By Michael Watkins

Michael Cook grew up wanting to be an engineer. But as a youngster, he was more focused on driving trains rather than working with computers and electronics.

"I grew up with an HO model train set and when I was a teenager, I spent many hours building and designing the layout with my dad," said Cook, who was raised in Columbus, Neb. "When I started high school, I enrolled in an industrial education class and spent three years learning about electronics. By the time that class ended, I was hooked on electronics and decided to become an electrical engineer."

After graduating from Columbus High School in 1980, Cook entered Iowa State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He then launched his own business and spent his days working on computer and radio frequency (RF) communications.

Still feeling the need to obtain additional knowledge about computer science - and tired of working long hours and missing out on time spent with family and friends - he returned to Iowa State in 1997 to earn a second bachelor's degree, this one in computer engineering.

"As a business owner, I was working many hours - typically six days a week - and I had three children that were just getting to be school-age and were involved in many activities that I kept missing," said Cook, now a principal technical project manager in Weapons Sensors at Rockwell Collins. "I wanted to be home more, so I decided to update my education."

Precision-guided

After earning his second degree from Iowa State in 2000, Cook worked at the university for several years before joining Rockwell Collins in July 2005. Since that time, he has been involved with developing solutions for precision-guided artillery. His primary task has been to make our NavStorm+ product line more efficient and innovative, which will allow us to deliver a more cost-effective and flexible product to our customers.

According to Cook, who was recognized recently as one of 10 finalists for the 2007 Rockwell Collins Corporate Engineer of the Year award, NavStorm+ is an artillery-guided global positioning system (GPS) receiver designed to withstand the rigors of gun launch. It also allows the projectile to be guided to its target using controlled surfaces on the exterior of the projectile.

"NavStorm+ gives soldiers a higher level of artillery precision, which is especially vital when used in populated areas," said Cook.

Designed to adapt to any type of application and built with numerous projectiles, NavStorm+ is used on more than one platform and for more than one of our customers.
 
"We are able to use one common product to meet multiple customer needs," explained Cook. "Using the quantities of multiple programs means our company is able to lower our manufacturing costs, and ultimately save our customers money. The benefit for us is tremendous."

Nominated for our company's highest engineering honor by Principal Engineering Manager Bill Tollefson, Cook has the ability to think outside of the existing parameters of his job and predict what our customer wants ahead of the curve.

"Mike brings a lot of energy to problem solving," said Tollefson. "He sees what needs to be done and either does it himself or works through his team to get it done. He is very results-oriented and entrepreneurial in his approach."

That experience and approach might well have been gained before Cook even stepped foot on Rockwell Collins property. As a proprietor of a small business in the late 1980s and 1990s, Cook was always thinking "Lean" and uses his atypical work experience to help our company achieve positive results.
 
"I try very hard to make choices that are the best fit for our customers and also will benefit our company," said Cook. "I am always asking our design team to try and leverage all that we can for our product line and make it flexible so it can meet multiple needs with little or no changes."

There's no doubt Cook realizes the effect his work can have on our customers and our company. He also realizes what an honor it was to have been one of the finalists for our Engineer of the Year award.

"There are about 6,000 engineers working for Rockwell Collins, so being nominated for this award is a huge honor," said Cook. "When I look at some of the things that have been done by others, I am humbled by the fact that my peers chose me to be in that group of individuals."

- Michael Watkins is a freelance writer.