Marquis Who's Who Millennium Magazine

92 MILLENNIUM I n order to fly through the air with ease from one point to the next or to send a man to the moon, the world relies in part on the minds of men and women who are versed in the field of aerospace engineering. These individuals are gifted with the capacity to create aircraft, spaceships, satellites and missiles, as well as ensure that they function properly. John Paris Colvis is one such individual who had the brains and ability to do the job. Mr. Colvis received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis in 1977. With his newly acquired degree, Mr. Colvis began his journey toward a prosperous career in aerospace engineering. In 1978, he became an associate system safety engineer at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company. He stayed in that position for two and a half years, then became a senior system safety engineer for another company, Martin Marietta, in 1981. Mr. Colvis had the drive and determination to progress professionally, and in 1987, he became a senior engineer for Martin Marietta. He held that position for eight years with the Lockheed Martin Corporation, formerly known as Martin Marietta. His career continued to thrive until his retirement in 2016 from his position as a senior systems engineer II with the Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Missile Defense Center in Woburn, Mass. Despite his extensive knowledge and experience, Mr. Colvis’ curiosity has never dwindled. He has continued to learn as a researcher in the fields of science and mathematics, focusing on correcting their foundations while discovering the answers to many scientific and mathematical questions. Additionally, Mr. Colvis is particularly proud to have served as a lance corporal in the U.S. Marines and to have fought in the Vietnam War. John Paris Colvis Aerospace Engineer Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Missile Defense Center Woburn, MA