We’ve been fortunate to have so many accomplished and interesting people walk through our doors. Every month, IEA highlights one of our program alumni to let the community know what they’ve been up to. This month, we caught up with 2005 CDB alumni, Brian Petrosky.
What are some educational, personal and professional highlights and/or accomplishments of yours since graduating from high school?
After graduating high school in Maryland in 2010, I studied aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2014 and master’s degree in 2015. Virginia Tech was an amazing experience. I had an incredible opportunity to conduct undergraduate and graduate research for the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, played some awesome courses as part of the Club Golf team, and made many lifelong friends.
I moved to Texas in August 2015 to work for Lockheed Martin in the Aeronautics division and have stayed there ever since. I have been able to work on some amazing teams and incredible aircraft during my time at Lockheed, and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
On a personal note, I married my amazing wife in November 2019, and we are very happy as new homeowners. We love to get outside and go hiking, and I still get out to play golf (albeit poorly) when I can.
What is a favorite IEA/CDB memory?
This might be the most difficult question I’ve ever been asked. I think it’s impossible for me to pick just a single memory. My first Bradley Seminar was in Cocoa Beach, FL. I was intimidated and shy going into the weekend, but came out of it with lots of new friends from all over the country. I can still remember how much time we spent at the pool at that Marriott, and don’t even get me started on the organized chaos that is CDB Seminar game night!
Some of my favorite memories with IEA are actually from post high-school. I love how CDB alumni are welcomed back into the community to participate in the seminars. I will never forget things like exploring the San Diego zoo, sightseeing in Pasadena, and sharing my experiences with the current Scholars. It’s amazing how, from freshman to senior year, you only spend 12 days in person with a group of people, yet graduate high school with new best friends that you feel like you’ve known your whole life.
What words of wisdom would you pass on to current IEA students?
A manager at work shared a quote with me last year that really resonated with me- “There’s no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences.” If you are driven to climb the ladder and want to work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, go ahead and do it. If you want to find a comfortable 8:30-5 job and prefer to prioritize things outside of work, like family, volunteering, or hobbies- that’s great! There is no single right way to live your life and develop your career, and there’s no magic work-life balance that applies to everyone. The key is to find what works for you, even if it takes some trial and error!