May 6, 2015
The American Helicopter Society has recognized one of our women in aerospace engineering graduates for her work in vertical flight technology. This year Andrea Chavez, BS ASE ’04, received the 2015 American Helicopter Society’s (AHS) François-Xavier Bagnoud Award.
The award is presented to an individual under the age of 35 for “career-to-date outstanding contributions to vertical flight technology,” according to the AHS.
“I am humbled and honored to learn I was this year’s recipient of the award, and I also feel a strong obligation to continue to make an impact in vertical flight technology,” Chavez said.
She has worked in the propulsion integration and analysis group at Bell Helicopter for five years. In 2010, Chavez moved into the drive systems group to study helicopter transmission and drive systems.
In 2014, Chavez authored and presented a paper to the AHS titled “Non-Metallic Debris Monitor For a Helicopter Transmission” for which her team received a patent for non-metallic debris monitor design.
She also co-authored the paper “Design and Testing of the Bell FARDS Tail Rotor Driveshaft” which was presented at the 2015 AHS annual forum. This work includes a supercritical driveshaft that incorporates novel technology, in which Chavez is a co-inventor for a patent to a component within the system.
The AHS website states that Chavez “has built a strong technical background in helicopter propulsion systems, and is a powerful advocate for engineering through pre-college outreach efforts.”
Chavez said that after accomplishing her aerospace engineering degree at The University of Texas at Austin, she knew she could accept difficult projects at work and be successful in the field.
“My engineering degree changed my life. It gave me the technical foundation to build my career, but more importantly I believe it built my confidence.”
She said it also helped that she had a love for math and positive role models who guided her in the right direction.
In turn, Chavez said she wants to give back and positively influence young people to pursue a degree in engineering. She is currently involved in education outreach programs like Expanding Your Horizons, which advocates math, science and engineering to middle school and high school students.
“I have been fortunate to have family and teacher role models along the way to guide and support my engineering background,” Chavez said. “I realize others may not be as fortunate.”
Chavez also works with the Junior League of Arlington, a non-profit organization of women who work on developing the “potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers” and she has assisted with recruiting on behalf of Bell Helicopter at the Cockrell School of Engineering Career EXPO.
