2020 US Black Engineer & Information Technology | CONFERENCE - VOL. 45, NO. 1 by Career Communications Group

BEYA35 : STAND UP. STEP UP. MAKE THE CHANGE.

35TH BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

THE

General Motors executive is shaping the future in the best ways possible Gerald Johnson

Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing General Motors

INSIDE:

200+ Modern-Day Technology Leaders 100+ BEYA Winners

USBE&IT Conference Issue 2020 www.blackengineer.com

Career Outlook: Latest Trends in Information Technology

Come build the future with us We value individual expression, respect different opinions, and work together to create a culture where each of us is able to contribute fully. Our unique backgrounds and perspectives strengthen our ability to achieve Amazon’s mission of being Earth’s most customer-centric company.

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

US BLACK ENGINEER & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

BRINGING TECHNOLOGY HOME TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY

COVER STORY 26

Gerald Johnson, the 35th Black Engineer of the Year, is playing a key role in shaping the future of General Motors. Find out how!

2021 BEYA WINNERS

2021 LEGACY AWARD HONOREES

2021 MODERN-DAY TECHNOLOGY LEADERS

2021 SCIENCE SPECTRUM TRAILBLAZERS

2021 STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

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PUBLISHER'S PAGE VOLUME 45 NUMBER 1

DEPARTMENTS

AMERICA’S PROMISE TO NEXT GENERATION OF STEM LEADERS

People & Events.................. 6

For more than 30 years, Career Communications Group (CCG) has been on a journey with its partners in the scientific and technical enterprise. Throughout, CCG has stuck with its mission: To promote significant achievement and opportunity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Get the latest news on retirements, promotions, conferences, and other current events in today’s STEM community.

One on One ....................... 10

Now retired from the military, Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford reflects on his awardwinning year and looks to the future as he begins the next steps in his career.

Corporate Life ................... 14

Unleash the power of social capital within your organization to create momentum, spark innovation, and generate better results.

Education .......................... 18 10 tips to help you land a job at a virtual career fair.

Career Voices ....................22 Gain more confidence, make better decisions, and earn the respect you deserve in your career!

Leading Voices...................88

• Dr. Korie Grayson - Redefining the image of STEM • Dr. Victor McCrary - HBCUs, our nation’s competitive assets for research and science in engineering • Jem Pagán - Inclusion in Inclusion and Diversity

CCG is a socially conscious, diversity media company that recognizes the mandate to inspire excellence by telling the stories of thousands of unheralded people striving for success. The people we reach provide technology employers and federal defense contractors a unique opportunity to fulfill their mission of hiring this country’s most promising talent in STEM. No doubt about it, the United States has progressed. That thousands of men and women are nominated each year for the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) is a testament to employers taking notice. However, COVID-19 brought a whole new set of pressures. As millions of Americans were forced to stay home, studies began to reveal where the problems brought on by the pandemic were greatest. Studies found that K-12 school districts transitioned academic and non-academic activities to remote settings with varying degrees of success. According to the Collaborative for Student Growth at the NWEA, the public health, educational, and economic damages inflicted by COVID-19 are likely to exacerbate inequities affecting minority students. NWEA researchers found students opt out of testing for financial, health, or technical reasons. The study also found that students not testing in fall 2020 are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Not accounting for these students would produce underestimated learning loss and achievement gaps, the researchers noted—potentially resulting in under-provision of support to the neediest students. To examine the patterns of missing data in fall 2020, an attrition study was used with data of 5.2 million students who attended any grade between kindergarten and seventh grade in fall 2019. As we move into the 2020s, we must connect the STEM community’s vast assets to investments that will close the gaps in health care and education and transfer more knowledge and opportunity. We cannot allow the next generation of leaders in STEM to be underachievers.

Career Outlook.................. 91

Information Technology (IT) - The latest trends in IT careers! Tyrone D. Taborn Publisher and Chief Content Officer

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NOW THE MOST READ BLACK TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE REACHING OVER 100,000 READERS IN THE UNITED STATES, UK, AND SOUTH AFRICA

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

SAVE THE DATE FEBRUARY 17-19, 2022 www.beya.org

EXECUTIVE OFFICE Tyrone D. Taborn, CEO and Chief Content Officer Jean Hamilton, President and CFO Alex Venetta, Associate Publisher, Manager of Partner Services Eric Price, Vice President, Recruitment and Professional Training EDITORIAL AND CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Rayondon Kennedy, Managing Editor Lango Deen, Technology Editor Michael Fletcher, Contributing Editor Gale Horton Gay, Contributing Editor Garland L. Thompson, Contributing Editor Roger Witherspoon, Contributing Editor GRAPHIC DESIGN Beverly Wladkowski, Art Director Bryan Davis, Digital Director Rachael DeVore, Digital Channel Manager Courtney Taborn, Digital Marketing Manager Joe Weaver, Global Design Interactive CORPORATE AND ALUMNI RELATIONS Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, CCG Alumni Committee Chair and President Dr. Eugene DeLoatch, Chairman, BEYA Alumni Group Vice Admiral Walter J. Davis, USN (Ret.) National Chair, BEYA Military Alumni Oliver “Bo” Leslie, Retired Program Manager, Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions, Boeing Monica E. Emerson, Women of Color STEM Conference National Chair Matt Bowman, CCG Military Program Manager, Stars & Stripes Committee; Executive Director/Chief of Staff for VADM Walt Davis, USN (Ret.) Ty Taborn, Esq., Corporate Development SALES AND MARKETING Gwendolyn Bethea, Vice President, Corporate Development Kameron Nelson, Account Executive Katrina Shaw, Sales Support Assistant Jay Albritton, Social Media Specialist JOBMATCH AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Ashley Turner, University & Professional Relations Development Manager Rod Carter, Recruitment Specialist, College Relations Shelia Richburg, College Coordinator CONFERENCE AND EVENTS Ana Bertrand, Conference Coordinator Jennifer Roberts, Customer Success Manager Brandon Newby, Administrative Assistant Toni Robinson, 360 MMG Rutherford & Associates 17304 Preston Rd Suite 1020 Dallas, TX 75252 ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE

The

For more information, call us at 410-244-7101 Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/BEYASTEM Follow us on Twitter: @BlackEngineer

Career Communications Group, Inc. 729 E. Pratt Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 244-7101 / Fax: (410) 752-1837

US Black Engineer & Information Technology (ISSN 1088-3444) is a publication devoted to engineering, science, and technology and to promoting opportunities in those fields. US Black Engineer & Information Technology cannot be responsible for unsolicited art or editorial material. This publication is bulk-mailed to colleges and universities nationwide. Subscriptions are $26/year. Please write to US Black Engineer & Information Technology, Subscriptions, 729 E. Pratt St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202. Copyright © 2021 by Career Communications Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/BEYASTEM

Aero

PEOPLE & EVENTS by Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR MOVES & CHANGES

Left to right: Stephanie C. Hill, Christopher T. Jones, and Alicia Boler Davis

2014 Black Engineer of the Year appointed EVP in rotary and mission systems

2016 Black Engineer of the Year elected to Norfolk Southern Corp. board of directors

On March 12, the board of directors of Lockheed Martin Corporation appointed Stephanie C. Hill as executive vice president, rotary and mission systems (RMS). Hill has served as senior vice president, enterprise business transformation, since June 2019. Before that, Hill was deputy executive vice president of RMS from October 2018 to June 2019; senior vice president for corporate strategy and business development from September 2017 to October 2018; and vice president and general manager of the cyber, ships, and advanced technologies line of business for RMS from June 2015 to September 2017. Hill has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining Lockheed Martin in 1987 as a software engineer.

In May, Christopher T. Jones, former corporate vice president at Northrop Grumman Corporation, was elected to the board of directors of Norfolk Southern Corporation. Jones was appointed to the Audit and Governance and Nominating Committees of the Norfolk Southern board. Jones served as president of the technology services sector of Northrop Grumman from January 2013 through December 2019. Previously, he served as vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s integrated logistics and modernization division from 2010 through 2012. Jones was a maintenance officer in the Connecticut Air National Guard from 1997 to 2011.

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

2018 Black Engineer of the Year joins Amazon’s senior leadership team In August, Amazon appointed Alicia Boler Davis as senior vice president of global customer fulfillment. She is responsible for over 175 Amazon fulfillment centers across 16 countries. Also, she leads the worldwide network of customer service operations and technology and the Sustainability, Product Safety, Security, and Product Compliance teams. Davis was also added to the company’s senior leadership group, better known as the “S-team,” the executives who meet with CEO Jeff Bezos and make critical strategic decisions for the tech and e-commerce giant. Before joining Amazon in 2019, Davis served as the head of global manufacturing at GM, capping a 24-year career at General Motors. She held numerous executive roles, including EVP of worldwide manufacturing and labor relations.

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2010 Black Engineer of the Year joins Flex board of directors

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bruce Crawford

Jacobs welcomes 2020 Black Engineer of the Year as SVP, strategic development Also in November, the Jacobs Engineering Group welcomed former Army chief information officer and retired Army Lt. Gen. Bruce T. Crawford as senior vice president for strategic development in its critical mission solutions line of business. According to the press release, Crawford, a decorated combat veteran, will provide leadership, vision, and focus to support growth and continued development and deployment of innovative solutions across an everexpanding client base within critical mission solutions. With approximately $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific, and project delivery for the government and private sector.

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Flex announced in November that John D. Harris II joined the company’s board of directors. Most recently, he served as vice president of business development for Raytheon Company and CEO of Raytheon International, Inc. Flex delivers technology, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions to industries and end markets. Throughout Harris’s career, he held positions of increasing responsibility. He served as Raytheon’s executive diversity champion in 2007–2008, leading the Executive Diversity Leadership Team and providing strategic direction for the company’s overall diversity and inclusion efforts. He also served on the NextGen Advisory Committee of the RTCA (formerly known as the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics), the Board of the USO of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise with the Department of Commerce, and was a member of the Council of Trustees for the Association of the U.S. Army. S

To stay up to date and all news and events, Visit our webpage www.blackengineer.com

EVENTS

BEYA STEM GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS CONFERENCE February 11-13, 2021 Washington Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C.

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS (NSBE) March 10–14, 2021. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Work on the leading edge of technology and innovation. Join part of a vital mission that yields lasting change. Bring your STEM or IT skills to the U.S. Air Force.

USAF FORCES JOINED

United States Air Force • United States Space Force Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps • United States Air Force Academy Air Force Civilian Service • Air Force Reserve • Air National Guard

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AIR FORCE 2020 BEYA WINNERS 1st Lt. Nyamekye

Dr. Bolden-Frazier

Dr. Hatcher-Solis

Deputy Chief, Propulsion Technology Branch

Technical Advisor, Damage Mechanisms Branch & Warheads Sub-Core Technical Competency Lead

Team Lead Neurobiology of Cognitive Performance

AFCivilianCareers.com/BEYA

U.S. citizenship required. Equal opportunity employer. Must be of legal working age.

