High flyer: Squadron Leader Laura Sexton at RAF Brize Norton
Laura Sexton, who leads a squadron of 280 people in three specialist flights in the Royal Air Force, is an example of the heights to which incorporated engineers can climb in their careers.
As the officer commanding the Engineering Support Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, Squadron Leader Sexton oversees a combination of technical, risk management, equipment, budgetary, personnel and operational procedures. Every day, she has to apply her scientific and engineering judgement to many challenging scenarios.
Group Captain Mark Hunt, the new president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, commented: “At the age of 33, Laura has maintained her professional development as an engineer officer while meeting the demands of a young family. She has demonstrated extraordinary range, tenacity and expertise throughout her career.”
Sexton, an IMechE member, was sponsored by the Defence Engineering and Science Group during her MEng studies at the University of Nottingham. There she joined the Universities Air Squadron, where her experience fuelled her determination to work in the RAF. In 2013, she gained professional registration as an incorporated engineer with the IMechE, and she has recently applied to become a Stem Ambassador.
She pinpoints what engineering means to her day-to-day: “Every day, I apply my engineering judgements to my team’s working environment and to the equipment we are working on. It is important to me that I retain my engineering expertise as well as developing as a leader,” she said.
“Balancing decisions, according to their safety consequences, time allowances and operational needs, is what distinguishes engineering judgements in a military environment. If we need to turn things around urgently in a demanding situation, we do whatever it takes to make it happen safely. Ultimately, it’s me who is answerable for the technical decisions I make.
“I find this level of responsibility enjoyable. It means people trust and respect my decisions. I have a quick rotation of personnel, and I have to recognise their strengths and apply them quickly. This involves a range of mentoring strategies, including showing others the benefits of professional development,” she said.
“Spending time with the guys on the ‘shop floor’ is a great way to get to know my staff, and to identify training needs and aptitudes. It also means I can spot any necessary tool and equipment updates, as well as making sure my responses to technical enquiries from the station commander are watertight.”
Within the RAF, professional registration is highly valued, she said. In addition, when her project-leading roles bridge military and commercial worlds, registration provides back-up and recognition.
“I’ve always aspired to develop my career in terms of credibility and knowledge,” she said. “Military personnel can easily interpret my level of experience from my rank. But, for people in the commercial and civilian world, my status as IEng is an international badge of recognition for the experience that I have gained.”
Sexton supervises an array of specialist teams, from maintenance of ground equipment to particle analysis and explosives storage. She has also been deployed overseas.
“Going to Afghanistan, seeing the pace of life on operations, the approach and the ideas out there, was fascinating,” she said. “It was useful, as an engineer and a service person, to see at first hand the environment that much of our equipment – and our people – must operate in. I’ve also been to the United Arab Emirates, and worked in Cyprus, and with German and Dutch counterparts.”
Sexton’s career ambitions remain high. Her next step, which she hopes to take after her forthcoming maternity leave, is to gain the position of ‘engineering authority’. “I want to be able to make airworthiness decisions specifically on aircraft, which is a step up from responsibility for the machines and equipment that
support them.
“I’ll need to do specialist technical training courses to achieve this. It will develop me, bring another challenge – I’m looking forward to it.”
In her 10 years in the RAF, Sexton’s career has flown a high trajectory. She has developed and maintained her engineering skills, co-ordinated complex technical projects, and proved to be an inspiring and adept decision-maker. Her aspirations for the future should see her soar.
Apply for registration as an incorporated engineer: www.imeche.org/application
Charles Boyle: 'Being chartered will boost my career prospects'
Going the distance to become chartered
The institution is collaborating with four universities, including the Open University, to ensure that members have access to distance learning to study the relevant modules to help them become chartered.
Registration as a chartered engineer is an essential requirement of a professional’s long-term career development, yet the challenge has always been how to find the time to study while doing a busy job.
One solution is distance learning. Pioneered by the Open University (OU), distance learning allows students to study in their own time, when and where it suits them. They receive support from tutors and study advisers, and through a network of online peers. More than 200,000 students have benefited from the OU experience.
The collaboration between the institution and the universities will enable those with a bachelor’s degree to reach master’s level while still earning, without putting their careers on hold. Modules can be selected, and a further learning plan created, to help students work towards becoming chartered.
Charles Boyle achieved a BEng in aero mechanical engineering in 2005 at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, and shortly afterwards began working in the quality department of a local aerospace company. “Having a hands-on role was exciting, and ignited a passion for engineering. Although I had dreamt of the day I would have finished studying, I quickly found the lack of personal development frustrating,” he said.
Boyle chose to go back to the world of study. But he needed to achieve a work-life balance. So he chose to study with the OU. “The OU seemed the natural choice,” he said. “I began studying design and manufacture with polymers in 2007 and found it fulfilling. I found the range of subjects, and the in-depth studies into new materials and processes, exciting.
“I selected modules based on applicability to my work and how much they would interest me. I gained funding from my employer for courses by demonstrating how they could benefit the business. Studying in this way has taught me to pursue what I am passionate about. This led me to make a move into design – I have never looked back.
“I began my final module in 2012 with a group project. This demanded constant communication with the tutor and team mates. This was done by Skype meetings. The interaction with other students provided an insight into how others were dealing with the challenges.” Boyle completed a postgraduate diploma in engineering with the OU last year. His next step is to study a research project module in October, which will lead to an MSc in engineering.
‘‘Being aware that the OU’s MSc qualification was accredited for chartered engineer status was key to my decision,” he said. “I believe that becoming chartered will allow me to demonstrate my hard work and dedication to increasing my engineering capabilities and knowledge. Having an internationally recognised professional status will also increase my career prospects.”
He added: “I would advise anyone who plans on studying to give plenty of thought to what they are passionate about. Putting the effort into something like this is by far the best thing you can invest in.’’
The OU MSc in engineering is accredited for chartered engineer status by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and the Institution of Engineering Designers. A pathway through the MSc is also accredited by the IMechE and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
For more information, visit
www.open.ac.uk/choose/ou/eng_imeche
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