Growing up in the ’80s, Brian Hetsko ’01 wanted to be an astronaut and, he jokes, so did everyone else he knew. His path never took him to the stars, but it did lead him to engineering in the aerospace industry. The road there was winding, shaped by unexpected opportunities and a willingness to take chances. Looking back, he wouldn’t change a thing.
A Different Trajectory
An internship during his junior year of college gave Hetsko his first taste of defense engineering. After graduating, he entered the military intelligence field just as the dot-com bubble burst and tech jobs were scarce. As new opportunities emerged, Hetsko took them, gradually building a career around radio technology, electronics, and engineering solutions for the military.
Hetsko's work with the Army coincided with the height of the Global War on Terror. Over time, he became a go-to expert in radio detection and geolocation. That expertise eventually put him in a position to solve problems with very real consequences.
One such opportunity came in the form of a call from a base in Afghanistan. An officer explained a problem the base was facing, and Hetsko immediately assembled his team. Together, they designed, built, and tested a prototype, then delivered it in just six weeks. The solution was so successful that it grew into a larger initiative and was deployed widely.
Most importantly, it saved lives.
The experience exemplifies the approach Hetsko has taken throughout his career: When an opportunity presents itself, figure it out and do what you can.
“I’m a living embodiment of taking advantage of the opportunities that you’re given,” Hetsko says. “When I hire people, I look for what they did with their chances in life, not just at the work itself.”
That philosophy shaped his career in ways he never could have expected. When Hetsko interviewed for his Army position, for example, he included his high school job on his application. Ten years later, when Hetsko left his position with the government, he crossed paths with the person who had hired him.
“You know why I hired you?” the man asked. “It wasn’t your grades; you know that. It’s because you said you were a bartender on your resume, and that showed me you could deal with people. The rest could figure itself out.”
And it did.
When Opportunity Knocks
For the past seven years, Hetsko has worked for Honeywell Aerospace, where he primarily focuses on the electronic components of rockets, UAVs, and missiles. Within a month of joining the company, he was offered the role of director of engineering. Then came the pandemic, bringing a particularly steep learning curve and a whirlwind of first few months in his new position.
Hetsko quickly adapted. Today, his work centers largely on research and development, overseeing proposal activity, strategic planning, and ensuring the company has the technical support and resources it needs to thrive.
His path may have taken him far from the childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, but engineering has continued to give Hetsko chances to explore and make an impact. Even with everywhere he’s been, the foundation for his success started at Lehigh.
“Academically, as an undergrad I wasn’t a great student,” Hetsko says. “Really, what I tell everyone is that Lehigh taught me how to learn. It was formative, because it also humbled me a little bit. Between my classes and the leadership positions I had on organizations on campus, like being drum major of the Marching 97, I really learned the fundamentals. All of those experiences outside of the classroom were just as important and taught me equally as much.”
In many ways, Hetsko is a lifelong learner. He’s always looked for ways to challenge himself and try something new. He’s played around the world with a bagpipe and drum band, served as an assistant band director for a local high school, led his Freemason lodge for two years, and trains U.S. soccer referees.
“I want to make sure that I blaze a trail somewhere,” he says.
His legacy is evident through both his work at Honeywell Aerospace and his work teaching Intro to Engineering and Engineering Design at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, whose mission is to provide access to STEM secondary education for traditionally underserved populations. Hetsko sees teaching as another way to make a difference, particularly by helping students discover the possibilities within engineering and technology.
Hetsko adds, “I’m always trying to channel my professors from Lehigh.”
Outside work, Hetsko makes the most of time with his family, traveling whenever they can. He also enjoys going to concerts and soccer matches — fitting pursuits for someone whose career and life have been defined by curiosity and enthusiasm for new experiences.