ONE ON ONE by Gale Horton Gay editors@ccgmag.com

TURBULENCE OF 2020 DIDN’T STOP BEYA WINNER BRUCE CRAWFORD FROM FULFILLING DUTIES

The 2020 Black Engineer of the Year, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bruce Crawford

ne weekend in February 2020, Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford’s lifetime of hard work and dedication culminated in honors when he was recognized as the Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA). In a prestigious ceremony held at the annual BEYA Conference at a Washington, D.C., hotel, he was surrounded by peers and leaders of industry and the military, but most importantly for Crawford, his wife, mother, and adult sons were there to witness the accolades and homage. “It has been a wonderful experience,” 10

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

said Crawford. “It was an honor to be selected.”

businesses and institutions began to shut down or modify operations.

Taking on the mantle of Black Engineer of the Year filled Crawford with pride.

Crawford didn’t let the pandemic scuttle his plans to be a national spokesman about career advancement, STEM, information technology, diversity, and inclusion. He seized every opportunity to interact with audiences virtually. He served on a variety of panels, including the Heritage Foundation, and was the keynote speaker at a church forum for youth. In all, he was involved in 15–20 virtual and in-person events.

“I couldn’t help feeling I was part of history and something important, much bigger than myself,” he said. Crawford was anticipating a year of travel and scores of face-to-face gatherings as is tradition for the individual serving as BEYA. However, within weeks of his recognition, life began to change as COVID-19 spread across the globe. In the United States,

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He said the virtual events were “as effective and in some cases even more effective,” noting that individuals attending virtually are “a little bit more focused” and the recorded events can be viewed on an ongoing basis. Crawford said he learned from serving as the Black Engineer of the Year about the power of having a platform. “It was an amazing experience,” he shared. “What I learned is when you have a platform, you have an inherent responsibility to do good for other people.” Crawford, who served 34 years in the U.S. Army before retiring in August, achieved the rank of lieutenant general and was chief information officer and senior IT official. He served as IT and cybersecurity policy advisor to the secretary of the Army and Army chief of staff. His duties and responsibilities also included execution and oversight of the Army’s $12 billion IT budget, data and cloud migrations, and delivery of IT capabilities at 288 locations in 143 countries. His accomplishments are remarkable in multiple ways and for several reasons. He points out that his path demonstrates the power of one individual making a difference in the life of a young person. Crawford, a native of Columbia, SC, recalls that when he was a teen, he desired to be an architect and taught himself to draw. A high school guidance counselor told him he wasn’t college material and shouldn’t waste his family’s money on college; he should learn a trade. However, one teacher took a particular interest in him, taught young Crawford mechanical drawing, talked to him about historically Black colleges and niversities and the field of electrical engineering, and told his mother, “I think I can get him into college.”

www.blackengineer.com

“His efforts got me into college,” Crawford said. Crawford attended South Carolina State University and was commissioned through its Reserve Officer Training Corps program after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He would go on to earn two master’s degrees—one in administration from Central Michigan University and one in national resource strategy from National Defense University. Although retired from the military, Crawford is not idle. Initially he spent his retirement enjoying the company of family, especially a new granddaughter. He also reflected on “what an honor it has been to really serve with some of the most gifted and most talented people in our profession.” Now he’s back at work, engaged in a new endeavor as senior vice president of strategic development and critical mission solutions for Jacobs, a global company with $13 billion in revenue and more than 55,000 employees and associates that provides professional services including consulting, technical, scientific, and project delivery for the government and private sector.

Crawford didn’t let the pandemic scuttle his plans to be a national spokesman about career advancement, STEM, information technology, diversity, and inclusion. He seized every opportunity to interact with audiences virtually. and staying true to the ideals of the BEYA foundation. “Tell your story. One determined leader can make a difference.” S

Crawford advises those seeking to take on leadership positions to:

•

Determine your own success. “Don’t let others determine what success is for you.”

•

Recognize there’s no substitute for preparation.

•

Have a passion and be intellectually curious about the world.

For the next person with the distinction of serving as Black Engineer of the Year, Crawford suggests staying humble, leveraging the platform to be a position of influence in the lives of others,

Watch the 2020 Black Engineer of the Year, Bruce Crawford, accept his award l.ead.me/bbpE1c

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Congratulations to all of this year’s Black Engineer of the Year and Minorities in Research Science awardees, including Corning’s Dr. Yacob Argaw, Kameron Chambliss, Dr. Obiefuna Okafor, Dr. Chukwudi Okoro, and Dr. Mardochee Reveil

2021 Outstanding Technical Contribution Honoree

Corning Dr. Obiefuna “Obi” Okafor

2021 Modern Day Technology Leaders

Dr. Yacob Argaw

Kameron Chambliss

Dr. Chukwudi Okoro

Dr. Mardochee Reveil

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. We apply our unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics, along with our deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. We succeed through sustained investment in R&D, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries.

aerotek

CORPORATE LIFE by Rayondon Kennedy editors@ccgmag.com

HOW TO BUILD THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK When Karen Beale volunteered to take on a complex mapping project—documenting the overlap of subject matter experts and accounts in specific regions—for her department at IBM, she had no idea it’d change the trajectory of her career.

ut months after the project’s completion, when IBM leadership decided to make some significant changes to the company’s structure, her name started to come up in meetings. People associated with the project knew that the skills she’d acquired during the earlier mapping project would be useful during the company’s transition. Today, Beale works as IBM’s business unit executive, a role she achieved at least in part because she’d volunteered for that earlier mapping project. “It was all from having that knowledge from a project I’d just happened to volunteer for,” she says. “It allowed me to build relationships with the people in that project, and those people later brought up my name.” According to Beale, however, 14

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

professionals should not sit around and wait for these opportunities to arrive. In fact, she advises people to identify the figures that can help them achieve their goals and find ways to build relationships with those people. “If you work in AI but want to get into something blockchain-related, you need to get the people working in blockchain to know your name and see what you bring to the table,” she says. The question, of course, is how to do that. What do you need to do to get on the radar of the people who can help you? Figuring this out, Beale says, is a twophase process. The first step is preparation. You should plan your networking strategy by determining what your goal actually is (you won’t know who can help you get to your destination if you don’t know where you’re headed, after all), and the smaller goals you have to achieve in order to reach the big one. As Beale says, “You need to determine the steps you must take to get to the job you’d like to have. That way, you won’t lose your direction.” She also suggests researching the people and roles involved in hiring for each job you want. This might mean the person or persons involved in the actual candidate selection process, or it might just mean people who influence the decision maker. “These people might not even be in the department,” she explains, “but because of their subject matter expertise or interaction with the department, they may have high influence over who is selected.” The final step in the preparation phase is to assess your current talents and think about how those talents might be useful to the person with whom you

want to connect. After all, networking isn’t just about how other people can help you—it’s more about how you can lend value to others. “Remember, everyone is trying to accomplish something to be successful,” Beale says. “If you can provide that missing link and help them to become successful, they’ll more than likely remember your name when an opportunity becomes available.” Once you have a plan in place, the next step is outreach. She recommends starting with your existing network. Whether it’s a specific person you want to meet or someone with a particular job title, she says that your friends, family, and co-workers are the best place to start. “Too often, we underestimate the value of our network’s networks, the people who know the people we know,” she says. If that doesn’t work, social media and company directories are the next best resources. “Most companies have directories that you can use to search staff by title and responsibilities,” Beale explains. “If not, LinkedIn has a feature you can use to search by area of expertise. If you’re looking for a security administrator at your company or another, you’ll probably find them on LinkedIn.” Whichever outreach method you choose, she stresses to always make clear the talent and work ethic you bring to the table. Beale herself is a living example of the principle that if you make yourself an asset to the right people, opportunities are more likely to present themselves. “Don’t overlook the value you can bring them or how much people are willing to help you,” she says. “Sometimes all you have to do is start reaching out.” S

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Karen Beale Business unit executive, IBM

“Remember, everyone is trying to accomplish something to be successful,” Beale says. “If you can provide that missing link and help them to become successful, they’ll more than likely remember your name when an opportunity becomes available.” www.blackengineer.com

Listen to the full discussion on the CCG Media podcast l.ead.me/bbt1RK

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

A CULTURE FOR YOU TO BELONG Our culture is one that believes in POWERING YOUR POTENTIAL. We provide global opportunities to develop your career, make your community a better place, and work alongside today’s most innovative thinkers to solve the world’s toughest problems. We believe in ﬂexibility for you to explore your passions and make an impact through meaningful work within our diverse workforce.

Cummings

Connect with us at the BEYA 2021 virtual conference!

POWERING YOUR POTENTIAL #LifeAtCummins Connect with us @CumminsCareers

cummins.com/careers

JPMC

EDUCATION by Rayondon Kennedy editors@ccgmag.com

10 TIPS FOR ATTENDING A VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR

s the employment recruiting process continues to evolve, technology is making in-person job fairs a thing of the past. Now, employers and employment agencies are hosting more virtual career fairs. An online job fair is an event where you get to meet and interact with potential employers using remote technology like Skype or a video chatroom. However, just because you can attend an online hiring event from the comfort of your home doesn’t mean you should treat it casually. You need to prepare for a virtual career fair just like you would for a traditional one. In fact, you are going to need to work harder to stand out to get the attention of companies at the event. Here are several important tips that you can follow to make your virtual career fair a successful job hunting event.

1. Register in Advance

The first thing you should do when you learn about a virtual career fair is to register for the event ahead of time. That’s because you will want to guarantee yourself a spot at the online job fair, just in case there is a limit on the number of attendees. Furthermore, once you register, you will be able to see a list of employers attending the hiring event.

2. Research Employers Attending the Virtual Job Fair

Once you find out which employers are attending the virtual job fair, you need to start researching them. The best way to start is with a simple Google search. Visit their respective websites to learn about the following things:

» Industry » Mission Statement » Company News » Key Facts and Figures Write down all of the important information that you find out about the 18

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

companies attending the hiring event. You might find it easier to read if you type up your findings in an outline and use bullet points to list the information underneath each company. That way, you could easily reference your notes when talking to hiring managers from these companies during the virtual career fair.

3. Update Your Resume

Just like at a traditional job fair, you need to have an attractive, professionally written, updated resume. Given the fact that you are attending a virtual hiring event, your resume is going to make an even bigger first impression on employers. Therefore, you want it to make a good, memorable impression on them. Whatever you do, don’t wait until the day of the virtual career fair to update your resume. If you need help improving your resume, you can find a lot of good resources online. Furthermore, your state’s local employment office (they have different titles depending on which state you live in) may offer resume writing assistance.

