Celebrating Black Engineers: Philip Lovell

Black History Month

Philip Lovell received a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland (UMD) in 2001. He currently works for Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, and holds an employment rank of Manager, Mechanical Engineering. Philip has been employed at Northrop Grumman for 24 years. In that time, he has amassed more than 60 Trade Secret and New Technology Awards, and authored numerous publications. He was nationally honored at the 2015 Black Engineer of the Year Award as the recipient for Outstanding Technical Contribution in Industry.

Where/how did you get started on your mechanical engineering journey?

My journey as a mechanical engineer started out when I was a child. I used to take things apart and try putting them back together. I was always interested in learning why thighs were built a certain way. Throughout my life, I have maintained that inquisitiveness which has helped me to come up with some novel solutions to solve complicated problems.

Who/what inspires you?

My former professors, mentors and, most of all, my thesis advisor. Overall, I like working with younger engineers, who I can mentor and most of all learn from. I think the younger engineers have a lot to offer and bring to the table a fresh perspective on solving problems.

What has helped you to succeed in your overall personal and professional journey?

Communication and collaboration with individuals will help anyone achieve their goals. I strongly believe people are here to help you, and in my case, I have had a lot of people cheering me on to be successful. I always remember the words of my former advisor: "you have to put the work in to get the job done." That phrase stands out when ever I am faced with a challenging problem to solve.

What advice would you offer to current students?

If you have a strong belief within yourself that a problem can be solved, don't let anyone tell you it can't. Prove to yourself it can be solved, and more importantly prove it to the individual that is telling you it can't be solved. Perseverance wins in the end, and the quest for understanding and knowledge will lead you to success.

What have been some of your greatest personal or professional successes?

Some of my proudest moments have been finishing up my graduate studies at UMD, the birth of my son, the mentorship with younger engineers, and winning the Black Engineer of the Year Award for Outstanding Contribution in Industry.

Published February 20, 2024