Get to Know an APL Fellow: Steve Butler

Since the Lab's inception, 47 staff members have received professional fellow designations. Currently, APL counts 21 professional fellows among its staff members. "Get to Know an APL Fellow" is an occasional News Wire series to highlight fellows, their career paths and the impact professional societies have had on their professional and personal development. Meet Steve Butler, senior advisor for advanced development in the Force Projection Sector and an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow.​

I grew up wanting to be like my father, an electrical engineer. He was my role model and I grew up believing he knew everything. Turns out, I was mostly right. I learned a lot about engineering and life from him. My father taught me technically but he also helped me understand the importance of taking care of others. I grew up in a "ham radio" family. Our family vacations revolved around ham radio "hamfests," so from very early on, I was around electrical things and people. Engineering and people knowledgeable of electronics was a way of life. The natural flow from the ham radio hobby got me into the field of electronics.

I went to college on a math scholarship but switched to physics when it seemed that mathematicians mostly taught high school. Unfortunately, once I graduated with a degree in physics, it became abundantly clear that jobs in the field were few and far between. I felt I had a degree that was a lot of work but not useful standing on its own. That is when I decided to get my master's degree in electrical engineering, which opened the floodgates of job openings.

The Power of Mentors and Broad Experiences

I'm grateful that I've had supportive role models in my life and I appreciate that I have been surrounded both personally and professionally by people who have encouraged me and recognized my potential. I was fortunate to have an excellent high school math teacher, Mrs. Almond, who helped me understand the relationship between math and its application to societal success. Early in my career, I had the pleasure of working under a supervisor, Dr. Register, who was a model technical leader with deep knowledge but also the ability to rally a team to a common cause. His combination of knowledge and team leadership helped me understand that delicate balance between engineering depth and the broader knowledge in the team environment.

Several times in my career, I felt I needed to do something different or make a change — either because I did not feel challenged or I felt I could contribute more elsewhere. Somewhat unusual for civilians, I moved around the country serving in the Pentagon and several Air Force bases before coming to APL. Having individuals in my life who mentored me on what options I had and offered advice or technical assistance was critical to my career. That mentoring enabled me to solve obstacles along the way.

My network and support system were invaluable in perceiving the advantages of different opportunities. I was able to use my connections to others in my field to reach out to other career paths. My career stretched from basic research to leading senior technical teams on major acquisitions.

Growing Networks

Early in my career, I belonged to and published in several professional organizations such as the Society of Physics, Optical Society, and American Institute of Aeronautics Association along with IEEE. But I focused my time on the IEEE and gained a broader view of my profession and an invaluable source of mentoring from others in my technical field.

My involvement with IEEE gave me access to many others with common interests. I was able to see how others worked in different environments, and it also helped me understand salary rates and compensation systems for engineers like myself. The IEEE seeks and has a balance between academic contributions (university professors) and system applications. There is a perception that all fellows are deep technical inventors or academics, but the IEEE also recognizes those who contribute to teams and create significant applications that help society. I am very proud of the opportunities I have had to present my own work at conferences and professional events. ​I served as chapter president of the Eglin (Gulf Coast) Chapter of the IEEE.

I can easily say that I have gained pride, bragging rights and recognition, confidence, a voice, and influence from being selected as an IEEE fellow. However, most importantly, there is a significant personal and organizational value to society membership. The price of membership, which includes fees and pressure for time, is rewarded with the benefits of membership. I now return that appreciation by serving on their Board of Governors and assisting the development and selection of future fellows. APL is very supportive of professional society participation and has many professional fellows among its ranks.

I hope that future generations do not lose interest in joining career-oriented organizations and see the advantages and fun of belonging to a professional society.

Butler at the Eglin field office in Florida.

Butler enjoying ham radio with his father in 1958.

Butler stands next to a threat radar.