4. Make Sure Your Technology Works Properly

Another thing you want to do before the remote hiring event is to make sure your technology is working. Test your Internet connection and speed. You can find a free Internet speed test by doing a Google search. If you are experiencing any problems, contact your Internet service provider to get them resolved. You will also want to make sure that your laptop and its camera are functioning properly.

5. Create a Great Introduction Create a good, professional-sounding pitch to introduce yourself to employers at the online job fair. Make sure you practice your intro to really get it down right. You might want to ask a friend or family member to play

Successfully attending a virtual career fair starts with registering ahead of time to ensure you get a spot. Make sure you spend plenty of time researching the employers attending, as well as updating your resume and testing your technology to confirm it works properly. the part of a hiring manager. Then, you can practice your pitch with them.

6. Dress for Success

Just because you are attending a virtual career fair from home doesn’t mean that you should wear your pajamas. Remember the expression “Dress for the job you want?” That’s definitely still true when it comes to remote hiring events. Employers will be able to see what you are wearing—at least part of what you are wearing—because you will be video chatting with them. Therefore, you need to dress professionally and look your very best.

7. Act Professionally In addition to dressing professionally, you need to act professionally too. www.blackengineer.com

For example, when you meet a hiring manager, thank them for taking the time to chat with you. Present yourself in a way that would make them think you are capable of being a good employee. That means using professional business communication. Avoid saying anything that could be offensive and make you look unprofessional.

8. Use Strong Body Language

Employers will be watching your body language while video chatting with you. Therefore, you want to use strong body language that makes you come across as self-confident. Sit up straight and lean slightly forward in your chair. Make good eye contact by looking straight into the camera. Avoid using a lot of hand gestures. Smile and nod when appropriate during the conversation. www.blackengineer.com

Make sure you speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard, but don’t shout!

9. Ask for the Next Steps in the Hiring Process

When your conversation with a hiring manager is about to wrap up, let them know that you are definitely interested in their company. Ask them about their hiring process. Make sure you ask them if there is anything further that you can add to show you are a qualified job candidate. You should definitely ask for their contact information.

10. Follow Up

Finally, make sure you follow up with all of the hiring managers you talked to on the day after the online job fair. Tell them that you enjoyed the chance to meet them and learn about their company. Since they likely talked to

many job seekers, you might want to briefly remind them who you are. Once again, let them know that you are interested in taking the next steps to apply for a job. In short, successfully attending a virtual career fair starts with registering ahead of time to ensure you get a spot. Make sure you spend plenty of time researching the employers attending, as well as updating your resume and testing your technology to confirm it works properly. Create a great pitch, and then practice it a lot. You need to dress and act professionally and use strong body language to make a good impression on hiring managers. Show your enthusiasm to employers by asking them about the next steps to apply for a job. Then, follow up with them the next day. S USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Innovation driven by diversity Raytheon Technologies honors our engineers for shaping the future of aerospace and defense — and celebrates all the recipients of this year’s Black Engineer of the Year Awards.

Raytheon

BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Brittany Wheeler

Keith Burrell

Veonicca Wesley

Dave Barclay Affirmative Action Award Collins Aerospace Work Transfer Manager

John D. Harris Legacy Award Raytheon Intelligence & Space Engineering Fellow

Professional Achievement in Industry Award Raytheon Missiles & Defense Principal Systems Engineer

FREEDOM, SHAPED BY

EXCELLENCE HI William Carbonell

Kendrick Carter

Technical Solutions Division Technical Solutions Division Science Spectrum Science Spectrum Trailblazer Trailblazer

Quincy Mack

Camisha Peterson

Technical Solutions Division Science Spectrum Trailblazer

Ingalls Shipbuilding Modern Day Technology Leader

Tiara Gray

Deshawn Jones

Newport News Shipbuilding Modern Day Technology Leader

Antaux Rollins

Alex Thomas

Newport News Shipbuilding Newport News Shipbuilding Modern Day Modern Day Technology Leader Technology Leader

Huntington Ingalls Industries proudly congratulates our 2021 BEYA award winners. These nine outstanding employees from our Ingalls Shipbuilding, Newport News Shipbuilding and Technical Solutions divisions are part of more than 42,000 employees worldwide who stand ready to help shape America’s freedom in the 21st century. Visit us during the virtual career fair and learn more about how you can join us at www.buildyourcareer.com. Equal Opportunity Employer | Veterans/Disabled Welcome | U.S. Citizenship Required For Most Positions

Warrick Williams Ingalls Shipbuilding Modern Day Technology Leader

CAREER VOICES by Rayondon Kennedy editors@ccgmag.com

LESSONS ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND EARNING RESPECT When General Motors hired Christine Burkette to design its orientation program in 2014, she was shocked. An IT consultant with two Master of Science degrees, she knew very little about human resources.

“M

y girlfriend from GM called me on the phone and said they were interviewing people to run their onboarding,” Burkette says. “I knew nothing about onboarding, but for some reason, she thought that I could do it.” Her friend was right. Burkette’s charisma, confidence, and innovative ideas for how the company could launch a new onboarding initiative prompted GM CEO Mary Barra to hire her on the spot. “I didn’t even know who she was,” Burkette says. “Honestly, I just went in to practice my presentation skills.” She set to work, and within six months, she’d launched the company’s new hire onboarding program as a consultant. After that, they gave her a full-time position in their infotainment division, flying her around the world to build training programs and demonstrations.

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Christine Burkette - Senior IT Consultant - Pierce, Monroe and Associates

“And that all came from one girl who walked into the interview with an idea,” she says, reflecting on her time at GM.

She was gracious enough to share a few tips:

How does one build that type of confidence? What can professionals do to assert themselves, earn respect from their peers at work, and set themselves up for career success like Burkette?

For Burkette, confidence is achieved through “quick wins.” By identifying and working toward small accomplishments, professionals can start to earn recognition and see value in themselves.

1. Go After Quick Wins

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Burkette stresses that no one accomplishes anything alone. She readily admits that the people around her have played a big role in her achievements. “I have a whole team of people who are smarter than me,” she says. “When I pick up the phone to ask my team if we can do something, they say, ‘Give me five minutes,’ and then call me back with a solution.” Often, quick wins come through volunteering. Those with particular talents can gain visibility in their company or industry by volunteering for opportunities that allow them to show off their skills. In Burkette’s case, she says she always made a point to volunteer for public speaking opportunities. “I knew I was great at putting presentations www.blackengineer.com

together and executing them, so I made sure I was always the person in front speaking.” It was these opportunities that not only helped her to develop a positive selfimage but also put her on the radar of the decision makers around her. “Successful and positive results will build your credibility,” she says, discussing the role that microachievements played in her own career. “Those small wins turned me into the go-to person, the person people call when they need a CIO.”

2. Set Your Leaders Up for Success

Executives, directors, and managers all have goals of their own. Helping them to achieve these goals is a fantastic way to earn the respect of higher-ups. Burkette tells a story from her time as the CIO for Detroit Public Schools when she was tasked with overhauling the district’s new student assessment process. Within 60 days, she and her team took the entire program online, flawlessly transforming it from a physical assessment to a digital one. Her boss, the superintendent, was thrilled. “He walked into the room and gave me a thumbs up,” she says. “That made my day.” Aside from building her confidence, though, it also gave her leverage within the department. “For the first time since he started his job, he wasn’t in the news for something going wrong,” she says, referring to the fact that the transformation helped to bolster her boss’ reputation. “And at that point, I could do what I wanted. I was untouchable, and I loved it.” It helped Burkette improve her own reputation within the city, too. “All these companies were looking over

trying to figure out who that girl was who did that,” she says. “It was great for the leadership, but it was also great for me.”

3. Surround Yourself with the Right People Burkette stresses that no one accomplishes anything alone. She readily admits that the people around her have played a big role in her achievements.

“I have a whole team of people who are smarter than me,” she says. “When I pick up the phone to ask my team if we can do something, they say, ‘Give me five minutes,’ and then call me back with a solution.” And even though she’s established herself as an industry leader, she makes a point to be as much of an asset to her team as they are to her. In her DPS job, for instance, she would show up in the early morning with the rest of the staff, even though this was uncommon for executives. “I came in early and I was the last to leave,” she says, explaining that this helped her to earn the respect of her team. “There’s nothing they wouldn’t do for me. When I left the company, most of them came with me, and that’s how I started my own business.” S

Listen to the full discussion on the CCG Media podcast: https://l.ead.me/ bbt1Rb

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

SCIENCE. SERVICE. STEWARDSHIP.

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them. From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it. NOAA employs some of the world’s top Scientists supported by a vast array of Administrative Support Professionals to accomplish this mission and we welcome you!

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AS A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR, GERALD JOHNSON WASN’T ENTIRELY SURE WHICH CAREER PATH WOULD BE RIGHT FOR HIM. NOTING HIS ABILITIES IN MATH AND SCIENCE, HIS GUIDANCE COUNSELOR GERALD JOHNSON Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing General Motors

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

RECOMMENDED A CAREER IN ENGINEERING. www.blackengineer.com

BEYA

BECOMING AN

ENGINEER The 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Johnson has not looked back since. As a co-op student (cooperative education which combines classroom-based education with full- or part-time work) at the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) he spent four years studying manufacturing operations, while alternating between school and a co-op assignment at GM’s Fisher Body plant in Euclid, OH. At just 18 years old, Johnson supervised employees his parents’ and grandparents’ age, providing early lessons in management. Both the management and practical experience he gained from his co-op assignment confirmed that manufacturing was indeed his calling.. “I didn’t sign up for engineering because I wanted to change the world. I wanted to be able to provide for my family,” Johnson said with a laugh on a December call with US Black Engineer magazine. “Like many BEYA winners, when you start from meager beginnings, you want to make sure there is a way out where you can see above need and move into the places Maslow talks about: making an impact, inspiring and transforming.” Since Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs to explain human motivation with what he called the healthy half of basic human needs, social science experts have identified fundamental human needs in every culture and society around the world. Johnson’s career at one of the world’s largest automakers proves his desire to serve others has not abated. www.blackengineer.com

