Steven Koss was handed an electrical circuit building starter kit from his father when he was a kid. As Koss grew older, he moved beyond the simple starter kit to build his first computer. He was hooked and knew that electrical engineering was what he wanted to do with his life.
Koss earned a bachelor’s degree as well as went on to get an MBA. He took his aptitude for learning and went into the aviation field where he specializes in aircraft parking layouts, preconditioned air systems and automated docking gudience systems. Koss currently works for Burns & McDonnell as an aviation project manager and senior electrical engineer.
“One of the coolest things about being in the aviation field is being next to these big aircraft and going into the hangars with this big piece of machinery. It’s not something that everyone gets to see,” Koss said.
Koss has a keen eye for detail and dedication to learning the latest trends in the industry. Koss was involved in two innovative projects at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) as project manager and lead engineer. He was the project manager for the installation of automated visual docking guidance system (AVDGS) for an airline partner. Koss is currently working as project manager for a major expansion program at Dulles International Airport.
Koss was the project manager and electrical engineer responsible for upgrading the electrical and mechanical infrastructure of an maintenance ramp to expand its capabilities and capacity. It is now the largest maintenance ramp at O’Hare. The project helped reduce emissions and noise at the airport with the installation of the electric GSE.
For the advancement of airports, Koss said, “I would like to see Wi-Fi on all flights. This would be a great step for the passenger experience. Having a good experience while you are in the air can make a big difference. By not having to disconnect during your flight can really help further customer satisfaction.”
