Vanessa Koutroupas is the IEEE's 2006 New Face of Engineering

by Helen M. Hall

Vanessa Koutroupas, an outstanding project manager and process leader, is IEEE/IEEE-USA's New Face of Engineering for 2006.

Koutroupas is IEEE/IEEE-USA's third winner, and first female recipient. Her bio and photo appeared in a USA Today full-page ad on 15 February, just prior to the start of Engineers Week (EWeek), 19-25 February 2006.

Koutroupas is a principal engineer for General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, in Bloomington, Minnesota, serving as a reliability expert in designing integrated computer systems for the U.S. Army Future Combat Systems. The systems will be used on new manned and unmanned ground and air vehicles currently being designed by U.S. companies. Within six months at General Dynamics, Koutroupas received a STAR Award for exemplary teamwork and outstanding performance. Her supervisor, Skip Wakeman, nominated her for New Faces, saying, "Vanessa is very deserving of this award. She has a can-do attitude, which is hard to find these days, and has very quickly made her mark within the company."

The EWeek New Faces of Engineering program highlights the interesting and unique work of young engineers and the resulting impact on society. Engineers under the age of 30, and two to five years out of school, are the focus of this recognition program. Koutroupas was chosen by an ad hoc IEEE group that included: Terry Malkinson of Calgary (Canada), an international correspondent for IEEE-USA Today's Engineer Online; Lee Stogner of Taylors, S.C., IEEE-USA's former EWeek Steering Committee representative; and Kiki Ikossi of Alexandria, Va., a former treasurer of the IEEE Washington Section and founding member of the IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Washington Area Affinity Group.

After earning her undergraduate degree at age 20, Koutroupas joined Lockheed Martin as a reliability engineer. Within a year, she earned a patent for software used in reliability analysis, authored Sampling Inspection Guidebook, and co-published Life Tests: Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck. She received certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt, a set of tools and methodology used to eliminate waste for processors that results in cost savings and provide customer value. She spearheaded the creation of a new program to drive lean manufacturing into the supply base. She conducted Six Sigma training courses at 15 suppliers, including "Lean Leadership" for senior executives, as well as Green Belt training for personnel. Koutroupas also led team projects that claimed more than $1 million in cost savings within the first year.

Koutroupas was later promoted to production program manager for a $6 million aircraft contract. Her demonstrated abilities to lead an effective cross-functional team and meet contract delivery schedules won her a Mission Success Award.

When Today's Engineer asked where she sees herself in five years, she said, "I want to stay with Six Sigma; it is a hot topic in all companies. I really want to continue with what I'm doing now."

Koutroupas said she became interested in engineering as a career as a junior in high school, when she took calculus and trigonometry courses at the University of Minnesota. "I did very well," she said, "and that's when my interest began." She earned her B.S. degree in operations research and industrial engineering from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.; and a B.A. in management engineering from Claremont (Calif.) McKenna College.

Koutroupas was a member of her college soccer team and still gets together with friends for a game. She also enjoys preparing exotic Greek dishes for friends and family, and is an avid runner. Her community outreach includes leading a variety of enrichment programs at church, where she is a long-time member.

Helen Hall is communications assistant at IEEE-USA in Washington, D.C. Comments may be submitted to todaysengineer@ieee.org.