Kwanghyun (Phil) Kwon chose mechanical engineering as his major because he wanted to be an automotive engineer. While working toward the automotive track, he was exposed to different aspects of other engineering which led him to fall in love with software and electronics. His various research and design projects gave him lots of options throughout the curriculum. Phil is from McLean, Virginia and currently a senior who plans to be an aerospace engineer, working on various platforms.
During his academic career at VT, Phil has certainly made the most of his time. He has been involved with VT motorsports Formula SAE 2012 team where he developed vehicle dynamics simulation for traction/launch control and eventually stability control. At the Vibrations and Acoustics Lab, Phil was involved with target motion analysis to the Homicidal Chauffeur Game which was presented during the 2011 Undergraduate Research and Prospective Graduate Student conference. He also worked on the Delta IV rocket structure during his internship with United Launch Alliance (ULA).
On the non-academic side, Phil likes playing poker and tennis in his spare time. Homer Simpson who is "brilliant," is one of his favorite role model. Phil likes rock music and one of his favorite movies is The Fast and the Furious. For his favorite meal, you will find Phil having a steak at West End Market.
Phil has participated in the CEED peer mentoring program as a General Undergraduate Engineering Student Teams (GUEST) mentor and Galileo, part of the engineering learning community, in which he was also a mentor, sharing his experience and knowledge with first-year engineering students. He suggests that students "be prepared for various opportunities at VT and take them." After graduation in the spring, Phil will be working as an electrical systems design and analysis engineer at Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Everett, Washington. He plans to work toward graduate degrees while working. Phil considers his opportunitiy at Boeing, "a significant career milestone for me since I will be working as an electrical engineer with a mechanical engineering discipline at VT."