“Manufacturing has been Gerald’s passion since he was an 18-year-old co-op student,” wrote General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary T. Barra, who attended GMI with Johnson. “Now as a member of the GM senior leadership team, Gerald is playing a key role in shaping the future of our company.” Johnson’s thesis on just-in-time manufacturing and synchronous systems was published in 1985, followed by his first post-graduate assignment at GM as a supervisor at the plant that first sponsored him. Within three months, he was on the move, bound for GM’s Fisher Body Stamping plant in Grand Blanc, MI. There, he spent the next few years supervising metal assembly operations and working his way up to become the youngest superintendent in the history of the plant at age 24. This was just the first of many firsts for this rising star. In 1989, he was one of only eight individuals nominated by GM leadership for a slot as a Sloan fellow. The midcareer and senior career master’s degree in management and leadership was supported by a grant from Alfred P. Sloan, former GM CEO, to his alma mater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Johnson pursued a degree at MIT, earning a Master of Science in manufacturing operations. After graduation, he took on the lead superintendent’s role in Grand Blanc, followed by the quality director’s position. In 1994, Johnson moved to Marion, IN,

by Lango Deen editors@ccgmag.com

where he served as the area manager executive. After two years, he became plant manager. Over the next six years, he held various management roles in GM’s North America Metal Fabricating division, achieving improvements with responsibility for up to 3,000 people and a budget of up to $275 million. In 2002, he accepted the position of executive director of Assembly and Stamping Operations for GM North America. In 2006, he took on the role of executive director of manufacturing, GM Europe, Opel/Vauxhall Division, in Zurich, Switzerland. There, Johnson oversaw joint ventures in Poland, Uzbekistan, and Russia; startup of GM’s St. Petersburg plant; and Opel/Vauxhall plants in Spain, Portugal, Poland, the UK, and Germany until 2009. Johnson spent the next four years as executive director of Manufacturing, GM North America. He was responsible for 13 manufacturing plants in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and New York. He was also the manufacturing lead for quality improvement execution, reporting directly to the vice president of North American Manufacturing Operations. Additionally, he was a member of the board of directors for GM/Isuzu JV producing Duramax diesel engines. Starting in 2010, Johnson had responsibilities for a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary, General Motors Component Holdings. As president, he managed over $1 billion of business for startup projects to produce injectors, USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

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Johnson visits GM plants around the globe on a regular basis, spending time talking to employees, updating them on product investments, walking the production line asking questions, meeting team members, and hearing about challenges and working with the team to problem solve issues.

fuel rails, radiators, and camshafts for major new engine and truck production. In 2013, he served as vice president of GM North America Manufacturing and had responsibility for the budget, quality, and safety performance for 80,000 employees in 56 manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

prestigious award recognizes the mobility profession’s benefits to society through quality in engineering. The award is named for Subir Chowdhury, a SAE Fellow and the bestselling author of several books, including “The Difference: When Good Enough Isn’t Enough” published by Crown Business in 2017.

In 2014, as vice president of global operational excellence, Johnson led a team of Lean Six Sigma experts, developed a training initiative, and coached employees in projects that improved the company’s operations efficiency. In the summer of 2017, Johnson became vice president of GM North America manufacturing and labor relations and was responsible for the safety, productivity, and quality performance of more than 115,000 employees at 47 assembly, stamping, propulsion, and component operations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. He led the production of 3 million vehicles annually, planned new model investments, and executed launches.

The SAE citation said Johnson’s most notable accomplishments, which led to the receipt of the award, has been his leadership role in GM’s Operational Excellence Program. He was commended for training nearly 5,000 practitioners and executives to lead managementdriven projects; and 60 employees he has mentored, advised or directed during his career. Outside of his work at GM, Johnson contributed to the development of a GM master’s degree program at Kettering University. In both Mansfield, OH, and Detroit, Johnson served on the Boy Scouts Leadership Council where he focused on improving scout recruitment so youth in urban communities could find and benefit from scouting, an opportunity unavailable to him as a young boy.

During the spring of 2018, SAE International announced that Johnson had been chosen as winner of the Subir Chowdhury Medal of Quality for Leadership. The Chowdhury Medal honors those in the mobility industry who bring forth innovation and broaden the impact of mobility engineering, design, and manufacturing quality. This 28

HARD WORK, FAITH, AND FAMILY

Since April 2019, Johnson has served as executive vice president, Global Manufacturing at GM. He leads GM’s Global Manufacturing, Manufacturing

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Engineering, Labor Relations organizations, and Sustainable Workplaces. Johnson is also part of Barra’s senior leadership team. Johnson is responsible for approximately 103,000 employees, representing more than 129 sites on five continents in 16 countries and negotiating with 40-plus unions globally. He directs a workforce with the training and skills to bridge GM’s product transformation from today to GM’s all-electric future. During the interview with US Black Engineer magazine, Johnson said, “Although the automotive business is very technical in nature, everything gets done through people. That is why a leader’s set of beliefs, faith, and sense of community

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BEYA come to bear in providing inspiration and vision. “It puts purpose behind all the technical things we have to deal with,” Johnson said. “All the solutions, problems, innovation, implementation, all the project management launching still revolves around engaging people well.” From the early days of his career, Johnson has been an active member of the General Motors African Ancestry Network (GMAAN), twice chairing the group. GMAAN initiatives reach more than 2,000 African-American employees in the company. In 2003 and again in 2004, Johnson chaired the group’s United Negro College Fund (UNCF) fundraising campaigns. The campaign raised more than $175,000 and $200,000, respectively, enabling GM to maintain its 14- year run as UNCF’s largest corporate donor. Throughout his 40year journey with the company, Johnson has mentored, advised, or directed hundreds, if not thousands, of GM employees. He has supported science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and recruited talented young people into the engineering and automotive fields through his support and work with the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) STEM Conferences, GM’s historically Black college and university (HBCU) initiatives, the Executive Leadership Council, and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

READ TO LEARN

While traveling on a business trip, Johnson learned that children who cannot read at grade level by the third grade have a high chance of failing, and committed to volunteer his time as a reading tutor. “I have seven children,” Johnson told US Black Engineer magazine. “So, in my

www.blackengineer.com

mind, I start to visualize a 9-year-old already committing to a life of struggle if they can’t read well by the third grade. It breaks my heart that reading challenges can hinder the rest of a student’s life. I tear up thinking a young child has no idea that their opportunities will be limited because of what is going on in their lives. Someone’s got to step in and help them read, to learn and discover those innate abilities,” Johnson said. An Innovations for Learning (IFL) program, TutorMate combines enrichment and tutoring to provide one on one individualized instruction to students learning to read. In 2012, IFL began partnering with corporations like General Motors to recruit volunteers to read with students online. Johnson is part of an army of volunteers that help students build reading confidence, selfesteem, and a love of reading and writing. “Seeing these bright young minds light up because they’re confident they’re reading at a sixth or seventh-grade level after one semester with focused tutoring tells me we can make a difference,” Johnson told US Black Engineer. “We can make a difference in the life of a young child and

Johnson works with the university on diversity programs to recruit females and minorities. He now serves on the Kettering Board of Trustees to continue that important work at an even higher level. In 2018, Johnson and his wife, Darlynn, started the Gathering Church in Farmington Hills, MI. Along with helping families, the Gathering Church supports teens in Detroit, and the Covenant House, which helps men at Mariner’s Inn homeless shelter in Detroit and innercity children at the Detroit Leadership Academy. Johnson has also been an ordained elder in the World Outreach Christian Center Church in Redford, MI, and led the men’s ministry known as Men of Valor. At 700 men strong, the ministry focuses on mentoring, teaching, and outreach to those in need. Johnson’s ministry in the church extends back to 1991 when he pastored his Flint-based church for 18 months after his pastor fell ill. He then led or established men’s ministries at churches in Cleveland, OH and Zurich while on GM assignments. “It all

GM’s Kokomo Plant was converted to a ventilator production facility in 30 days and the Warren, MI, Transmission plant was converted to produce masks in just 10 days. Johnson’s understanding of GM’s advanced technologies and empowerment of the team made this miraculous transformation possible. This was a light speed changeover to the production of essential health care products that had to be designed, parts sourced globally, assembly processes developed and confirmed, quality control approved, employees/ volunteers hired and trained, and startup of manufacturing. To date, GM has built more than 30,000 ventilators and manufactured 25 million masks globally to meet the needs of the country and world.

put them on the path to succeed and aspire to something greater,” he added. “If sitting down with a second grader assures him of a better future, I’m in,” said the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year. Johnson also supports Kettering’s FIRST Robotics program, which invites high school students with engineering aspirations to participate in the competition. In his Kettering role,

ties together with the idea of mentoring and helping people improve themselves,” he said. Gerald and Darlynn Johnson are the parents of seven children: Asheley (21 – deceased), Elisabeth (28), Moriah (27), Aaron (25), Jeremiah (24), Chyle (22), and Isaiah (20). Throughout their high school years, Johnson was an active member of the Catholic Central HS Dads’ Club. USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

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2021

Gerald Johnson speaks at an event with 4,800 employees, who build full-size light duty and heavy-duty trucks, such as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Also in attendance were GM CEO Mary Barra and Flint Assembly Plant Manager Mike Perez.

STAND UP, STEP UP, AND MAKE THE CHANGE

In 2020, Johnson spearheaded General Motors’ COVID-19 response plan, developing safety protocols and returnto-work strategies. Additionally, he worked with Barra to quickly shift the company’s manufacturing footprint to respond to the pandemic and massproduce medical supplies. Since April, GM has manufactured 30,000 critical care ventilators; millions of masks; and thousands of face shields, gowns, and other needed personal protective equipment for healthcare and frontline workers, police and fire departments, and teachers and students. A portion of the PPE was used for GM employees as part of the company’s safety protocol. Johnson also hosted a series of videos alongside GM’s medical director, Dr. Jeffery Hess, to answer employees’ most asked questions about safety protocols. Once manufacturing plants began reopening, Johnson visited more than a dozen GM plants across the country with Barra to connect with employees and ensure the safety protocols helped them feel safe and protected. “The past year has reminded us of what’s possible when we focus our collective energy to overcome challenges for the greater good. I’m so proud of how our

employees, suppliers, and partners rose to the occasion,” said Johnson. “Also, during this time, we learned a lot about ourselves and crossed an innovation inflection point while working at ‘ventilator speed.’” For his leadership on GM’s COVID-19 response, Johnson was honored with the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s Leader of the Year award in 2020. He accepted the award on behalf of the GM team, who demonstrated extraordinary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson and the GM team have applied key learnings from GM’s historic COVID-19 response to identify ways to cut GM’s development time, digitize processes, move faster, and identify and remove barriers to deliver on an all-electric future—starting with the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac LYRIQ. In 2020, GM was the highest-ranked automaker in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. GM’s Yantai Dongyue North plant in China was the highest-ranked automotive manufacturing facility in the world. Johnson is an inaugural member of GM’s Inclusion Advisory Board (IAB), which was announced on June 1, 2020. The board’s goal is to improve diversity and inclusion within GM through words, deeds and culture. The IAB is made up of both internal and external leaders. It provides

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

consult to the senior leadership team to become the most inclusive company in the world. Johnson is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion. His bold video shared widely on LinkedIn offered essential guidance on having difficult conversations about racial equality in the workplace. Johnson said that people who are part of the BEYA STEM community have already leaned into how people make strides, move up, and even break through workforce barriers. One of the skills you learn through STEM training is how to solve problems and work your way through the unknown, Johnson said. “It’s the same in life and our careers, and what we do at events like BEYA,” he said. “Trying to find a way to lift up those who have ‘leaned in.’ If you made it through 2020, you have already beat some odds. You’ve already shown resilience. But let us not stop because the pandemic goes away and we have a vaccine. Whether you lean into it or not, change is coming,” Johnson added. “You’ve got to become skilled at managing change or adapting to change. Or being a part of the innovation that creates change. We have to become comfortable and confident with the unknown, the unfamiliar, and with changes that we bring upon ourselves or by something like a pandemic that no one saw coming.” S

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Where wild ideas work.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 BEYA AWARD WINNERS!

