Eric Moyer (left) and John Swartzendruber will share their career stories and reflections in the fields of engineering and technology during a special Oct. 14, 2017, Suter Science Seminar at Eastern Mennonite University during its Centennial and Homecoming and Family Weekend. Moyer is a lead project engineer for Boeing, and Swartzendruber is an IT consultant formerly with Eli Lilly and Company. (EMU file photos)

Boeing project engineer and intranet developer to speak at Homecoming weekend Suter Science Seminar

Two Eastern Mennonite University alumni will share their career stories and reflections in the fields of engineering and technology during a special Oct. 14 Suter Science Seminar at Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Both Eric Moyer and John Swartzendruber serve on the Engineering Advisory Board that has supported EMU’s new four-year engineering degree. Moyer works in aircraft design, while Swartzendruber is a consultant in information technology (IT).

“I’m excited for their presentations at the seminar, as this will be a great opportunity to hear about important issues in industry today, and about how their careers in technical fields were influenced by their experiences at EMU,” said physics professor Daniel King. “They have shared knowledge of their respective fields — and a commitment to EMU education — as they have helped to shape our program.”

Following the presentations, there will be time for conversation and audience questions.

The free seminar will be Saturday, Oct. 14, at 9:30 a.m. in Science Center room 106.

Eric Moyer

Moyer began working as a structural design engineer at Boeing’s Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, facility in 2006, but was then selected for extended work assignments in Charleston, South Carolina, and Everett, Washington, supporting Boeing’s new 787 composite airplane. In 2010, Moyer moved with his wife Jessica to Seattle to continue his support of the 787. Currently, he is a lead project engineer at Boeing’s new 777X Composite Wing Center facility in Everett.

Moyer grew up in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, and studied math and science courses while at EMU from 1999 to 2001. After graduating from Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, he worked as a mechanical engineer for two years in a small contract machine shop in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Engineering program director and professor Esther Tian expressed appreciation for Moyer’s involvement at EMU and his passion for the projects of the Engineers for a Sustainable World club. “He offers ideas and suggestions about students capstone projects, and shares insider information as a recruiter for students employment upon graduation,” she said.

John Swartzendruber

Swartzendruber is an IT consultant who earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1979. He joined Eli Lilly and Company as an organic chemist in pharmaceutical research, developed software for the x-ray crystallography group and, in 1989, earned his master’s degree in computer science from Purdue University. He led the effort to build ELVIS, Lilly’s worldwide intranet, one of the first corporate intranets constructed.

As the enterprise architect for Lilly Global Infrastructure, Swartzendruber focused on ubiquitous computing and virtualization. In 2008, he joined Apparatus, an IT consulting firm, where he managed large virtualized infrastructures for enterprise clients. He retired in 2015, but maintains an active interest in distributed computing and privacy.

Tian said that Swartzendruber has also been a “strong supporter” of the engineering program at EMU and has provided “insight in technology and knowledge of cutting-edge development in computer science and computer engineering.”

The Suter Science Seminars are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.