Walt W. Braithwaite oral history interview

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IntervieweeBraithwaite, Walt W., 1945-InterviewerLittle, SteveDate2022-08-16LanguageEnglishDescriptionEngineer and Boeing executive Walt W. Braithwaite is interviewed about his career in the aviation industry. He discusses his experiences at the Boeing Company, beginning with his initial hire in 1966 as an apprentice tool engineer and his subsequent work in computer-aided design and manufacturing, program management, distributed computing, and as president of Boeing Africa. Other topics discussed include his early life in Jamaica and England, his maritime experiences, and his thoughts on building a successful life and career.

The interview contains some audio distortion, particularly during the last seven minutes.Biographical NoteWalt Braithwaite developed the Boeing Company’s use of computer-aided design and helped the company advance its global reach in the latter twentieth century.

Walt Waldiman Braithwaite was born in Kingston, Jamaica in January 1945. He spent most of his childhood in Jamaica. An eager young inventor, Braithwaite took apart his toys at Christmas and transformed them into circuits using recycled household materials. When he reached adolescence, Braithwaite served as an apprentice in the machine shop at J. S. Webster and Sons, a shipping company. Around this time, he embarked on a correspondence course in engineering through La Salle Extension University based in Chicago, Illinois. At sixteen, he moved with his family to London, England. There, he attended Hackney Technical College, where he studied mechanical engineering technology for one year. He then moved to Chicago and studied at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He went on to receive a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Industry Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through the Boeing Sloan Fellows program. Eventually he pursued his PhD from the University of Washington and completed it at Rushmore University.

Braithwaite joined the Boeing Company in 1966 as a tool engineer and held several positions throughout his 36-year career. One of Braithwaite’s accomplishments was his role in bringing computer-aided design to Boeing. While he was a supervisor in Central Engineering, Braithwaite introduced networked design and manufacturing systems to the company, changing the way airplanes were designed and produced, and allowing seamless collaboration between different manufacturers. Projects such as the 777, 787 Dreamliner, and 737 Max significantly benefited from this technical innovation.

After directing a variety of technology projects for the company, Braithwaite shifted into a corporate assignment, executing a number of initiatives, including developing a disaster preparedness plan which was implemented during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. By 2000, the Boeing Company could be characterized as multi-national but not yet global, and Braithwaite led the effort to bring the company’s presence to Africa. In his role of president of Boeing Africa, Braithwaite developed relationships with many dignitaries and partnered with various countries, namely Mozambique, South Africa, and Ghana. Boeing’s presence in these countries helped to improve hospitals, schools, and industry in underdeveloped areas. Through community and offset work, where countries buy aircraft partially in consideration of Boeing’s investment in their infrastructure, Boeing successfully expanded its business in Africa under his leadership.

Braithwaite was regarded throughout Boeing for his integrity, wisdom, and amiable, unassuming demeanor. He received several awards, including Black Engineer of the Year in 1995, the Seattle Museum of History and Industry Makers Award in Science and Technology in 1996, the Museum of Flight’s Pathfinder Award in 2017, and an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of the West Indies. Braithwaite retired from Boeing in 2003.

Braithwaite was married twice. With his first wife, he had a daughter. With his second wife, he had two daughters. As of 2022, he was living in the Seattle, Washington area.

Biographical information derived from interview and additional information provided by interviewee.

Walt W. Braithwaite oral history interview

CollectionThe Museum of Flight Oral History CollectionCollection AreaArchives

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Walt W. Braithwaite oral history interview