Alumni Who Inspire: Thomas Moore

Alumni Who Inspire program features alumnus Thomas Moore. (WVU Photo supplied)

The alumni of the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University represent the living legacy of our academic units and are the embodiment of our values, achievements, and impact beyond our campus. Their journeys reflect the strength of the education they received and the community that shaped them. Whether they graduated last year or decades ago, Statler alumni continue to inspire, connect and help us create a lasting impact on Mountaineers to come! 

Q&A with Thomas Moore
Photo supplied

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

For this month’s Alumni Who Inspire series, we're honored to feature Mr. Thomas Moore, the President of SPARC Research, an aerospace and defense engineering services company based in Warrenton, Virginia. Learn more about his journey from being a student at WVU to building a career and now giving back to the next generation. 

Q: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Could you tell us about yourself and your experience as a Statler College student? 

A: I am a 1983 graduate of the WVU Statler College with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. I pretty much knew from the time I was a sophomore in high school that I wanted to be an engineer, following in my grandfather’s footsteps. I grew up in Keyser, West Virginia, the home of WVU’s Potomac State College, so it was a natural choice for me to begin my academic career there. I was among a group of seven guys from my high school class who started the engineering program together at PSC before heading to Morgantown for our junior and senior years. 

Q: When you first arrived here as a student, what do you remember most about those early days? 

A: When I arrived, the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and, in general, the Engineering Sciences Building, were very imposing and it was quite a transition going from PSC to Morgantown, but there were always energy, excitement, and things to do around campus. I remember being excited to start “big” college and following what I felt was a fairly traditional path taking courses, completing my requirements, and working toward graduation. And of course, I’ve always been a rabid WVU football and basketball fan, back before there were the Mountaineer Maniacs. 

Q: How did your courses shape your experience? 

A: Experiential learning opportunities at Statler were a bit limited back then, so I took a traditional path of course study to obtain my degree. My junior year was challenging, but senior year it all came together. My favorite class was [then] MAE 210 Kinematics. I liked the class so much that I’ve kept my final project binder to this day, even showing it to my former professor a couple years ago before he retired. He got a kick out of that.  Another senior project took my team to the depths of the ESB basement to bring an old mechanical testing machine back to working order (I wonder if it’s still there!).  That was a great immersion into engineering teamwork and problem-solving.  

Q: As you look back on your final days as a student, how did you feel about stepping beyond college and beginning the next chapter of your life? 

A: I’ll never forget my last day as a student walking out of the ESB, hands raised like Rocky Balboa at the top of the steps and ready to take on the world! 

Q: What happened next? What was the transition from being a student to starting your professional journey like? 

A: After graduation, I was fortunate to land a job with Hercules Aerospace, designing and testing solid rocket propulsion systems near my hometown. It came as no surprise that my boyhood hobby of building and flying model rockets turned into my lifelong career path — a bit like the movie October Sky minus blowing up my parents’ fence (watch this great movie and you’ll see). I later continued my career in propulsion research at The Johns Hopkins University where I completed my master’s degree and moved into technical and program management. In 2007, Alliant Techsystems came calling and I accepted a senior technical position to help guide and mentor a large group of junior and wide-eyed new engineering hires. Then, in 2016, after a two-year stint as the inaugural Director of the Defense Systems Information Analysis Center with SURVICE Engineering, I returned home to the rocket plant in West Virginia where it all started — I had come full circle in my career. There I completed a very rewarding five-year stint as a Director of Programs and retired from Northrop Grumman in 2021. 

But the story didn’t end there and an unplanned chapter of my career had yet to be written. I soon jumped into the consulting waters on a part-time basis to “have some fun,” maintain some technical engagement with the industry, and offer help to others. In 2024, my consulting gig led to an offer from SPARC Research to join their executive leadership team as Vice President of Programs and Business Development, and then in April 2026 I was named President of our growing company. So, in my career, I’ve had the privilege and experience of working for big companies, small companies, and academia. Each has their own gifts and challenges, but I really love the small company environment.    

Q: And now, years later, what brings you back to support Statler students? 

A: Actually, As DSIAC Director, I re-engaged with then MMAE Department of the Statler College and have served on its Visiting Committee since 2015, gaining further insight on student projects and department activities. I really enjoyed talking to Statler students at the poster sessions and touring the labs that support experiential learning. I’ve also had the opportunity to visit senior classes to talk about my company and career. In 2019, I was humbled and honored to be inducted into MMAE’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni.   

Q: What has inspired you to stay connected to the college and give back to the students who are following in your footsteps? 

A: Talent! I am amazed to see how far Statler College has come over the years and the many awards and recognitions that have been bestowed upon students and faculty.  Our WVU Engineering students stand out in many ways and compete very well with the best in the nation. I’ve had the opportunity to work with and hire several Statler alumni over the years. This summer alone at SPARC, three of our five summer interns were from WVU Engineering! 

Q: What does staying engaged look like for you today? 

A: It’s about being available whether that’s mentoring a student, sharing my experiences, making a connection. Sometimes a small conversation can make a big difference. I’m very proud that my company hires interns from Statler and provides financial support for WVU’s Experimental Rocketry team. 

Q: What meaningful advice would you give to Statler students? 

A: Looking back on my rewarding career, I’d like to offer a few tips to our engineering grads entering the workplace:  

1. Find your niche for what you do best and become that “go to” person in your organization for execution and mentoring. I was always a good writer, so I practiced the art and eventually became a technical proposal writer and leader for several organizations to help them win business. I still do it today for SPARC Research
2. Be a reputation and relationship builder in your organization. This is crucial to winning and maintaining business. Most of the business we generate at SPARC is because of our relationships and our positive reputation for delivering on our commitments
3. Embrace humility and grace in times of trial. I once thought I was the shoo-in replacement for my retiring boss, but the organization elected to hire an external candidate. I worked hard to support my new boss just as I had for my old one. Only later did I realize that not getting that job was the best thing that had happened to me, and it set me on the path to where I am today. It probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise, and I am truly grateful and blessed for it.

Thank you for sharing your story, your time, and your continued commitment to our students, Tom. Your journey is a wonderful reminder that graduation isn’t the end of the college experience — it can be the beginning of a lifelong connection! Let’s Go Mountaineers! 

The Alumni Who Inspire! Program in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources recognizes alumni for their dedication to their professions, our college and West Virginia University. The program was launched in Fall 2023 as a monthly discussion board with Statler alumni. Join us next month to learn more about the inspiring journeys of our community members.

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