Southern Educational Robotics Conference

Senior Manager, Engineering Operations – Production Operations

Tinesha Ross, a native of Fairfield, Alabama, is senior manager of engineering support for production operations at United Launch Alliance, or ULA.

Ross brings more than 25 years of aerospace industry experience to her role. Her career includes 10 years at ULA’s rocket manufacturing facility in Decatur, Alabama, where she worked as an electrical systems test engineer, and 12 years at the company’s headquarters in Centennial, Colorado. She returned to the Decatur facility in 2021.

A dedicated community volunteer, Ross frequently speaks to students across the country and encourages young people to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She often shares her own story of perseverance, including losing her mother in a house fire at age 9 and later being told by a high school leader to “set realistic goals” when she expressed her desire to become an engineer.

Ross has received several honors for her professional achievements and community service. The Girl Scouts of Colorado named her a 2019 Woman of Distinction and recognized her as one of the state’s 100 Distinguished Girl Scout Alumnae. She was also selected as a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree in 2015 and was named a 2022 Woman of the Year by the Birmingham chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

She serves on the board of Students Without Mothers and supports students through mentoring and advising roles with Students Without Mothers and the AUM Foundation.

Ross earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Alabama A&M University, a master’s degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in project management from American InterContinental University. She is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration at Capella University.

A 1995 graduate of Fairfield High School, Ross was a member of the Marching Maroon and White Band, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., while attending Alabama A&M. She has one son, Chris, and three pets, Arya, Zeldris and Chase.