Nita Patel: 3rd GREATS Seminar

Nita Patel is Senior Director, Engineering Lead Design Center – Farmington.  She is responsible for strategy, operations, execution for the Lead Design Center (LDC) based in Farmington, CT.  Nita will lead the organization with a focus on engineering competency and discipline development for elevator systems and components.   This center is a critical part of the Otis global Engineering footprint, which provides a wide range of product development activities at the local, regional, and global levels.

Nita Patel was previously Senior Director, Engineering, for the Integrated Vision Solutions (IVS) business unit for L3Harris Technologies’ Communication Systems segment. Communication Systems covers a broad portfolio, including tactical and airborne radios, battle management systems, night vision technology and professional and public safety networks. In her role, Nita was responsible for leading multidisciplinary engineering design teams in research and new product development for advanced night vision, precision targeting and soldier-networked system. She received the 2014 L3 Engineer of the Year award in recognition of her technical leadership contributions.

Prior to L3Harris, she was a chief engineer and deputy program manager for RS Information Systems, Inc., where she led the successful development and deployment of a $36M open-architecture, next generation, weather radar used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service.  Before joining RS Information Systems, Inc., she was the lead electrical engineer on fused thermal systems and laser rangefinders for Insight Technology and the lead electrical engineer for automated diagnostic equipment for Forward Looking Infrared systems and circuit card assemblies at Raytheon / TI Defense.

Nita also serves as a Director on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Foundation and is the 2022 IEEE Computer Society President-Elect. During her term as IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) international president, Nita founded and chaired the flagship IEEE WIE International Leadership Conference and received the 2014 Larry K. Wilson Transnational Award for distinguished contributions to IEEE global activities to inspire, engage and advance women in technology. In 2011, Patel received the New Hampshire Engineer of the Year award for her significant technical contributions.

Nita is an active leader within Toastmasters International and a senior director for the United States Chess Federation. Nita received her MS Computer Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering and BS Mathematics from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Dr. Nita Patel will use her extensive professional knowledge to give guidance to students regarding their journeys to success.