Mr. Johnny Nguyen

I was born in the old hospital, which Samueli Academy replaced. Being a first-generation child of low-income immigrants, I did not have many role models growing up who had gone to college or entered white-collar professions. Without the guidance along the way from caring, knowledgeable teachers, I never would have known what was possible for me.

After graduating from UCLA with my BS in mechanical engineering, I spent 15 years in both the automotive and aerospace/defense sectors, supporting the development of various projects across the full life cycle and earning my MS along the way. I’ve intentionally gone out of my way to wear a broad assortment of hats in the engineering space, including architecting, design, modeling & simulation, test, and sustainment. Immediately before starting my first year of teaching, I was a senior principal systems engineer with STC, supporting the development of the Bell MV-75, a tiltrotor aircraft that won the Future Vertical Lift contract and is intended to replace the antiquated UH-60 Black Hawk.

I have a deep passion for helping and supporting disadvantaged youth, exposing them to possibilities and showing them what they are capable of. By leveraging my real-world experiences, I aim to better prepare students for what lies ahead, regardless of the path they choose.