Josh Deaton

Josh Deaton, 22, of Troy, Ohio, is a graduate mechanical engineering student with the Center of Excellence in Product Reliability and Optimization. Deaton is helping design parts for military planes that can withstand or accommodate the stresses of engine heat. “When we’re not in classes we’re building computer models and running simulations to aid in the design of these things,” Deaton said. “We are creating better aircraft, but most importantly we’re creating cheaper-to-maintain aircraft by detecting possible future failures through simulations early in the design cycle.”