Kiamsha Barnes, Textron Systems Modern-Day Technology Leader

Corey Brown, Bell Modern-Day Technology Leader

Logan Bryant, Textron Aviation Science Spectrum Trailblazer

Wilma Davis, Bell Stephanie C. Hill Legacy Award

Gene Gamble, Textron Systems Modern-Day Technology Leader

Arnold Ndegwa, Textron Systems Modern-Day Technology Leader

Johnna Sargent, Bell Modern-Day Technology Leader

Prince Yengbe, Textron Aviation Modern-Day Technology Leader

TEXTRON IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE 35th ANNUAL BEYA STEM CONFERENCE

DIVERSITY. INCLUSION. CREATIVITY. INNOVATION. This is what drives us to

ensure our global employees are empowered to contribute their unique ideas, experiences and perspectives to build innovative solutions and reinforce our reputation as leaders in our industries and communities. We value smart, diverse, sometimes wild ideas... and it is our people who help turn the best ones into reality.

BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE. APPLY TODAY AT TEXTRON.COM/CAREERS

Demetria F. Hall

Systems Engineer Staff Aeronautics Community Service in Industry Award

Thomas Warner

Vice President, Undersea Warfare and Integration Programs Rotary and Mission Systems Cyber Leadership Award

LMC

Leaders in Innovation. We are honored to recognize our winners at the 35th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards. The men and women of Lockheed Martin commend you for your achievements and thank you for your dedication to excellence and innovation. Learn more at lockheedmartin.com/diversity

Modern Day Technology Leaders:

Keith Alemu

Carrie Bass

O’Shae Bridges

Michael Dixon

Nikela Gates

Cayla Gilbert

Roscoe Kidd

Tiffany Marr

Melvin McCray

Monica McKendrick

Dinesha Ramie

Jerome Smith

Stacy Smith

Sylvia Watts-Flippo

Jamin Brown

Jasmine Crooks

Latasha Brinson

Torrance Brown

Cherice Hendershot Shaemekia Jamison

LMC

Jane’l Dixon

Kenyon Johnson

Benett Mclean

Da’Shagne McNeil

Troy Lambert

Kristen Malaykhan

Science Spectrum Trailblazers:

Ademola Adejokun

Emma Stevens

Andrew Ambris

2021

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BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

the cover of the spring 1989 edition of US Black Engineer magazine

featured scenes from the third Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference. In one photo, Donnie Cochran, the first Black commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels, was on stage with two presenters of the Black Engineer Award from Mobil and the Hewett-Packard Company. Also featured on the cover were Community Service Award winner Reates K. Curry and Pamela R. McCauley, winner of the first Student Leadership Award at BEYA. McCauley went on to become one of the highest-producing faculty of female and underrepresented minority Ph.D. candidates in science and computer engineering, which earned her a second award at BEYA in 2015, the Educational Leadership College-Level Promotion of Education Award.

Back in 1989, Elliot Lyons, one of the first winners of the Promotion of Engineering Education Award, was seen working the busy General Motors (GM) booth. Over the last 35 years, GM has nominated hundreds of its leading professionals for various category awards at BEYA. Of that number, three have won the Black Engineer of the Year Award: Ed Welburn in 2015, Alicia Boler-Davis in 2018, and the 2021 honoree, Gerald Johnson. 2015 marked the first time a GM employee received the top award. For 35 years, the conference edition of US Black Engineer magazine has showcased the innovation, creativity, and excellence displayed by hundreds of people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. BEYA’s Career Achievement, Community Service, Educational Leadership, Entrepreneurial, Most Promising Engineer, Professional Achievement, and Outstanding Technical Contributions awards are just some of the 34

many category awards given to individuals at the event. Their nomination applications are reviewed and recommended for an award by a panel of leaders from industry, government, and academia. Writing in US Black Engineer magazine in 1989, publisher and BEYA Chairman Tyrone Taborn said for distinguished leaders and students from around the country, the career-building BEYA Conference had quickly become everyone's favorite time to meet and network, share ideas, and party.

One photo in the 1989 magazine showed the publisher with submarine commander Tony Watson, the 1988 Outstanding Achievement in Government Award winner, and 1989 Black Engineer of the Year LCD. Donnie Cochran. "Before the first Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference, I had no idea how important this event would become for Black professionals and students nationwide," Taborn wrote. "I wonder how we went so long without it." Taborn also said that in the first three years, BEYA had identified more than a thousand professionals blazing trails throughout the country. "It is important to these modern-day pioneers, to students struggling with technical studies, and to future generations that we document and tell these stories in the pages of US Black Engineer," Taborn said. "We need to balance the self-interest of consumerism and greed with examples of innovation, creativity, and excellence, he urged. "The Black Engineer of the Year winners and nominees gives us that balance and more.”

Black Engineer of the Year GERALD JOHNSON Executive Vice President Global Manufacturing General Motors

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Career Achievement in Government COMMANDER MICHAEL PAISANT Commanding Officer U.S. Navy

ZACHARY TUDOR Associate Laboratory Director National and Homeland Security Science and Technology Idaho National Laboratory

Career Achievement in Industry FREDERIEK TONEY President, Global Ford Customer Service Division Ford Motor Company BRYAN SCOTT Vice President, Enterprise Services The Boeing Company

Chairman’s Award

CALVIN G. BUTLER JR. Sr. Executive Vice President, Exelon CEO, Exelon Utilities

Community Service in Industry DEMETRIA F. HALL Systems Engineer Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation

KAREN LORI HICKMAN Program Cost Schedule & Control Analyst Northrop Grumman

Cyber Leadership

FERNANDO MARTINEZ Director, Informaton Security Walmart THOMAS WARNER Vice President, Cyber & Intelligence Lockheed Martin Corporation

Dave Barclay Affirmative Action in Government

QUINCY ALEXANDER Supervisory Research Engineer U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center KENNETH M. BAILEY Director, NOAA Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Dave Barclay Affirmative Action in Industry

CRAIG REED Chief Procurement Officer & Head of Corporate Real Estate Corteva Agriscience BRITTANY WHEELER, D. ENG. Work Transfer Manager Collins Aerospace

Educational Leadership - CollegeLevel Promotion of Education

JERROD A. HENDERSON, PH.D. Instructional Associate Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering University of Houston

Educational Leadership - Corporate Promotion of Education ANTHONY C. SMITH SR. Director Department of the Navy HBCU/MI Program

HBCU Engineering Deans Legacy CLAUDIA RANKINS, PH.D. Program Director (Retired) National Science Foundation

Entrepreneurial Fellow

ISRAEL SMALLWOOD Sr. Project Program Manager (IOT) AT&T

Most Promising Engineer in Government

BRANDY DIGGS-MCGEE Research Mechanical Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) 1ST LT. SAMUEL NYAMEKYE Deputy Chief Propulsion Technology Branch, Aerospace Systems Directorate Air Force Research Laboratory

Most Promising Engineer in Industry KADON KYTE Human Factors & Ergonomics Engineer The Boeing Company

CHARLES MUSE Assistant Program Engineering ManagerAutonomous & Electrified Vehicles General Motors

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Most Promising Scientist in Government

Professional Achievement in Industry

CANDICE HATCHER-SOLIS, PH.D. Team Lead Neurobiology of Cognitive Performance 711th Human Performance Wing Air Force Research Laboratory LARICO TREADWELL, PH.D. Senior Member of the Technical Staff R&D Chemistry Sandia National Laboratories

VEONICCA S. WESLEY Principal Systems Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Research Leadership

CASSANDRA OKECHUKWU, SC. D, MSN, MPH Principal Health and Life Scientist MITRE Corporation

Most Promising Scientist in Industry NYARADZO LONGINAKER Statistician Advisor General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)

Outstanding Technical Contribution in Industry

Outstanding Technical Contribution in Nonprofit ADAM FREEMAN, PH.D. Senior Materials Chemist Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory YUAN-JUN WEI, PH.D. Computer Science Lead The MITRE Corporation

President's Award

DEVDAS SHETTY, PH.D., P.E. Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Professor of Mechanical Engineering University of the District of Columbia

Professional Achievement in Government PHILLIP A. WILLIAMS, PH.D. Deputy Center Chief Technologist NASA Langley Research Center

NYDEIA BOLDEN-FRAZIER, PH.D. Technical Advisor, Sub-Core Technical Competency Warhead Lead Munitions Directorate, Ordnance Division, Damage Mechanisms Branch Air Force Research Laboratory

BRANNON SAM, PH.D. Research Investigator Corteva Agriscience

Senior Investigator

NORBERT SATCHIVI, PH.D. Principal Research Scientist Corteva Agriscience

OBIEFUNA C. OKAFOR, PH.D., PE, PMP Senior Project Leader Corning Incorporated ALAIN A. ADJORLOLO, PH.D., ATF Lead Project Engineer, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing BCA-Product Development Engineering The Boeing Company

Senior Technology Fellow BYRON SLEUGH, PH.D. Global Biology Leader Corteva Agriscience

Student Leadership - Graduate Level ROBERT OLIVER NICHOLSON, MS, MA, MBA Doctor of Business Administration Candidate Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Army Contracting Command/Army Futures Command U.S. Army Materiel Command

Student Leadership - Undergraduate Level WESLEY COMBS Undergraduate Student University of Houston

Technical Sales and Marketing ERIC CUNNINGHAM North American Executive Director Sales & Marketing General Motors

MY HA Director, Technical Program Management Walmart KEITH HAMILTON Sr. Director of Programs & Business Development Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

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COMMANDER MICHAEL PAISANT Career Achievement in Government Award Commanding Officer U.S. Navy

