GE would not be the company it is today without its employees. From working mothers to U.S. military veterans, GE has a diverse team that should be recognized and celebrated. So, we created a series called the “Quick Six”—six questions we are asking employees to help us learn about their talents and backgrounds. Together, GE works.
In our next installment of Quick Six, The Bike Shop sat down with Ashley Ringer, a mechanical design engineer at GE Aviation in Dayton, Ohio.
Can you tell us about you and your family's passion for the aerospace industry?
Aviation is literally in my blood! In fact, I joke that I may have been disowned if I took a career path that didn’t involve aerospace. Three generations of my family have spent time in the aerospace industry, performing side jobs such as banner towing, annual maintenance, piloting jump planes and giving flying instructions. In addition: two of my grandfathers were in the Air Force during WWII; my uncle was an Air National Guard Black Hawk pilot; my brother is a C-130 pilot for the Air National Guard and he also flies for American Airlines; and my father, the most diverse, spent his early career working on and teaching others how to maintain aircraft. He is currently a flight instructor at Southwest Airlines.
I grew up working on airplanes every day at Way West Airpark and later married an Air Force A-10 crew chief. My husband, Trevor, and I both fly a 1946 Cessna 140 that my family restored.
Ashley pictured with her family's 1946 Cessna 140, "Elizza".
Who is your hero?
It may be cliché but, my dad. If you name a job to do with flying or maintenance he has probably done it. He is the reason I went into engineering over maintenance. I am finishing my Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license certification in the next year, then I will be an apprentice under my dad to complete the FAA Inspector Authority (IA) certification.
How did you end up working at GE Aviation?
I went to college at Purdue University, majoring in aeronautical engineering technology specializing in alternative aviation fuels. I previously worked for Caterpillar and was selected to participate in their leadership rotation program. My husband transferred to the Springfield Guard unit, near Dayton, which allowed me to investigate aviation opportunities in Ohio.
What is your proudest accomplishment related to aviation?
During college I worked on an alternative aviation fuels test team. The fuel we worked on is now the first certified alternate unleaded fuel available on the aviation market.
What are your future goals?
I’m working toward becoming a leader in aviation so that I can make a larger impact on the preservation and advancement of the aviation industry- making it safer and more efficient. I hope my time here at GE Aviation will help me preserve the future of flight for future generations.
Can you tell us more about your 1946 Cessna 140 and what unique places have you visited?
My favorite thing to do with “Elizza” is fly around the country. I’ve flown three times to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture fly-in based in Oshkosh, WI, once coming from Dallas, TX (52F). We go to as many airshows or fly-ins we can during the summer. Once, we used the plane to get to a friend’s wedding in Illinois. The best trip however, was flying with my dad into my own wedding at Greencastle airport (KGPC) in Indiana and having our ceremony right on the flight line!
Ashley with her husband, Trevor.
Did you know Quick Six is a series? Read our previous features:
- Quick Six with Eric Ridder, a cyber security operations director in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Quick Six with Michael Eilers, a Digital Thread leader in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Quick Six with Lauren Duncan, an engineer in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Quick Six with Katie Culic, a Military advanced programs project manager in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Quick Six with Raj Das, the general manager of GE Aviation’s Military manufacturing programs in Lynn, Massachusetts.
- Quick Six with Nina Tohill, a customer support manager in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Quick Six with Carol Hartman, a commercial engines technical publications production manager in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Quick Six with Kelly Cole, a senior sales director for GE Aviation in London, UK.
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