Matthew Cristi is a structural engineering project manager at Los Angeles Air Force Base and a Civil Engineering Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He earned his degrees from CSUN and Stanford and has worked at KPFF and Los Angeles Air Force Base. Matthew first connected with Simpson Strong-Tie through a scholarship and continues to value their support and resources in his professional work.  

My name is Matthew Cristi, and I’m a structural engineering project manager at Los Angeles Air Force Base and a Civil Engineering Officer for the United States Air Force Reserves. I graduated from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and earned a Master of Science in structural engineering from Stanford University. Upon earning my master’s degree, I was selected to attend U.S. Air Force Officer Training School in Alabama and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. I later returned to Los Angeles to work for KPFF as a structural design engineer. After two years, I decided to follow my passion to support the Department of Defense and joined Los Angeles Air Force Base as a structural engineering project manager.

I’m a Filipino-American who grew up in Los Angeles, CA, and owe my success to my family as I had support from my immediate and extended family throughout my career. My family emphasized working hard to have a successful career, being kind to others, and serving the community. Attending St. Francis High School, a Catholic all-boys school, in La Cañada Flintridge helped reinforce the development of these values. I later attended California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. At CSUN, I was able to maintain high honors, while working part-time as a transportation engineering intern at Psomas and leading the CSUN American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter as president.

After my undergraduate studies, I attended Stanford University to earn a master’s degree in structural engineering. I chose structural engineering to follow in the footsteps of my uncle, Renato Cristi, who is a senior manager in civil and structural engineering at Disneyland Resort. After my graduate studies, I joined the United States Air Force to serve as a Civil Engineering Officer. I later joined KPFF as a structural design engineer, working on the design of cold-formed steel exterior walls and reinforced concrete projects for higher education and healthcare facilities. After two years, I joined Los Angeles Air Force Base as a structural engineering project manager, working on projects supporting the Space Systems Command. Apart from my paid professional work, I also volunteer with the American Society of Civil Engineers in Los Angeles.   

During my undergraduate studies, I earned scholarships from various organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and Simpson Strong-Tie. My advice to students applying for scholarships is simply to apply for as many as you can and to ask teachers or other trusted mentors for help reviewing your scholarship applications. Like so many other young people, I can be afflicted with self-doubt about my capabilities; however, there’s a much greater chance of receiving a scholarship if you apply than if you don’t. Furthermore, asking others for help on applying and receiving constructive feedback will not only make your application stronger, but will help you understand how you can improve your weaknesses.

When selecting an engineering program, it’s important to understand your interests, skills, goals, and work environment. There’s no single career path to follow and no such thing as a right or wrong path. Each person has their own unique engineering career path. It’s also important to seek advice from professionals or professors to see what best fits your interests. When deciding to pursue a master’s degree, find out if your career path requires higher education. For example, pursuing a structural engineering career path requires higher education to understand the theory behind the practice. When choosing your master’s degree program, research the coursework of the program, the requirements to graduate, and your financing options. To tailor your education to career goals, assess the requirements of the job or industry you’re targeting. You can research and compare the requirements from job postings and seek out courses that address those needs.

I discovered Simpson Strong-Tie (SST) through guest speaker presentations at CSUN. My initial impression was that SST was a large company that was willing to invest in the lives of students. Since I discovered SST, I’ve been impressed by the meaningful relationships and opportunities that SST provides for the community. Although I received the scholarship for SST five years ago, they’ve stayed connected with me, share opportunities that I may be interested in, and support the events I plan.

Specifically, Angel Leon has checked up on me during grad school, provided scholarship opportunities that he’d come across, and sponsored a golf tournament that I organized with ASCE LA YMF. Being a Strong-Tie Undergraduate Fellow has made me feel a part of the SST family and I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without their support. Beyond the Simpson Strong-Tie Student Scholarship, I also utilize Simpson catalogs and programs for building design. As a structural design engineer, I was using CFS Designer™ software to design cold-formed steel elements in a building. I was also using Simpson connections as the to attach cold-formed steel walls to the slab of the structure. Not only was I learning about Simpson products during my Scholarship Fellow week, but I was able to apply those products to my designs as an engineer. 

There are many events and decisions that have led me to where I am today, a structural engineering PM and a Civil Engineering Officer in the United States Air Force, but when I reflect on my career journey, it really comes down to my family, friends, and mentors, and how I believe they’ve influenced me. My advice for future engineers and students is to radiate positivity, avoid comparing yourself to others, and spend time with your loved ones.