Michael Paisant currently serves as the commanding officer of the Gold crew of battleship USS Maryland (SSBN 738) in Kings Bay, GA. In this position, Paisant leads the charge in the operational development and employment of a cutting-edge sonar sensor. He is also in charge of a multi-billion-dollar platform that includes a nuclear reactor and nuclear weapons, leading his team through training events related to nuclear power steeped in STEM. Paisant is the 13th African American to serve as commanding officer of a United States Navy submarine over its 120-year history. Paisant is a leader who is recognized for his team-building skills. His crew is the top-rated SSBN crew in all the submarine force concerning peoplecentered metrics, a measure used by the submarine force commander to assess the overall health of a crew’s culture. “Commander Mike Paisant represents the best of the submarine force, the Navy, and his local community in every aspect. He defines what it means to be a role model in the submarine force and community through his leadership every day and is deserving of this prestigious award.” - Captain Craig Gummer, Commanding Officer U.S. Navy

ZACHARY TUDOR

FREDERIEK TONEY

Career Achievement in Government Award

Career Achievement in Industry Award

Associate Laboratory Director National and Homeland Security Science and Technology Idaho National Laboratory

President, Global Ford Customer Service Division Ford Motor Company

Zachary D. Tudor is the associate laboratory director of Idaho National Laboratory’s National and Homeland Security directorate, a major center for national security technology development and demonstration. Tudor was previously a program director in the Computer Science Laboratory at SRI International. He served as a management and technical resource for operational and research and development cybersecurity programs for government, intelligence, and commercial projects. Past assignments include on-site deputy program manager for the National Reconnaissance Office’s worldwide operational network; information security manager for the secretary of defense chief information officer Enterprise Operations Support Team; security management support for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and positions including vice president of SAIC’s Enabling Technology Division and senior manager for Department of Defense programs at BearingPoint’s Security Practice. Tudor earned a Master of Science in information systems concentrating in cybersecurity from George Mason University, where he was also an adjunct professor teaching graduate courses in information security. “I know of no person in America with the unique set of credentials, commitment, service to the nation, and care and concern for others like that demonstrated by Zach Tudor.” - Anthony J. Watson, CEO of Alliance Leadership Group.

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

2021B Frederiek Toney is president of Global Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD), a position he has held since 2009. In this role, he serves as Ford’s corporate officer, responsible for all aspects of customer service delivery. Under his leadership, FCSD is one of the most strategically significant and profitable business portfolios at Ford Motor Company. Toney leads the global parts supply and logistics at 65 facilities worldwide and leads a service engineering team, providing input into future product design. Before heading FCSD, Toney served as manufacturing’s executive director of material planning and logistics. In this role, he made significant contributions to the business’s success, including driving new synergies among multiple Ford brands and driving supply chain efficiencies. Toney is also an advocate for STEM education and a mentor to dozens of students and earlycareer professionals. “I have personally worked directly with Toney in support of Ford’s reboot of our diversity, equity, and inclusion program in response to our nation’s recent focus on racial injustice and inequities. As with all other things Frederiek touches, this effort is benefiting from his strong leadership, commitment to excellence, and passion for treating people right.” - Ken Washington, Chief Technology Officer of Ford Motor Company

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BEYA BRYAN SCOTT

CALVIN G. BUTLER JR.

DEMETRIA F. HALL

Career Achievement in Industry Award

Chairman’s Award

Community Service in Industry Award

Vice President, Enterprise Services The Boeing Company

Bryan Scott has risen through the ranks of Boeing since joining as a flight inspector in 1988. Now, he serves as one of the most senior Black leaders in the organization, leading Boeing to global success in his role of vice president, environment health and safety. He received the 2020 Manufacturing Leadership Award in Sustainability for the innovative excess carbon fiber recycling process. Scott champions the Build a Better Planet initiative, which promotes environmental leadership. He has served on the board of the St. Louis Metropolitan Urban League. He actively supports the mission to empower African Americans and others throughout the region in securing economic self-reliance, social equality, and civil rights. Scott also serves as Boeing’s executive liaison to Tuskegee University, managing its university contributions and ensuring that Boeing attracts and hires diverse, talented employees. He promotes STEM activities that provide opportunities for professional development for students of diverse backgrounds. “Bryan Scott is an exceptional candidate. He is an outstanding leader and demonstrates a tireless commitment to inspiring his team and giving back to his community.” - Pat Cazeau, Director, Boeing Verticals Executive Test Program Manager.

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Sr. Executive Vice President, Exelon CEO, Exelon Utilities

Calvin G. Butler Jr. is a senior executive vice president of Exelon and chief executive officer of Exelon Utilities. He oversees Exelon’s six local electric and natural gas companies. Butler serves as board chair of the Gridwise Alliance, an advocacy organization promoting modernization and innovation for the nation’s electrical grid, and is on the board of directors for RLI Corp, serving as a member of its audit and nominations/governance committees. Butler previously served as CEO of BGE from 2014 to 2019. An active member of his community, he serves on the boards of several prominent Baltimore-based organizations, including the Baltimore Community Foundation, University of Maryland School of Medicine’s board of visitors, Greater Baltimore Committee, Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, the Center Club, and Caves Valley Golf Club. Also, Butler serves on the boards of M&T Bank Corporation and M&T Bank; the Institute of International Education, a not-for-profit organization focused on advancing scholarship, promoting access to education, and building economies; and the Library of Congress’ James Madison Council. He is immediate past chair of his alma mater, Bradley University.

Systems Engineer Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation

Demetria Hall is a system engineer for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Co. and was on the design team that built the F-35 jet fighter, which is currently flying in the United States military. Hall’s most accomplished design quickly solved a critical issue on the original arresting hook design for the F-35 Carrier Variant. She is currently the flight simulation and STEM (FSS) project lead and has led the program for five years. In 2019, the FSS team completed 50 local and national events and impacted more than 30,000 students and professionals. Hall is an active member of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics NSBE Professionals and serves on the executive board, focusing on the Pre-College Initiative Committee and leading the College Prep Day. Furthermore, she helped lead a STEM mentoring program at Christene C. Moss Elementary School in Fort Worth, TX, and facilitated weekly interactive STEM sessions. “Demetria demonstrates a strong commitment to technical leadership by promoting STEM and impacting her community. Her actions exemplify the core values of what it means to be a great leader and role model.” - JD McFarlan, Vice President, Functional Engineering at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Co.

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

B WWT TECHNOLOGY RUNS ON GREAT PEOPLE Congratulations! WWT celebrates our 2021 Modern Day Technology Leader Award winners! Salah Ferrell • Tiona Harris • Monica Lyons • James Pittman • LaDonald Townley Jr.

BEYA KAREN LORI HICKMAN

FERNANDO MARTINEZ

THOMAS WARNER

Community Service in Industry Award

Cyber Leadership Award

Director, Informaton Security Walmart

Vice President, Cyber & Intelligence Lockheed Martin Corporation

Fernando Martinez currently serves as the director of information security with the Global Tech Division at Walmart. In this role, he is responsible for leading the Information Security Product and Portfolio Management team. His career at Walmart began as a cart pusher and cashier, and over the course of the last 21 years, he gained skills and knowledge that allowed him to work his way up the ranks of the company and within the Global Tech Division. He has held multiple roles and has led and managed strategic projects globally. One notable achievement includes leading the implementation of an enterprise-wide encryption compliance initiative that was rolled out to 5,000-plus stores and clubs to ensure that Walmart maintained HIPAA compliance while meeting regulatory and government requirements. He is an advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives both within and outside of the organization. He is a leader and member of multiple company associate resource groups (ARGs) and led the Latinx Associate Resource Group at Walmart e-commerce.

Thomas (Tom) Warner is the vice president for Lockheed Martin’s Undersea Warfare and Integration Programs and general manager of the company’s Manassas facility, a role he assumed in January of 2021. He previously served as the vice president for Lockheed Martin’s Cyber & Intelligence portfolio, which delivers a wide array of capabilities in support of national security to the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and other government customers. He has held several key leadership positions managing some of the corporation’s critical cybersecurity programs including oversight of the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, National Cyber Range, and a collection of integrated cyber electronic warfare programs to support the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. Warner is a recipient of Lockheed Martin’s NOVA award for Leadership, the corporation’s highest honor.

Program Cost Schedule & Control Analyst Northrop Grumman

Lori Hickman is a principal cost, schedule management (CSM) analyst and sector intercompany work order lead at Northrop Grumman. Her leadership and peers recognize her as a subject matter expert in Income Withholding for Support (IWO) administration, providing guidance and direction while supporting the implementation of process tools updates and training. She is also engaged in volunteerism both within the company and in the community. Hickman serves as a volunteer on the African American Task Group Employee Resource Group executive board as the Melbourne, FL, community service co-lead. She leads community-based education programs that contribute to personal growth and the development of real-world job skills and the self-esteem of the youth she supports. She teaches them hands-on STEM learning connected directly to local issues that directly impact “atrisk” and underprivileged youth within her community. She has logged more than 1,700 community service hours this year alone. “Lori will draw you into some STEM event or community activity she is working; if it has to do with STEM and youth, she is there, needs your support, and has a task for you to do!” - Terri Pinkelton, Manager, Contracts Administration Enterprise OneAATG Co-Chairperson

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“His success, and impact upon me personally, doesn’t stop with his technical and project accomplishments. Fernando has been instrumental in bridging cultural gaps between parts of the company and worked long hours supporting our associates through our employee resource groups.” - Adam Ely, Deputy CISO & Vice President, Walmart

“Tom is a role model who lives our cultural imperatives, and he has significantly impacted all four of the RMS strategic results: People, Customers, Growth, and Financials. He has built a career that has positively impacted the corporation, the nation, and he is an inspiration to others in the field.” - Stephanie Hill, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business Transformation at Lockheed Martin Corporation.

