Her Story
About Judy
Judy Runge is a metallurgical consultant based in Chicago, Illinois, with a career that began in the defense industry at Northrop Corporation's Defense Systems Division. She moved into consulting in 1987 and has since specialized in non-ferrous metallurgy, electronic materials, surface science, anodizing aluminum, metallurgical thermodynamics, and microstructural development. Today she serves as President of CompCote International, Inc., where she offers expertise in failure analysis, manufacturing process evaluation, coatings, and electrochemical processes. She is recognized internationally as a writer, lecturer, and teacher.
After earning a master's degree in metallurgy, Runge returned to school while consulting and completed her PhD in metallurgical engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1997. Her career has also included a period at Apple as a Senior Subject Matter Expert and Principal Engineer from 2019 to 2023, where she was named an Apple Fellow. In 2021 she received the Scientific Achievement Award from the National Association for Surface Finishing, the organization's highest recognition. She is also the author of The Metallurgy of Anodizing Aluminum: Connecting Science to Practice, published by Springer in 2018, and is now preparing a second edition.
Runge is active in the professional community as a member of ASM International, where she has twice chaired the Electronic Materials Chapter in Chicago, and as Education Chairman of the Aluminum Anodizers Council since 2008. Known for thorough investigation and a strong sense of integrity, she looks for the reasons behind a problem rather than settling for a quick answer, and she consistently credits the contributors to her presentations and publications. Outside her professional life, she enjoys historical fiction, walking, cycling with her husband, travel, and time with her grandchildren.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Judy
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I was advised to seek recognition for the quality of my work and the integrity with which I do it, rather than for prestige or benefits. I still follow that advice in everything I do. I take deep dives into the problems I work on, I act with integrity, and I give people credit for their contributions.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Own your mistakes, and treat them as lessons rather than something to fear. Keep digging and keep looking at everything happening around your project. Ask questions, stay curious, and never stop thinking about a problem, because answers often come at the oddest times, such as while relaxing or walking. We need more women in technical and engineering roles because they regard details more closely.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and quality of work matter most to me. I also value giving proper credit to everyone who contributes, treating people fairly, and continuing to learn throughout my career. Balancing my professional life with family, along with time for reading, walking, cycling, and travel, keeps me grounded.
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