James Shields received his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles in 2017.
“As an aerodynamicist on the X-60A Hypersonic Test Vehicle, I am able to fulfill my passion for advancing scientific discovery instilled in me by the Grand Challenge Scholars Program. This vehicle provides a flight testing platform for advanced materials, electronics, and controls systems that will make hypersonic flight a common occurrence. GCSP showed me that there is more to engineering than a final product. My goal is to develop hypersonic vehicles that create rapid connections all around the globe.”