Distinguished Mechanical Engineer
BSME, The University of Texas at Austin, 1990
Stephen Smith, a native of Longview, Texas, is a proud third-generation engineer, following in the footsteps of his family’s rich engineering legacy and the University of Texas (UT) tradition. Inspired by his parents, Pam and Ned Smith, he enrolled at UT in the Fall of 1985 and graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Thermal/Fluids—a field he continues to excel in today. His brother, Greg, also graduated from UT with a degree in mechanical engineering, further solidifying the family’s commitment to the discipline.
With a remarkable 35-year career at Boeing, Stephen has established himself as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in thermal design solutions, spanning from circuit board levels to comprehensive vehicle systems. His expertise in thermal design, analysis, testing and issue resolution have been instrumental in several high-profile programs, including the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle, Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), Mobility and Surveillance (M&S) Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C), and the Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) 777-X. Currently, he leads design efforts for innovative Space Exploration vehicles, such as the Mars Transit Habitat, Lunar Surface Habitat, Lunar Rover, and Lunar Surface Fission projects. Stephen was the thermal designer for the next generation of deployable solar arrays recently installed on the ISS, ISS Roll Out Solar Arrays (IROSA).
Stephen is a driving force for innovation and process improvement at Boeing. His pioneering processes and tools during the ISS design phase were adopted across multiple Boeing sites, significantly enhancing Earth orbiting vehicle analysis and increasing throughput by an impressive 100-fold. At the corporate level, he has authored process guides that define essential analyses for thermal, and environmental control systems, which have become company standards for Model Based Engineering.
Passionate about mentoring, Stephen has guided dozens of engineers throughout his career enabling them to become more proficient. He has established company-wide training programs to promote best practices and knowledge sharing in the use of thermal processes and tools.
His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades, including NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Launch Honoree, the Silver Snoopy, the RNASA Stellar Award, and multiple Boeing awards for outstanding innovation.
Residing in Friendswood, TX, with his wife Shelley, Stephen enjoys spending time with their daughter, Caitlin, and her husband, Thomas McHenry. In his leisure time, he finds joy in playing golf and fishing, embracing the balance of work and personal life.