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

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2021B

QUINCY ALEXANDER

KENNETH M. BAILEY

CRAIG REED

Dave Barclay Affirmative Action in Government Award

Dave Barclay Affirmative Action in Industry Award

Supervisory Research Engineer U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Director, NOAA Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Chief Procurement Officer & Head of Corporate Real Estate Corteva Agriscience

Quincy Alexander, a supervisory research civil engineer, is chief of the Sensor Integration Branch (SIB), Computational Science and Engineering Division (CSED), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERCDC). He leads a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of engineers, scientists, technicians, student trainees, and administrative staff in this position. He is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), leading their diversity and inclusion efforts, and he is an effective role model and STEM champion. He recently established the ITL Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity and Equity Awareness (IDEA) Council. As the IDEA Council’s lead, he helps change the ITL culture to one of equity and unconscious inclusion. This council has provided actionable guidance to remove bias in hiring and promotions and provide workplace equity for all employees. His achievements and dedication to inclusion have contributed to developing the next generation of engineers and scientists. “Mr. Alexander’s dedication to duty, intelligence, leadership ability, work ethic, and mentoring skills are unmatched. He is an asset to ITL, the ERDC, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the nation.” - David A. Horner, Ph.D., PE, SES, Director at Information Technology Laboratory

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Kenneth M. Bailey joined NOAA as the Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights director in November 2016. Bailey has made diversity and inclusion (D&I) and equal employment opportunity (EEO) his life’s work. He is a retired enlisted Army combat veteran with more than 23 years of military service. His federal career began in 2006 with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after which he transitioned to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. In response to the social unrest prompted by the tragic death of George Floyd, Bailey was one of the first D&I/EEO practitioners across the federal government to lead his agency in addressing racial inequality. Bailey collaborated with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA executive leaders to develop a D&I action plan, held listening sessions, conducted training on Allyship, and helped create a NOAA-wide suggestion box to gather recommendations for making lasting and positive change. “He does not let setbacks defeat him, but rather views them as opportunities to innovate and develop new solutions. He is forever searching for ways to make this world a better place for all people, even if it is just his small piece of it.” - Ben Friedman, NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations

Craig Reed is the chief procurement officer (CPO) for Corteva Agriscience and head of the corporate real estate. In this role, Reed has the responsibility to procure products and services that meet the global Corteva Agriscience business’s demands. He is the first CPO for Corteva and has been instrumental in implementing supplier diversity goals and strategies into its corporate social responsibility plans. He developed a global center of excellence focused on supplier diversity globally with strategic priorities aligned around sustainability, awareness, recruiting, and awarding business to diverse suppliers and small businesses, establishing teams in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Reed is the immediate past board chair for the Institute for Supply Management, a member of the board of trustees for Florida A&M University, and is also on the board of directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council. “His leadership, service, and contributions to our board of trustees certainly make him a highly qualified candidate for this recognition. His experiences in the world of business and commitment to integrity have helped to create an environment of accountability and ethical behavior, which speak to his values as a human being.” Larry Robinson, Ph.D., President of Florida A&M University

www.blackengineer.com

BEYA BRITTANY WHEELER, D. ENG. Dave Barclay Affirmative Action in Industry Award Work Transfer Manager Collins Aerospace

Dr. Brittany Wheeler is a work transfer manager with over eight years of experience in manufacturing operations. Her background is in the aerospace industry, working for Collins Aerospace in Chula Vista, CA. A highly visible driver of D&I initiatives at the UTAS California site, Wheeler created one of the facility’s first employee resource groups, the Diversity Council. This council had a mission of providing a supportive environment for developing and encouraging diversity initiatives and promoting a culture in which every employee respects, appreciates, and values individual differences. She currently advises the UTAS African American Forum along with several other ERGs. She has attended the NSBE Convention as an ambassador for aerostructures, where she helped recruit several NSBE members and acted as host for an NSBE Superday at the Chula Vista site. She was elected as the chair of the African American Enterprise Board, a newly developed Collins Aerospace initiative, in November 2019. “I am sure there are few people who can affect workplace inclusion across multiple organizations in as short of a time as Brittany has. I am proud to work with her driving D&I initiatives across the business, and believe her work deserves recognition.” - Andre Powell, Vice President of Finance Operations Collins Aerospace

www.blackengineer.com

JERROD A. HENDERSON, PH.D. Educational Leadership College-Level Promotion of Education Award Instructional Associate Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering University of Houston

Jerrod Henderson currently serves as instructional associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Houston. He has been an engineering faculty member at the University of Houston for four years and has already had great success and continues to impact his students’ lives positively. Three years ago, Henderson was appointed as the program director for mastery in engineering studies, or PROMES (pronounced “promise”). Through Henderson’s leadership, PROMES intentionally guides incoming scholars through a successful transition into the university. During Henderson’s tenure as director of PROMES, he and his team have served hundreds of students, grown the program to over 300 scholars, and earned distinction as the recipient of the University of Houston System board of regents’ Academic Excellence Award. PROMES was also highlighted by INSIGHT into Diversity magazine as an inspiring STEM program. Henderson was featured in this same magazine as an Inspiring STEM Leader. “Not only has he dedicated himself to teaching and serving the community, but he has also actively pursued and attained funding. His work may be transformative for improving the success of students, particularly underrepresented minorities.” - Dr. Michael P. Harold, Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

ANTHONY C. SMITH SR. Educational Leadership Corporate Promotion of Education Award Director Department of the Navy HBCU/MI Program

Anthony Smith has been the director for the Department of the Navy’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) program since October 2014. His leadership has been the benchmark for developing teams, leading STEM organizations, and instituting programs that benefit underrepresented and underserved communities. As a director, he created three new internships for HBCU/MI students. He increased the number of HBCU/MI faculty participating in the Summer Faculty Research Program from 25 percent to 45 percent in three years. His efforts were instrumental in increasing the number of research grants awarded to HBCU/MI by 25 percent. Smith continues to provide HBCU/MI access by conducting webinars, virtual outreach visits, and virtual conferences. These efforts have been why the Office of Navy Research and the Navy Department has been the leading federal agencies in supporting HBCU/MI students, faculty, and institutions. “Mr. Smith brings unlimited energy to the minority research community, and as a member of the National Science Board, I wholeheartedly welcome his sustained contributions to the minority institution landscape and the nation.” - Dr. Victor McCrary, CP for Research and Graduate Programs, University of the District of Columbia

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

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2021

CLAUDIA RANKINS, PH.D.

ISRAEL SMALLWOOD

BRANDY DIGGS-MCGEE

HBCU Engineering Deans Legacy Award

Entrepreneurial Fellow Award

Most Promising Engineer in Government Award

Program Director (Retired) National Science Foundation

Claudia Rankins is a recently retired program officer in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation. Until the end of December 2020, she directed the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Undergraduate Program (UP) and the HBCU Excellence in Research program. Before this post, Rankins served at Hampton University for 22 years in several capacities, including as endowed university professor, chair of the physics department, assistant dean for research, and dean of the School of Science. Rankins is an advocate for STEM education and research at historically Black colleges and universities. Her current research interests center around the history of STEM at these institutions. Her theoretical particle physics research focused on developing a model to describe distribution amplitudes and form factors of pseudoscalar mesons. Rankins is the co-founder of the Society of STEM Women of Color, Inc. “Through her advocacy and her influence, she has made the nation more aware of the innovative and exciting research conducted by faculty and students at HBCUs and the challenges many encounter, particularly those who have the odds stacked against them to succeed. She is indeed a trailblazer, an ambassador, and a role model.” - Karen Marrongelle, Assistant Director of National Science Foundation

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Sr. Project Program Manager (IOT) AT&T

Israel Smallwood serves as a senior project program manager at AT&T. Over the past five years, Smallwood has been leading strategic AT&T Internet of Things (IoT) projects focused on software development and enhancements in the connected car and fleet asset tracking space. These projects have been complex and innovative, delivering critical functionality to many car manufacturers and fleet customers across the United States and worldwide. Also, Smallwood is consistently in pursuit of furthering his technical knowledge. He pursued a programming nanodegree through Udacity and has maintained his Scaled Agile certification. He even has a U.S. patent centered around unlocking device entertainment by tracking wearable fitness parameters. “Israel’s consistently high performance has earned him repeated recognition within multiple organizations. His sense of ownership and strong work ethic have had a significant impact on business results foundational to future growth for AT&T Business Solutions.” - Meg Sieber, Director of Project and Program Management

Research Mechanical Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL)

Brandy Diggs-McGee is a research mechanical engineer in the Energy Branch of the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) at the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Champaign, IL. Her contributions have advanced the field of additive construction toward a more efficient process for both energy and operations. Diggs-McGee is front and center in this, achieving several firsts, such as the first full-sized building to be printed in place using concrete with aggregate and the first full-size 3D printed concrete bridge in the Americas. The use of the 3D printing process eliminates the need for traditional formwork, which decreases material consumption, labor demand, environmental impact, cost, and construction time. As the president of CERL’s Morale and Welfare Club and Citadel Club, Diggs-McGee works selflessly to bring events and activities to boost workplace morale. Also, she uses her skills to inspire young students with opportunities in STEM careers. “I strongly recommend Ms. Diggs-McGee for the Most Promising Engineer Award. Her professional achievements in the advancement of large-scale additive construction (3D printing of concrete structures) and her STEM outreach efforts reflect great credit upon the ERDC-CERL, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Army, and the Nation.” - Kirankumar V. Topudurti, Ph.D., Interim Director . www.blackengineer.com

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2021B

1ST LT. SAMUEL NYAMEKYE

KADON KYTE

CHARLES MUSE

Most Promising Engineer in Government Award

Most Promising Engineer in Industry Award

Deputy Chief Propulsion Technology Branch, Aerospace Systems Directorate Air Force Research Laboratory

Human Factors & Ergonomics Engineer The Boeing Company

Assistant Program Engineering ManagerAutonomous & Electrified Vehicles General Motors

Lt. Samuel Nyamekye currently serves as deputy chief, Propulsion Technology Branch for the Air Force Research Laboratory. Nyamekye bravely left his family behind in Ghana and took advantage of an emigration program allowing him entry to the United States. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May 2012, while supporting his family in Ghana. He quickly became known as an “unparalleled airman,” providing technical support in managing facilities and over $2 billion in base assets at McConnell Air Force Base, KS. He was awarded squadronlevel Airman of the Quarter award twice and wing-level Airman of the Quarter. He is implementing the division-level strategic vision for the next 10 years for hypersonic propulsion development. He has continued to serve as the group-level safety officer and the company grade officer mentor and has participated in Toastmasters International. “During his relatively short tenure with our team, Sam has earned the highest level of respect from personnel internal and external to our organization for his dedication and professionalism. Wherever his career takes him, I am confident that he will continue to make a positive difference.”- Heidi Wilkin, High-Speed Airframe-Propulsion Integration Team Lead, AFRL/RQHP

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Kadon Kyte is a human factors and ergonomics engineer with Boeing Research and Technology (BR&T) Advanced Production Systems. His team’s focus is tomorrow’s manufacturing, focusing on technology development such as robotics, software development, systems engineering, mechanical system design, and human factors. His breakthroughs include successfully introducing, testing, and integrating exoskeleton technologies into aircraft manufacturing and working with external partners to replicate these successes across other industries. He has helped create industry exoskeleton standards supporting ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and AExG (Automotive Exoskeleton Working Group, part of the Wearable Robotics Organization). Between 2016 and 2020, he presented his findings at over 20 internal and external professional conferences. His work has been featured on Good Morning America, Internal Boeing News Now Network, and numerous other publications. “Kadon considers it his duty to pay it forward to the next generation of young professionals and leaders. He is especially passionate about training them because he believes that tomorrow’s leaders need a technical foundation to solve complex challenges. It is evident that his technological contributions are manifold, whether to Boeing, the defense of our nation, or to our future.” - Pat Cazeau, Director of Boeing Verticals Executive Test Program Manager

