Hi Khristian, it’s so nice to meet you! Please introduce yourself to our readers.
KJ: Hello! I am Khristian Jones. I am an Aerospace engineer by trade and my first love was space however, I am currently an Interiors Engineer forBoeing 737 aircraft at United Airlines. Previously, I was a Material Test Engineer at Virgin Galactic. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University.
As I mentioned, space was my first love, and I always knew that I wanted to be an astronaut from the time that I knew what space was. I had an aspiration to go! I have always been curious by and fascinated with the vastness of space and what being in space meant. STEM is my passion and I have always wanted to be part of the STEM community and share how amazingly cool it is! I was very good at math and science however, I had no real clue of what engineering was, and what all came with being an engineer.
When I was in eighth grade, I was charged with telling my teacher what I wanted to be when I grew up and I had to lean on Google. When I put in “I am good at math and science and I love space, what should I be when I grow up?” Dr. Google then came back with Aerospace Engineering, and ever since then I structured my classes all the way up through my college degree to become an aerospace engineer. I did not have personal mentors growing up that inspired me to be a part of a STEM major, but I was greatly inspired by Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut in space.
What does a typical day look like for role an Interiors Engineer and what are the key aspects of designing and maintaining interiors for aircraft? How does this role contribute to the overall passenger experience?
KJ: The typical day to day responsibilities of an Interiors Engineer at United Airlines can be quite diverse. I am tasked with in-service issues (airplanes that are currently flying), reliability issues, as well as fleet improvement projects. For example, if an aircraft goes out of service due to an interior issue, it is the job of the interiors engineering focal to work with maintenance to come up with a safe solution to solve the broken part or mechanism to get the plane back in service as quickly and safely as possible.
The crucial elements in aircraft interior design and upkeep are safety, compliance, and customer comfort. When flying with an airline, the top priority is ensuring passenger comfort. In my current position as the Boeing 737 interiors focal, I am involved in supporting cabin upgrades across our fleet. Safety and compliance take precedence in any cabin upgrade project, with customer comfort being a close second. As interior engineers, we play a vital role as we are directly linked to customer experience every time they travel.
Within the interiors domain, we handle seats, galleys, lavatories, overhead bins, and emergency equipment, among others. At United, a leading global airline, providing customers with a personalized and pleasant journey is paramount. A rewarding aspect of my role as an Interiors Engineer is knowing that the work I do is appreciated by passengers daily. It’s a great feeling to receive positive feedback following the introduction of a new cabin interior.
You serve as the co-founder and executive team member of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship (PGSF). What is the mission and purpose of this fellowship? Looking ahead, what specific goals or initiatives do you hope the PGSF will achieve in supporting young, Black, aspiring space enthusiasts?
KJ: As one of the co-founders and executive team members of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship (PGSF), it is very important to me to support the growth and success of young, black, aspiring space enthusiasts. The PGSF aims to aid in the closing of the racial disparities that have presented themselves in the aerospace industry. The fellowship does this by pairing black college students that are interested in Aerospace with some of the top aerospace companies in the country. One of the biggest issues for students in Aerospace is that people that look like them are seemingly few and far between, and it is very hard sometimes to find role models and mentors.
Through PGSF, in addition to the summer internship, we pair our students with an executive mentor who has been in the Aerospace industry for years, and also a peer mentor who is another alumni of the program who has been through it and can share their experiences. This helps to guide fellows on how to best get the most out of your fellowship experience. Looking ahead, one of the biggest goals for the PGSF is to continue to spread the word about the amazing work that Patti Grace Smith did in her lifetime, as well as continue to nurture the next generation of Black space enthusiasts.
PGSF has many goals to continue to grow its organization to reach students in all 50 states and US territories. The hope is to continue to inspire change in the aerospace industry and encourage industry companies to strengthen their recruitment and inclusion strategies to hopefully one day close the racial disparity gap and create an equitable and inclusive industry for all. #SpaceForAll
You’ve been vocal about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the STEM industry. What initiatives or changes would you like to see implemented across the aerospace/aviation sectors to foster greater diversity and representation?
KJ: Where the aerospace industry seems to lack is the drive to continue to find value in diversity outside of times where there is social unrest in the country. I would like to see aerospace and aviation companies to have recruitment AND retention programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. Many companies stop short at getting diverse talent and do not have the systems in place to nurture the growth.
Can you share a success story or a memorable moment from your non-profit initiative, highlighting the positive impact it has had on a student’s life or their career trajectory?
KJ: Many success stories come to my mind. It is quite hard to pick just one. My heart is filled with joy when I see students go from a dream or passion of working for some of the top aerospace companies in the country to actually working there and having a successful internship. The fellowship provides students with mentorship, a cash grant, and an internship at one of the top aerospace companies. Many students start with PGSF having little experience in the industry and walk away with full time job offers from companies like Blue Origin, SpaceX, and NASA to name a few. Most of all, I believe the fellowship sets students up with a community of students and mentors that look like them and have similar lived experiences which helps to provide support during trying times during career journeys.
“I use my experiences and privilege to advocate for not just bringing in “diverse” talent, but providing programs that will set talent up for success.”
What advice would you give to a female who aspires to have a career in the aerospace industry?
KJ: The best advice I could give to a female aspiring to have a career in aerospace is learn to stop being your hardest critic. A lot of times as women in male dominated spaces, we feel the pressure to be perfect and not make mistakes. Mistakes and failures are part of learning and growth. It is important to stand in your truth and advocate for yourself whenever you can.
What’s next for you and how can our readers connect with you outside of this interview?
KJ: I have always had an undying loved for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). My hope is to continue to speak and advocate for JEDI and share the importance of the pipeline into STEM professions. Although I am in an aviation role right now, my heart is never far from my love of space. I can be reached on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/khristiantjones
A graduate of the Wichita State University Aerospace Engineering program, Khristian Jones is an Interiors Engineer at United Airlines tasked with managing the Boeing 737 fleet. Khristian has always had a passion for STEM. She now spends her time outside of her nine-to-five serving as an executive member of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, a non-profit organization she co-founded in 2021. The fellowship aims to provide a meaningful, effective pathway into successful aerospace careers and future aerospace industry leadership to people whose race and ethnicity have made them the subject of systemic bias.
Cover Photo Credit: Amanda Evans Photography
Patti Grace Smith Fellowship: https://www.pgsfellowship.org/
