Katherine Wood

Title
Interim Dean, Interim Department Chair and Associate Professor
Email
Department
Aerospace Engineering Department
College
College of Engineering

Office Hours

MWF 11:00 - 12:00; TR 10:00 - 12:00

Areas of Expertise

  • Strategic Planning
  • Business Development
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Customer Liaison
  • Profit & Loss Management
  • Culture Change / Team Building
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Operations and Quality Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Development / New Product Introduction
  • Requirements Management
  • Risk Management
  • Change Management
  • STEM Outreach
Katherine Wood

Career Highlights

Katherine Wood is the interim Department Chair for Aerospace Engineering and is an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Business at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus. She came to teach at her alma mater in 2021, following a successful 30-year career in the aerospace industry.

Before joining Embry-Riddle, Dr. Wood served as Director of Nacelle System Product Development for Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies company. During her tenure there, she was responsible for all aspects of nacelle development and production for the Dassault Falcon 6X, the Embraer E190-E2, E195-E2, and E175-E2, and the Boeing 787-9 aircraft platforms, with an average program P&L of $100 million.

Prior to these roles, Wood served for ten years as Director of Engineering and Information Technology at Goodrich Aerostructures, a division of the legacy company Goodrich Aerospace, which was later absorbed by United Technologies. Her tenure at Goodrich commenced in 1996 with Goodrich Landing Gear, where she undertook various engineering and technology roles. Before joining Goodrich, Wood began her career at Allied Signal Aerospace, holding Test, Material Review Board, and Field Support Engineer positions.

Wood was known across the industry for her leadership, particularly for taking over programs that had performance and supplier/customer relationship issues. Throughout her time in the industry, she was an integral part of defining and implementing business processes and technology changes aimed at improving schedule and financial performance.

Providing Strategic Leadership at Embry-Riddle

Wood attributes much of her success in the industry to the education she received at Embry-Riddle. “Coming back to teach was a way to give back to the university that did so much to kick start my career,” she said.

Wood earned her B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering and M.S. in Engineering Management from Embry-Riddle, and then completed her Ph.D. in Business Administration at Trident University in California.

Before joining the Embry-Riddle faculty, Wood engaged with faculty, students, and staff at the Prescott Campus in her role as an alum and university partner. Her return, she said, has been very much a “homecoming.” Having mentored recent graduates, Wood also saw teaching as an opportunity to close gaps in undergraduate engineering education.

Her teaching philosophy is informed by her long and successful career in the aerospace industry, and she aims for her students to make connections between theory and real-world applications.

Besides her recognized leadership skills, Woods brings a blend of viewpoints — alumna, faculty member, and industry partner — to her new role.

  • D.B.A. - Doctor of Business Administration, Trident University International
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Engineering Management: Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University March 2021 - Present

- Interim Department Chair, Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering

- Associate Professor, College of Engineering

- Associate Professor, College of Business, Security, and Intelligence

Collins Aerospace (formerly Goodrich Aerospace) October 1996 - November 2020

- Director, Dassault Falcon 6X Nacelle Product Development Program

- Director, Embraer E190-E2, E195-E2, and E175-E2 Nacelle Product Development Programs

- Director, Boeing 787-9 Nacelle Product Development Program

- Director, Information and Enabling Technologies

- Manager of Enabling Technologies

- Systems Administration Team Lead

- UNIX Systems Administrator

- Engineering Systems Administrator

- Design Engineer

AlliedSignal Aerospace 1993 – 1996

- Structural Design and Test Engineer

Allison Gas Turbines 1994 – 1995

- Co-op Test Engineer

AIAA

ASEE

KEEN

SWE

Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees Member                 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University                   2023

Embry-Riddle Office of Alumni Engagement            Women in STEM Panelist                              2020

Embry-Riddle Board of Visitors Member                 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University                   2019

Professional Development Mentor                            UTAS Early Professionals Organization              2017

Mexico Engineering Center Launch Leader              Goodrich Aerospace                                      2012

Silver Knight of Leadership Award                          National Management Association                 2010

Lean Practitioner Certification                                 Goodrich Aerospace                                      2009

You Make a Difference Award                                Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University                   2008

Tribute to Women in Industry Award                       YWCA                                                       2007