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Christopher Trainor, Inertial Instruments PM III on Notable Men

FOUNDER TO THE PROFILE

Christopher Trainor

Inertial Instruments PM III, BAE Systems, Inc.

“I have always been very driven. I set clear goals and work to achieve them, working around obstacles rather than letting them stop me. This applies to sports, professional life, and relationships. You have to put the effort in and put the work in.”

BASED IN
Boxborough, MA 01719
INDUSTRY
Defense and Aerospace

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About

Christopher Trainor is a seasoned mechanical engineer and defense and aerospace professional with 43 years of industry experience. He currently serves as Inertial Instruments PM III at BAE Systems, Inc., where he focuses on inertial guidance technologies, including accelerometers and gyroscopes, supporting the Sentinel program. Trainor began his engineering career with tool companies before joining Draper Laboratory in 1985, where he spent more than three decades designing, building, and testing advanced guidance systems. His work included a significant role in the Peacekeeper missile program during the Reagan administration, contributing to one of the era’s highly specialized defense technology initiatives.
In 2018, Trainor transitioned to BAE Systems, bringing extensive expertise in mechanical, biomedical, and systems engineering to his work on advanced inertial instrumentation. His responsibilities include supporting technologies associated with the Sentinel program, which is intended to replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system. In addition to his technical responsibilities, Trainor places considerable emphasis on mentorship, sharing his specialized knowledge with younger Air Force, Navy, and civilian engineers. Although semi-retired, he continues to contribute to the field on a part-time basis, working approximately three days per week.
Trainor holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from WPI, Northeastern, and Tufts, with academic and professional interests spanning inertial instrument design, manufacturing and testing, and orthopedic biomechanics. He is a former member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Beyond his professional career, he supports charitable organizations, including the Tim Tebow Foundation and various Christian and Catholic charities. Trainor attributes his professional success to drive, clearly defined goals, perseverance in overcoming obstacles, and a commitment to ethics, honesty, and transparency. He also emphasizes maintaining a healthy work-life balance and continuing to grow rather than becoming complacent.

Key Areas Of Focus

  • 01. Mechanical engineering
  • 02. inertial guidance systems for nuclear missiles
  • 03. accelerometers
  • 04. gyroscopes
  • 05. guidance systems
  • 06. Sentinel program

IN HIS OWN WORDS

The Q and A

  1. 01

    What do you attribute your success to?

    I have always been very driven. I set clear goals and work to achieve them, working around obstacles rather than letting them stop me. This applies to sports, professional life, and relationships. You have to put the effort in and put the work in.

  2. 02

    What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

    Don't be complacent. Complacency kills. When you get lazy or complacent and think everything's going great, that's when everything falls apart. Example of a company in Alabama that lost the recipe for a part with 5 millionths of an inch tolerances and it took 2 years to get it back.

  3. 03

    What advice would you give to young men entering your industry?

    Don't live to work, work to live. Your career is an important part of your life, but it's not your entire life. Maintain a healthy work-life balance, enjoy things outside of work, spend time with family. Avoid a Machiavellian view of career growth where anything goes to get ahead, as in the end you have to look at yourself in the mirror and be able to say you were a good person.

  4. 04

    What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

    The biggest challenge is retaining young employees who leave after short tenures for higher salaries rather than staying for long-term development. Companies need to show more loyalty to employees. It's frustrating to invest years training staff only to see them leave the industry entirely.

  5. 05

    What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

    Ethics, honesty, and transparency are most important. Telling the truth matters, even when there are consequences. If you don't tell the truth, you're gonna get caught. I've had to fire people for lying and stealing, but even then, you're better off telling the truth.

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