SALARY NEGOTIATION
Kenneth A. Neely

Graduated from Tennessee State University with a B.S. Degree in Aeronautical Engineering Technology. Worked for Cessna Aircraft Company, Gates Lear Jet, Boeing and Spirit Aero Systems (Spirit) in Wichita, Kansas, Huntsville, Alabama and Seattle Washington. I worked as a Design Engineer designing primary and secondary structure of business jets, commercial airplanes, military aircraft and the International Space Sta-tion. When I was promoted to management I continued to manage Design engineers doing the same work. My career in the aviation industry spanned almost 40 years.

Some things accomplished during my career: I was one of two engineers that researched and developed the winglets for the Learjet model 25 that replaced the fuel tanks on the wings to make it more aerodynamic. The current models are still using a variant of this structure. I Was the first African American promoted to management in engineering at the Boeing Wichita division and my first assignment as a manager was over a group that designed the current Air Force One. I also managed the group on the International Space Station that developed the secondary structure for the end cones and payload racks for both the habitation module and laboratory module. I lead the product development team for the Wichita Division on the components to design and build for the 787 which is mostly composite and use an innovative build process.

I was a recruiter for Boeing and Spirit for approximately 20 years and conducted numerous workshops and seminars on college campuses and NSBE conferences. I was a member of the NSBE advisory board for Region Five for several years. I was the president of the local NSBE alumni chapter. The chapter was involved in tutoring at the Urban League. We hosted the week-long engineering summer camp for junior high school students. I Was on the minority engineering program advisory board for Kansas State University. I continue to volunteer at Wichita State for activities that promote engineering and science.

I have been married for 41 years and we have two children. I attend Chisholm Trail Church of Christ in Wichita, Kansas where I am the education director and teach the high school class.