2020 AE commencement celebration video online

This year’s commencement celebration for the University of Illinois Department of Aerospace Engineering was shared via a Zoom webinar Live at 2 p.m. CST on Saturday May 16.

The celebration included a welcome from Willet Professor and Department Head Jonathan Freund, a couple of fun videos, and a special address from AE alumnus James B. Mocarski entitled, “The best moment of your career.” The commencement celebration is now available to view on the YouTube channel for the Dept. of Aerospace Engineering.

Mocarski earned a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from U of I in 1989.  During his 27-year career with Northrop Grumman, Mocarski held prominent roles in technology, product development and launch, turn around, and business unit leadership.  His experience includes extensive international work, particularly in strategic partnering for product co-development, co-marketing, and co-manufacture in Europe and the Middle East.    

In 2016, Mocarski started his own consulting company. As president of Three1Four, Inc. his focus has been advising technology-driven businesses with a mandate for new and renewed product-driven growth, operational and process improvements, post-merger and acquisition integration, and ecosystem partnership development. 

In addition to his bachelor’s degree from Illinois, Mocarski earned an M.S. in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Southern California and completed the Harvard Business Schools’ general manager’s program. He is an active angel investor and a mentor in the Harvard Business School Chicago Angels program.

Mocarski also serves on the Aerospace Engineering Alumni Advisory Board.