Cheng-Lung Chen
He/Him
I am gay and I am an operations research engineer.//
I design and implement mathematical optimization models that support critical decisions in aircraft assignment, route planning, and real-time operational recovery, helping the airline minimize financial and operational impacts while keeping our network running smoothly. My academic journey took me from Taiwan to the United States, where I earned degrees in business, industrial engineering, and operations research. I wanted to understand how mathematical optimization can make large-scale systems more efficient and resilient to provide informed and data-driven decision making. As a gay scientist and engineer, I care deeply about visibility and representation in STEM. Early in my career, I didn’t often see LGBTQ+ professionals in technical roles, and that sense of isolation pushed me to be more open about who I am today. By sharing my story, I hope to show that authenticity strengthens innovation and that there’s space in operations research and beyond for everyone to thrive as their true selves.