Catherine Baker

Catherine Baker holds a bachelor of science in Materials Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from Penn State. Her graduate research investigated morphology of semi-crystalline polymer blends.  During graduate school, she was selected as an American Association of University Women American Fellow (1992-93). 

Following academic studies and her employment with Owens Corning in Ohio, she garnered two patents in sound screen insulation panels and non-aqueous sizing system for glass fibers and injection moldable polymers.   Subsequently, Catherine took a job with Boeing in Seattle in the analytical engineering group. In this position she performed failure analysis on various airplane components, including metallurgical and chemical analysis, with particular emphasis on contamination. Parts analyzed included wiring, electrical connectors, electronics, and fuel pumps. She was a Boeing participant in a Federal Aviation Administration-sponsored research team on fuel tank corrosion deposits and their potential safety hazards.

Catherine spent eight years working as a systems engineer performing various types of analyses, modeling, and simulation, including affordability business analytics systems, and operational performance for emerging and advanced technologies in all of Boeing's business units. 

She currently works on the 777X program, dealing with suppliers, production, and new material development of toughened epoxy carbon filler composites.

Catherine lives with her husband, Barry, and two sons in Seattle, Washington.