MAE Seminar – Navigating the Unknown: Launching from the Classroom to the Stars

Details

Dear Undergraduate and Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff,
You are invited! UF Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering’s Seminar Series
This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy some coffee, cookies, and captivating talks! These sessions feature amazing guest speakers, from academic trailblazers and industry movers to our very own faculty candidates showing off their expertise and fresh perspectives.
Come for the treats, stay for the engaging discussions, and connect with fellow MAE enthusiasts. Everyone is welcome!

Navigating the Unknown: Launching from the Classroom to the Stars

September 16, 2025, at 12:50pm
Location: MAE-A 303

Linda Jahner
Structural Integrity Chief Engineer &
Technical Fellow for New Glenn
Blue Origin

Abstract
UF alum Linda Jahner will talk about her current role at Blue Origin as the Structural Integrity Chief Engineer and Technical Fellow for the New Glenn launch vehicle. New Glenn’s first launch will serve as the backdrop and metaphor, for new graduates launching and navigating their careers. Linda has had a nonlinear career path and will share the motivation that fueled transitions across industries – military jets, rocket engines, commercial aircraft policy, and space structures – and the unique perspective gained from a breadth of experience. She’ll share insights on what, from a senior leader’s perspective, helps engineers get recognized; practical tactics for propelling not only yourself but also the whole team forward; a simple approach to handling impostor syndrome; and communication strategies for navigating the gray areas where real innovation happens.

Biography
Linda Jahner (she/her) is the Structural Integrity Chief Engineer and a Technical Fellow for New Glenn, Blue Origin’s reusable heavy lift launch vehicle. She sets structural standards for design, analysis, test, and inspection, and serves on AIAA standards committees for space structures and systems. Previously, Linda was an Airframe Structures Specialist at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), developing certification policy and special conditions for novel projects, including supersonic aircraft and advanced air mobility systems. She also contributed to FAA and industry additive manufacturing standards. Earlier at Blue Origin, she was a structural analyst in the Engines organization, working with nonlinear plasticity, thermal transients, and rotating machinery. Her analysis career began on naval airframes, where she advanced from stress analyst to manager on F/A 18 jets and other life extension programs. She holds BS (Mechanical Engineering) and MS (Aerospace Engineering) degrees from the University of Florida.

MAE Faculty Host: Dr. Christopher Petersen