Tracie PRATER

United Launch Alliance LLC • Processes Engineer

Dr Tracie Prater is a materials and processes engineer at United Launch Alliance. She obtained her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University in 2012, where her dissertation work focused on modeling tool wear in friction stir welding of metal composites. She was previously a Graduate Student Research Program Fellow at NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, AL and a NASA Academy intern. Tracie received an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt and a B.S. in physics from Eastern Kentucky University. She previously presented at IAC in 2012 as a NASA sponsored student researcher. Her professional interests include manufacturing process optimization, advanced manufacturing, new materials for structural aerospace applications, and space policy. Tracie holds an EIT certification and hopes to obtain her PE (professional engineer) license within the next few years. She is the author or co-author of nine peer-reviewed journal articles and has made technical presentations at eight conferences. She is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and Sigma Xi. Tracie is also involved in a number of outreach activities to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing piano, and traveling.

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