MEL #038 | From Paratrooper to Engine Innovator through Physics-first Thinking and Clear Communication with Dr. Terrence Alger

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Terry Alger, Vice President for Applied Research and Development at UL Solutions. Terry discovered mechanical engineering at West Point, found his passion in combustion and engines during graduate work at the University of Texas, and built a career spanning hands-on lab work, automotive research, and organizational leadership. Terry views leadership as a force multiplier, allowing engineers to stay connected to complex problems that fascinate them but can't fully take on themselves due to bandwidth, while also providing an opportunity to mentor and grow others. In our leadership segment, Terry gave us not one, but two great examples of the different ways engineering leaders can impact their environments. As a technology leader, Terry challenged industry orthodoxy by promoting cooled exhaust gas recirculation, or EGR, when lean burn was the prevailing trend, eventually influencing the direction of the automotive industry.As an organizational leader, he identified that the best project managers were those with broad experience and responded by creating a rotational program for early career engineers, strengthening both talent development and management pipelines. Terry's advice to aspiring engineering leaders? See yourself as a leader from day one and act accordingly. Communicate simply and directly, pair complementary strengths, study leadership deliberately, and embrace failure as part of innovation while staying humble enough to pivot when data proves you wrong.Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast