Dependable People: 'I Think Engineering is a Personality'

Ana San Martin: "I always say this; I think engineering is a personality. When I was a kid I'd always break things apart and put them back together. I always wanted to see how things worked. At my house, I was the one always hooking up the speakers in the house, the DVDs, setting up the receiver. I'd always help my dad."

Ana San Martin: "I went to school at the University of Florida. I started at the University of Florida in 2009, I started as an engineering major, graduated as a mechanical engineer. After my second year at the University of Florida I decided this is the place (Pratt & Whitney) – I want to check it out, I want to see what Pratt has to offer."

Ana San Martin: "My first internship was West Palm, my second internship was in Connecticut in East Hartford. After my third internship, I ended up with SEV, so I started a brand new branch in my career I guess. At the end of my internship I spoke to my supervisors in SEV for the test engineers and I said, "Hey, I'd really like the opportunity to join this rotational program that I've heard a lot about."

Ana San Martin: "It was great. I was actually studying for an exam when I got that call. I really just wanted to say, "I'm done, I'm done studying!" But I had to sit down and focus and finish off the year. It was an amazing feeling."

Ana San Martin: "I'm doing propulsion systems analysis. I'm an engineer there where I also support engine test. I'm over at the Air Force base in Tennessee quite a bit. And we're just running these engines and making sure they run the way they are supposed to. The fact that I get to see a military engine, nuts and bolts, is incredible. When I get to see all these cool videos of jets flying off the carrier, I'm like, "I've seen that engine in nuts and bolts. I've put that thing together and taken it apart." It's a good feeling. It's awesome, I love it."

Ana San Martin: "When they ask my parents, "What do your kids do?" They are like, "Yeah, my daughter tests military engines." That's all they come up with, that's all they can remember from the hours I spent talking to them about what I do."

Ana San Martin: "I'll stay here as long as there is something for me to learn - which I foresee it being a long time."