“Moraine Valley provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge and abilities that allowed me to continually build upon. The practical experience and deep passion of instructors helped teach me the skills I needed to persevere in my career,” said alumnus Steve Pec, who attended the college in the late ’80s, earning an Associate in Applied Science degree in mechanical design and drafting and an Associate in Science transfer degree.
Pec, who is a senior staff engineer for Woodward, a design, manufacturing and service provider for aerospace and industrial markets, later went on to earn a Master of Science in Engineering Management degree and numerous professional certifications. He plans to eventually pursue a doctoral degree.
Growing up, he was always interested in mechanical design and how things worked.
“I originally thought I would become an architect, not an engineer. However, I was introduced to computer-aided design (CAD) at Moraine Valley, which was then a new technology. That eventually led me to mechanical design, applied gearing/actuation technology and analysis,” he said.
One of Pec’s instructors recommended he pursue a job in an engineering services company as a drafting/design consultant to gain exposure to many businesses and products and to grow professionally. He followed that advice and began a successful 30-year engineering career, developing products for aerospace, commercial and military programs.
“Being an engineer is more than design and analysis. I’ve enjoyed seeing other areas of engineering, including project and program management, interfacing with customers and vendors, supervising multiple levels of our team, technical mentorship and being part of the senior leadership within our business unit. Engineering is about problem solving and delivering results,” Pec explained.
His lifetime interest in aerospace led him to seek a job where he could work in this specialized area of engineering.
“I wanted to be in a career that pushed my skills and complemented my passions,” said Pec.
Some of his recent projects include developing a gear life test stand used to evaluate high-performing gear materials and processes and developing a full-scale Boeing 737 flight simulator used as a demonstration and marketing tool to showcase the company’s cockpit control solutions.
Pec is grateful for the support he received as a Moraine Valley student and said, “I was lucky enough to have motivational instructors. They gave me more than an education. They gave me inspiration and the encouragement I needed to reach my full potential. Without them, I’m certain I wouldn’t have been able to reach my current level of success.”
Pec noted he came from a family that believes in hard work and doing what is right, and he believes in giving back. One way he has done that is by volunteering to review scholarship applications for the Moraine Valley Foundation for several years.
“Moraine Valley played a significant role in my career development, and I want to make sure others have that same opportunity,” Pec said. “I encourage individuals who have achieved any level of success to give back to the college and support future graduates.”
