Iowa Engineering alumni hold some of the top positions in companies across the nation, fueled in their careers by an education that started at the University of Iowa. Learn more about some of our distinguished alumni.
Brunk leads Collins Aerospace
In July, Troy Brunk, who earned a degree in industrial engineering in 1992, was named president of Collins Aerospace, a $26 billion aerospace and defense giant with more than 80,000 employees and 300 sites around the world. The company is among the largest employers in Iowa.
“Troy’s decades of industry experience and leadership make him the right person to lead Collins into its next phase of growth,” said Christopher Calio, RTX president and CEO. RTX is the parent company of Collins.
In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Brunk earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Iowa in 2005. Brunk has given back to the College of Engineering over the years, including serving on the advisory board for the former Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
Fiddelke a top official at Target
In January, Target announced Michael Fiddelke, a 1999 industrial engineering graduate, as the new executive vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing nearly 2,000 stores, its global supply chain network, fulfillment services, and flight services.
Fiddelke reflected on the value of an engineering background in his career, which at Target started as an intern in 2003.
“In industrial engineering, it’s all about making your processes better and better over time,” Fiddelke said at the time of the promotion.
In addition, Fiddelke has served on the board of the Minnesota Children’s Museum, worked at Deloitte Consulting, LLP, and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Fiddelke was part of the 2023 class of Honored Engineering Alumni, receiving the Alumni Merit Award for the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Ortberg heads Boeing
In August, Robert “Kelly” Ortberg, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1982, was named president and chief executive officer of Virginia-based Boeing. The Fortune 500 airplane maker is one of the world’s largest aerospace manufacturers.
Backed by a 35-year career in the aerospace industry, mostly at Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace), Ortberg was hired to lead the 170,000-employee company through a consequential period.
Ortberg supports many College of Engineering and STEM initiatives, was a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board, and has worked closely with the college on a multitude of projects.
Wiitala takes senior role at Alaska Airlines
John Wiitala was named the vice president of maintenance and engineering at Alaska Airlines — considered a principal leadership role — in January 2025.
The 1988 mechanical engineering graduate is leading the team, maintaining the highest levels of safety and compliance with more than 237 mainline Boeing aircraft across multiple maintenance bases, according to the company.
Wiitala’s engineering background propelled him in roles including tech operations, safety, technical services, director of engineering, integration, and growth of multi-fleet operations as part of an airline merger.