Leigh Thomas
Contributing Writer

Caleb Pupo ’14 is passionate about aircraft and helping others succeed, channeling both into an impressive career in aerospace engineering. His education at SMC was the first step on his path to GE Aerospace. His father’s military career and visits to the military base inspired the native of Columbia and sparked his interest in aircraft.

“As a child, I wanted to become a doctor, but I’m better with numbers than biology. When I saw those planes, I knew I could help people in a different way,” he said.

Pupo moved to the United States in 2006 and quickly became interested in the STEM fields during high school. He earned his Associate Degree in Science from SMC, followed by his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of South Carolina (USC).

Pupo’s experience at SMC profoundly influenced his career path, particularly the connections and relationships forged with other students and professors.

“SMC was an amazing first step in my education and career,” he said. “It set the tone for what I wanted to be and how I wanted to get there. It gave me good connections and relationships that I still have with both professors and students.”

One of those connections is to former SMC Assistant Professor of Chemistry Brian Gloor, who inspired Pupo to further his education.

“Caleb stood above all others with unprecedented dedication and intellect on the academic lines,” Gloor said. “Since graduating, he has continued to grow in his engineering training and career. His remarkable achievements stand as a testament to his unwavering passion and relentless pursuit of success.”

As a graduate student at USC, Pupo participated in a research study on composite materials for GKN Fokker in The Netherlands, a subsidiary of GKN Aerospace. Upon completing his master’s, he accepted an opportunity as a global graduate engineer, and his dream of working with aircraft came to fruition. During a two-year rotation across two U.S. sites, he supported the build of military aircraft and trained and recruited front-line leaders for GKN North America.

Pupo moved on to GKN Alabama Field Systems, where he developed and tested aircraft fuel tanks for combat situations, followed by GKN Advanced Composite Structures, where he supported the design and build of military and commercial aircraft and confidential missile programs.

Throughout his young career, Pupo has been involved in the planning, engineering, and building of parts for multiple military and civilian aircraft. One principle that has remained constant is his focus on Lean manufacturing, for which he has earned numerous certifications. The Lean methodology emphasizes continuous improvement and respect for people in producing quality products.

“After I graduated from the GKN leadership program, I jumped into Lean because it was the most direct way I could impact people’s lives in my factory,” Pupo said. “It gave me the tools to communicate with people about their pain points, understand how an operator interprets an engineering drawing, and bridge that concept to implementation. The result is consistently good products for aerospace engineering applications.”

In February, Pupo accepted a new role as a Lean Manufacturing Manager for GE Aerospace in Auburn, Alabama, implementing Lean principles in the company’s production of engine blades and 3D printed fuel nozzles for its GE90, GEnx, CF-6, CF-34, and newly-introduced LEAP engines. It is the most recent in a series of accomplishments spanning the decade since he left SMC, an experience for which he remains grateful.

“SMC gave me the tools I needed for the next step and to reach where I am today,” Pupo said. “With its size and the way everyone is so personable, it touched my life in a way that no other school could have. It was the best first step I could have taken.”