NMSU electrical engineering alum Manuel “Manny” Mora (’84) credits a beloved professor with his success in engineering studies, which led to a successful 39-year career as an engineering leader in intelligence technology and his continued support of the place that gave him his beginning as an engineer.
Mora recalls Dr. Lucky: “He was one of the most admired professors in Electrical and Computer Engineering and was my advisor. I spent many hours learning from Dr. Lucky the principles of electrons, electricity, and what engineering really meant. To this day, I think if it were not for him, I would not have made it through the complex and rigorous course of study which entails electrical and computing engineering.”
Upon high school graduation in El Paso, Texas, Mora received a scholarship to NMSU which included participation in a Co-Operative Education Program. Following his sophomore year, he worked at a Navy Research facility in Newport, Rhode Island for one semester and returned to NMSU to complete his degree.
“NMSU gave me a very strong foundation that prepared me for my career,” said Mora. “As a student, NMSU pushed me hard intellectually, made me work really hard and many hours, taught me how to work with people, get along with others, and finding the really smart people around me.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Mora started his career as a digital design engineer with Motorola as the company’s first Hispanic engineering section manager, overseeing the Joint Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar System program. He later received Motorola’s Engineering Award, presented to less than 2% of their engineers and scientists. In recognition of his impact on the industry, Manny has also earned the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award for Technical Contribution.
He moved on to General Dynamics Mission Systems where he led the business responsible for delivering advanced technical solutions in support of the gathering, dissemination and exploitation of intelligence for the US and its allies. Customers included the US Space Force, Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and NASA.
“In my 39-year career developing sophisticated systems for customers, I came across many Aggie engineers within my company, companies I teamed with, companies I competed with, and in my customer community. Each one always stood out as a great engineer and a great person,” said Mora.
Grateful for his beginnings at NMSU, Mora has provided transformational support to College of Engineering over the years. He and his wife, Alexandra, are passionate about encouraging and helping today’s youth achieve a college education, especially in the STEM fields.
“New Mexico State is one of those unique universities that enables social mobility for people. It has a unique culture where students who are first generation or the first in their family to attend college, enter an environment where they are pushed hard by the professors, but also supported and cared for by those same professors.”
In 2020, Mora received one of the highest honors that NMSU bestows as Distinguished Alumni, and one of the highest honors the College of Engineering awards as Ingeniero Eminente for the fall 2020 College of Engineering Sociedad de Ingenieros.
Not only has Mora provided philanthropic support over the years, he also shares his time and expert guidance. Mora serves on the College of Engineering Advisory Council and was previously chair for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy at NMSU and still serves as a member.
When on campus, Mora often meets with students and shares his guidance: “If you are an engineering student and struggling with the math and physics and engineering courses, hang in there and don’t give up. Just keep working hard. At some point, most likely sophomore year, the light bulb will go on, and everything will make sense. Then you will see the beauty of what engineering means and what it will bring you.”
Mora’s motivation for his generosity goes well beyond NMSU.
“Universities are at the forefront of leading our societies into a more complex and beautiful world. The research they do is essential in taming the complexity of our evolving world. Preparing young people in the development of an exciting and fulfilling career that will set the tone for the rest of their lives is also something very special and important.”
Mora hopes to someday be remembered as being a good person who cares for others. His actions have already lived up to those qualities.
