Page 16 VoL JR COMMI NITV - June 27, 2012
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Adams about machining and metal
shop equipment.
That gave her plenty of expo-
sure to the professors in the Engi-
neering Department, for whom she
did some projects.
"It was a huge blessing to get
that opportunity to work down
there," Adcock said. "I didn't
know about machining and mill-
ing machines, lathes and welding.
I hadn't gotten into that stuff in
Sweet Home. I was too busy with
chemistry and mathematics."
She was named one of two
1998-99 Outstanding Student Em-
ployee awards from the depart-
ment and then got involved in the
Multiple Engineering Cooperative
Program, which is what led her to
Boeing.
"When you get into that pror
gram, you are guaranteed two six-
month internships with companies
in Oregon or Boeing in Washing-
ton," she said.
Adcock got chosen to go to
Boeing and interned with the 777
Fuselage Fleet Support Focal
group, for which she works today.
She credits and "awesome mentor ment decides who's responsible
who really taught me a lot.for fixing it. The next step is for
"I think one of the reasons I got Adcock's crew to figure out how.
the (Engineer Of the Year) award is "!We put together a repair and
because of him," she said. repair instructions, then we have
She later worked at Freight- to do an analysis to make sure the
liner in Portland, but as she neared repari is going to work and put the
graduation at OSU, Boeing called, airplane back in the condition it
"They asked if I wanted to was before the accident happened.
come back. I did." "In general, we cover all the
The Boeing 777 is the world's analysis for the fuselage structure,"
largest twin jet airliner, with more she said.
than 1,000 flying for airlines That analysis is a big part of
around the world since it was first her job, she said. Her team also an-
produced in 1995. One model of alyzes drawings in the factory for
the plane holds the world record projects under development and it
for distance flown by a commercial handles the movement of planes
jetliner without refueling- halfway under construction - and repairs
around the world, for any mishaps that occur on the
Adcock is a leader on a team factory floor as airliners are con-
that performs customer service- structed.
type activities for airlines who "There's a lot of lifting and
experience problemswiththeirjet- moving when we're building a
liner fuselages, plane," she said. "There is dam-
Typically, she said, her team is age and safety issues with people
called upon when damage tO the aft under (a plane under construc-
(rear) portion of planes' fuselages- tion). Sometimes when it's rolling
the body of the plane- occurs, usu- through the factory, a little bit of
ally while parked on the runway, damage occurs there too."
"One thing Boeing takes pride She said most of her work is
in is having a great service depart- done in Everett, Wash though she
ment," she said. "If they tear the occasionally travels overseas to do
skin on the plane, the airline will testing or take care of customers.
take photos and describe the dam- It was partly her performance
age, then Boeing's Service Depart- on one of those overseas assign-
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Nancy Adcock'stands in the Boeing 777plant, where, in the rear, an air-
liner is under construction.
ments that resulted in her award, got.
said her manager, Richard Gess- "She's the real deal, according
her. to us. She doesn't have to talk her-
He said the award is given to self up."
an "outstanding engineer" within When she's not on the job,
the 777 program who has made "a Adcock has been busy remodel-
significant contribution to Boeing ing her 1920s home in the Seattle
and to the program." area.
Between Adcock's arrival as"I did it pretty much by my-
an intern and her time as a Boeing, self," she said, shortly after finish-
Gessner said, she's put in "a con- ing sanding her kitchen cupboards.
siderable amount of time" in the "I had friends and family help me a
program, little bit - or a lot on some things,
"She's shown the ability to lead like reroofing my roof. My broth-
and to mentor new employees," he er-in-law and my dad helped me
said. "As one of her activities, she with that."
was sent overseas to take care of She also still competes in ath-
a customer's needs. The complex- letics, including a recent triathlon
ity of what she had to do and the in Sunriver.
fact that she did it under adverse "I don't play basketball much
weather conditions - snow and any more," she said. "I don't have
other things - and her dedication, time."
combined with what she's done for She also earned a master of
Boeing in Puget Sound, were the science degree from the University
criteria for which we nominated of Washington in 2009.
her for the award." Adcock also is involved at her
Gessner said he sees the same church, where she volunteers with
traits Adcock demonstrated in the youth.
earning a scholarship as a walk-on She said if she could give any
at OSU and then excelling in engi- tips to current Sweet Home stu-
neering, dents, it would be to "pursue engi-
"It's the same personality neering.
traits," he said. "Get in there, get "Even if you think you're not
it done, figure out a way. She's ex- the best at mathematics, if you put
tremely modest. She's not into the in the hard work, it's doable," she
bling, or into the "look what I've said.
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