Opportunity in the Dark: How Faculty and Family Propelled This Alum Into Aerospace

Fresno State alumnus Francisco Licea developed a love of engineering from his father, Cisco, an engineer himself who worked with the International Space Station program and instilled in his son a lifelong wonder about planes, flight and space. That curiosity led the Bakersfield native to Fresno State, where he majored in mechanical engineering and worked closely with faculty like Dr. Deify Law to create a pathway to reach his dream of working in the aerospace industry. Fresno State's undergraduate programs in the Lyles College of Engineering have consistently ranked among the top 100 by U.S. News and World Report since 2020. Hear about Licea's passion for engineering and love for space, and how his experience at Fresno State led him to his current position as a systems test engineer for Northrop Grumman, an aerospace and defense company, in Southern California.