Through his love of mathematics, Gregory Ffolkes discovered great interest in engineering.
As we approach Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence we continue to highlight the great feats of Jamaicans and how their contributions have impacted the world we live in. Today we try to inspire anyone who dares to dream to go after their dreams and achieve their fullest potential.
With more than 33 years experience, the 61-year old Jamaican is now a senior producer manager at Boeing.
His grandparents raised him in Spanish Town, St Catherine. His mother was a registered nurse in the United States.
Ffolkes, who was 10, migrated to New York to be with his mother. He recalled experiencing a little culture shock in Brooklyn.
He explained how the lifestyle and atmosphere were completely different, The seasons and the culture was different from what he was used to in Jamaica. After graduating from high school, he moved to Long Island to complete junior high and high school. He then went on to junior college. He pursued general studies for two years, majoring in mathematics.
“When I was growing up, my knack for math was evident”. He explained that this is where I discovered his interest in engineering and worked in the technical sector.
Ffolkes enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, and received his undergraduate degree as a mechanical engineer in 1984.
As an outside plant engineer, he designed telephone networks for residential and business customers. This was his first job after graduating from university. After several years, he wanted to return to the engineering field that he had studied at university: aerospace propulsion systems. His first step in his long and distinguished career was at Grumman Aerospace. He was a flight engineer and test pilot on fighter planes while he was there.
DREAMS CAN COME TRUE
After this he he interviewed for Rocketdyne which specializes in manufacturing engines for spacecrafts. The interview went well and Ffolkes landed the job.
“I had no idea that I would be working on the space program. Although I expected to be more involved in small plane companies, I never imagined that I would get to work with something as large as this. It was a dream come true for me,” he stated.
“That was more exciting for me. I worked there from 1988 through 1997, and that was when Rocketdyne became part of Boeing,” Ffolkes said.
He married Sheila in 1991. Sheila was also a Boeing finance officer. They had a daughter together.
In 1996, he was awarded a master’s in engineering management by the University of Central Florida. This allowed him to rise in the ranks. Ffolkes was also a part of an airport security program that outfitted X-ray machines to check baggage after 9/11. His next assignment was to Alabama, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
He said, “I was the systems engineering superior manager for all the programs out of Huntsville (Alabama for space, programmes missile defense and other secret programmes”
He moved to New Orleans in 2012 and was instrumental to setting up the factory for the manufacturing of a rocket that would launch to the Moon this year.
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He was promoted to senior producer manager two years later and was then called upon to assist with a space-related program for Boeing in 2020. It’s the commercial crew program, which is creating a space vehicle that will dock with the international space station. Ffolkes explained that it brings astronauts and cargo and any payloads back-and-forth.
He will be retiring in four years to join his wife who is already retired.
Ffolkes encourages young Jamaicans to build their networks and find mentorship.
In an interview with The Jamaica Gleaner, Ffolkes said “You are the only one in control of your destiny. You will face many obstacles. You can choose to overcome them or not. But keep your eyes on what is important.”
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