Boeing Vice President To Speak at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Dianne Chong, vice president of materials, manufacturing, structures and support in the Boeing Engineering, Operations and Technology organization, will speak to students and faculty at The University of Alabama about the company’s 787 Dreamliner airplane.

Her talk, “The Boeing 787: Changing the Game,” is about the fuel-efficient plane made of composite materials that made its first commercial flight in October 2011. Chong will speak April 15 from 2-3:15 p.m. in 1013 South Engineering Research Center.

The talk is sponsored by the UA department of metallurgical and materials engineering.

In her position, Chong leads the organization responsible for development and support of manufacturing processes and program integration for the Boeing Enterprise.

Prior to this, she was the director of materials and process technology for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Chong was also the director of strategic operations and business for IDS Engineering. In this capacity, she was the lead director defining and implementing a solid strategy for all Boeing Engineering. She has also been the department head and team leader of MSE, liaison and process control groups in Phantom Works and Integrated Defense Systems.

She received bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Illinois. She also earned master’s degrees in physiology and metallurgical engineering. In 1986, Chong received her doctorate in metallurgical engineering from the University of Illinois.  She also completed an Executive Master of Manufacturing Management at Washington University.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 4,500 students and more than 120 faculty. In the last eight years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater, Hollings, Portz, Mitchell and Truman scholars.