Ryan graduated with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, with an emphasis on optimization, artificial intelligence, and decision making from Stanford University. He graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Leadership Certificate. Ryan has been recognized by Rice University\'s George R. Brown School of Engineering as the most outstanding leader in the School of Engineering. Ryan is a Founding Partner of the Zed Factor Fellowship, an internship and community outreach program, dedicated to empowering underrepresented students to excel in the aerospace industry. In its initial year, this program was able to place 23 fellows at 12 aerospace companies. Also, Ryan previously served as the External Affairs Director at SEDS-USA formulating dozens of partnerships with a total cumulative value that could pass President of Rice’s chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), he founded the annual Owls in Space Symposium in Houston which brought together over 45 space industry professionals, including the NASA Administrator and several astronauts, along with 200+ students attending. Under Ryan\'s leadership, the SEDS Rice chapter started a CubeSat development team in 2019, which was selected in NASA\'s 11th CubeSat Launch Initiative. At Rice, Ryan also designed and tested hybrid rocket engines and solid motor launch vehicles. Ryan Udell was also selected to Aviation Week Network\'s 20 Twenties Class of 2021 and is a 2024 Future Space Leader Fellow.

Experience

1. Founding Partner

   Zed Factor Fellowship

   Jun 2020 — Present

   The Zed Factor Fellowship is an internship and community outreach program dedicated to empowering and engaging learners and aspiring aerospace professionals from historically excluded communities through hands-on, practical experiences working in and contributing to the leading companies of the aerospace community. Visit https://zedfactorfellowship.org/ to learn more.

Education

• Rice University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Mechanical Engineering

  2017 — 2021

• Stanford University

  Master of Science - MS, Electrical Engineering

  2022 — 2024