Leadership that Soars in the World of Aerospace

Mohamed Nasr’s journey is a masterclass in dedication and expertise, blending over 25 years of aerospace innovation, academic rigour, and research excellence. From early on, Nasr showed a natural talent for understanding the mechanics of flight. He quickly became a structural engineering leader known for his technical brilliance, collaborative nature, and unwavering commitment to progress.

His rise within Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) illustrates this perfectly. Taking on roles as a seasoned team lead and senior manager, Nasr shaped structural strategies for some of the company’s most advanced turbofan and turboshaft engines. Alongside his technical responsibilities, he cultivated engineering talent and advocated for manufacturing technologies that continue to push aerospace production forward.

Today, Nasr leads as the Senior Manager of Structural Engineering, where he guides a team charged with ensuring the durability, containment, and tip clearances of aircraft engines operating under extreme conditions. His daily focus involves steering the complex structural validation process through stress and thermal analyses, damage tolerance assessments, and finite element modelling (FEM). Innovation remains central to his leadership, with a strong emphasis on introducing metal additive manufacturing as a core capability. Thanks to his vision, the technical validation workflow is now streamlined and forward-thinking, while his thoughtful approach to talent development and workload management keeps his team highly effective and motivated.

Before assuming this leadership position, Nasr spent nearly five years managing structural engineering for P&WC’s turboshaft and turboprop engines. In this role, he balanced the challenges of developing new engine designs with integrating emerging technologies and supporting legacy systems. His ability to harmonize detailed technical work with strategic oversight solidified his reputation as a key driver of the company’s long-term success.

Looking back to the start of his career at P&WC, Nasr began as a Senior Engineer in Materials and Structures. There, he focused on the structural integrity of critical rotating compressor components. His early research on fatigue, low-cycle lifting, forgings, and statistical analysis laid a solid technical foundation that would support his future leadership. Over time, his contributions have earned him more than 30 awards, scholarships, and fellowships, including the prestigious Pratt & Whitney Canada Eagle Award twice and numerous honours from NSERC and Ontario’s graduate scholarship programs.

Alongside his industrial achievements, Nasr has maintained a strong academic presence across Canada, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. He has taught and mentored students at all levels, delivering courses in finite element analysis, machine design, vibrations, statics, and design for manufacturing. His academic appointments have included Ontario Tech University, Alexandria University, the American University of Sharjah, and McMaster University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.

At Alexandria University, Nasr took on the roles of assistant and associate professor, supervising multiple Ph.D. and MSc students. His research delved into advanced machining, surface integrity, and finite element modelling of manufacturing processes—fields where he remains an active contributor. His scholarly output, which includes over 40 peer-reviewed publications and more than 1,000 citations, continues to influence the field of engineering science.

Whether in the classroom or the engineering lab, Nasr’s strength lies in building high-performing teams and turning complex challenges into practical solutions. His leadership is rooted in mutual respect, technical mastery, and a vision for innovation that bridges the gap between research and industry. From mentoring early-career engineers to spearheading cuttingedge manufacturing integration in engine design, he remains a catalyst for progress.

Across every stage of his career, Mohamed Nasr combines deep technical knowledge with thoughtful leadership. This rare blend of academic insight and industrial pragmatism makes him a trusted figure in aerospace structural engineering. His work continues to advance engine performance, shape the future of manufacturing, and inspire the next generation of engineers.