Charles Muse holds an assistant program engineering manager position within GM’s division of Autonomous & Electrified Vehicles. He is currently working on the Cruise Origin, a future autonomous ridesharing vehicle, and a collaborative project involving GM, Honda, and Cruise. The only African-American in his department, he is responsible for various critical aspects of executing the company’s most complex program. Muse joined General Motors (GM) in 2011 as a university intern at the Milford Proving Grounds. He was the only AfricanAmerican intern studying aeronautical and astronautical engineering, an uncommon discipline in the automotive field. He has held positions across multiple functions and commodities, including global noise and vibration, chassis, energy and aerodynamics, engineering operations, design, release engineering, and autonomous and electrified vehicle engineering. “I believe the sky’s the limit for Charles as he progresses in his career with GM. In addition to his technical and leadership skills, he genuinely cares about people and fiinds ways to support the communities in which GM serves.” - Sabrina Groshek, Director of Engineering ICET

www.blackengineer.com

BEYA CANDICE HATCHER-SOLIS, PH.D. Most Promising Scientist in Industry Award Team Lead Neurobiology of Cognitive Performance 711th Human Performance Wing Air Force Research Laboratory

Dr. Candice Hatcher-Solis is a research biological scientist in cognitive neuroscience. During her tenure as an Air Force employee, she quickly rose to lead the Neurobiology of Cognition team in the 711th Human Performance Wing. Her research focuses on investigating the biomolecular pathways related to enhanced cognitive performance. Her work concentrates on the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral effects caused by various neuromodulation techniques. Her experiments utilize electrophysiological recordings, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenetic approaches. These enable her to quantify functional and molecular changes resulting from the non-invasive brain and peripheral nerve stimulation. Accompanying the molecular analysis, she explores the effects such stimulation has on cognition through behavioral assays. As a result, she identified biomarkers implicated in stress resilience as well as cognitive enhancement from stimulation. “Dr. Hatcher-Solis is not only a key research leader for AFRL but has excelled in sharing her discoveries with others in the field. She recently published six peer-reviewed papers in high-impact journals including Cell and eNeuro (two of those in the latest quarter!).” - Kevin Geiss, SES, Ph.D., Director Airman Systems Directorate

www.blackengineer.com

LARICO TREADWELL, PH.D.

NYARADZO LONGINAKER

Most Promising Scientist in Industry Award

Senior Member of the Technical Staff R&D Chemistry Sandia National Laboratories

Statistician Advisor General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)

Dr. Treadwell’s talent for blazing new trails began with his college journey. He was one of the first African Americans to be awarded a Bachelor of Science chemistry degree from the University of Mississippi. He later earned a doctoral degree in inorganic/solid state chemistry from Louisiana State University. In his academic pursuits, he conquered many hurdles while establishing a track record of exciting scientific achievements. As an active member of the Sandia Black Leadership Committee, Treadwell is a role model and has been instrumental in building a workforce and leadership pipeline that advances an inclusive culture. He developed advancements in materials science to accelerate discovering new materials and creating the means to manufacture commercial and national security applications. Treadwell is an acknowledged pioneer in microwave synthesis and processing methods.

Nyaradzo Longinaker is an epidemiologist for General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). She demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to scientific research on health outcomes for vulnerable populations and positively impacts the research community through her efforts. Longinaker has eight years of professional experience focused on health research in the Medicare dually eligible population and substance abuse disorders. Her novel research on COVID-19 has been key to assisting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Policy Data and Analytics Group in understanding the effects of COVID-19 in U.S. nursing facilities—an epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, she authored a full research manuscript on opioid prescribing to Medicare beneficiaries in peer review. She also presented her original research at a national conference, co-authored three other GDIT presentations at national conferences, and is an active Meals on Wheels volunteer and volunteer tutor in her community.

“As Sandia’s chief research officer, I have seen fiirsthand how his research advances science frontiers in chemistry, engineering, materials and component reliability/ corrosion, and the value of his materials science breakthroughs in fault-tolerant materials for our national security and nuclear deterrence missions. This work has yielded nine issued and pending patents and many refereed publications and reports.” - Dr. Susan J. Seestrom

“Ms. Longinaker is a highly motivated leader and embraces GDIT’s core values each day through her honesty and transparency with co-workers and customers, showing positive energy and embracing new ideas and tools to grow the business. She has the respect of her team members, customers, and peers in her research fiield.” - Colleen Kummet, Statistician Expert GDIT

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

SCIENCE ADVANCES WHEN EVERYONE CAN Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion extends to our employees, communities and systems of healthcare: • We announced a $2.5 million commitment over a two-and-a-half-year period to support the development of a multifaceted, long-term strategy to combat systemic racism, inequity and injustice in our workplace and in the communities where we live and work. • As part of our 3UP goals, we are committed to increasing our representation of multicultural talent at the supervisory and managerial level to at least 23 percent by 2023 – an increase of 3 percentage points from our prior goals. • For more than 15 years, our Close the Gap initiative has focused on eliminating barriers to care based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation to help all patients live better lives. • Our employees are required to take unconscious bias training and we are introducing new programs and tools to help our leaders further demonstrate inclusive behaviors. • With seven chapters, our BRIDGE employee resource group is a network of employees dedicated to positively influencing the recruiting, development and retention of Black employees and improving the healthcare of ethnically diverse patient populations. Join our team: bostonscientific.com/careers © 2021 Boston Scientific Corporation and its affiliates. All rights reserved.

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OBIEFUNA C. OKAFOR, PH.D., PE, PMP

ALAIN A. ADJORLOLO, PH.D., ATF

Outstanding Technical Contribution in Industry Award

Senior Project Leader Corning Incorporated

Lead Project Engineer, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing BCA-Product Development Engineering The Boeing Company

Dr. Obiefuna Okafor is a senior project leader and capital manager at Corning Incorporated. He currently leads international capital and technology projects with cross-cultural teams and manages capital portfolios in the Environmental Technologies Division. He is a licensed professional engineer and project management professional with over 18 years of technical and project leadership experience in development, engineering, and manufacturing. Recently he led a large multi-million-dollar international capital project in China to successfully deliver capacity and capability benefits to the environmental technologies plants in the region, despite the pandemic’s challenges. He continues to take on more impactful and challenging projects and problems, with increasingly larger teams that provide substantial cost reduction and capacity benefits to the businesses. “In addition to his professional contributions, Obi has continually impressed me with the time and energy he puts into volunteer organizations outside of Corning. He always tries to help develop and include others and takes interest in their growth and development. This true desire to help others maximize potential and grow as individuals is what sets Obi apart from others” – Timothy E. Antesberger

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Dr. Alain Adjorlolo is the lead project engineer for the Boeing Company. Over his 29 years at Boeing, Adjorlolo has achieved international recognition and emerged as a trusted subject matter expert and consultant. He has conducted many seminars for airlines and led corrosion investigations into customer airplanes. He leads a Boeing external membership research consortium to develop a reliable corrosion test for non-chromate finishes and advanced aluminum alloys, which would have significant regulatory, social, and structural safety value. Adjorlolo has been invited to serve as an industry guest on a Ph.D. panel by a prestigious French chemical engineering university, Chimie-ParisTech. He has been recognized for developing the corrosion risk assessment used across all-composite commercial airplanes by the 787 chief project engineer. He received a cash prize and the Pride Award from his 787 organization. Further, he was named an Outstanding Ed Wells Teacher in 2013 to develop and teach corrosion classes to Boeing engineers. “Not only has Alain made tremendous contributions to the airline industry, which impacts the safety of society as a whole, but he has also profoundly shaped the next generation of engineers and scientists.” Pat Cazeau

2021B ADAM FREEMAN, PH.D. Outstanding Technical Contribution in Nonprofit Award Senior Materials Chemist Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Dr. Adam Freeman is an innovator and technology leader whose contributions to revolutionizing safe, flexible battery technology has been recognized at the national level at the R&D 100 Conference and Awards. His ability to conceive and develop material solutions to challenging problems has resulted in numerous publications, patent applications, and prestigious awards. Since completing his doctoral work in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2000, Freeman has 20 years of experience providing novel polymer formulations for industrial, commercial, and wearable device applications. In January 2017, he joined APL as a senior materials chemist in the Multifunctional Materials and Nanostructures Group in the Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD). He made an immediate and substantial impact at APL, enabling flexible, robust, and safe battery technology through novel electrolyte formulations. He has also designed and formulated novel functional skin coatings that cure the skin to sustained dermal protection from select environmental threats such as UV radiation. “His advancement of the state of battery science by enabling the production of safer lithium-ion batteries and his contributions to bringing polymer engineering to biomedical applications exemplify the qualities of this award.” - Adam Maisano, Materials Engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab www.blackengineer.com

BEYA YUAN-JUN WEI, PH.D.

DEVDAS SHETTY, PH.D., P.E.

PHILLIP A. WILLIAMS, PH.D.

Outstanding Technical Contribution in Nonprofit Award

President’s Award

Professional Achievement in Government Award

Computer Science Lead The MITRE Corporation

Dr. Yuan-Jun Wei joined MITRE Corporation in 2015. When starting, he played a leading role on the ASR team tasked with establishing a large-scale audio process capability for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Wei was charged with setting the ASR development infrastructure for the efficiency and consistency of this project’s research. He built the first high-performance, in-house ASR system for a successful real-time application for the FAA. He also developed an end-to-end ASR system to process teleconference audiosfor the FAA command center. In his vision, voice data is a unique data source for machine learning and AI, and he is committed to improving the quality of voice data to the next level of accuracy. He has also been consulted by the Army’s DARPA program to assess the most appropriate AI/ ML applications on the battlefield. These applications are designed to help save the lives of warfightersy. “His unwavering commitment to educating himself and applying that knowledge in service to the public enables MITRE to take on the toughest problems and make the world a safer place.” - Dr. Jason Providakes, President & CEO of The MITRE Corporation

www.blackengineer.com

Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Deputy Center Chief Technologist NASA Langley Research Center

University of the District of Columbia

Dr. Devdas Shetty is the Dean of the of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia, a position he has held since fall 2012. He is a world-renowned scholar, educator, and outstanding academic administration leader whose career spanned close to 40 years in several countries. Since joining as a dean at UDC, Shetty has doubled the student enrollment by mainly focusing on the STEM enrollment locally, including the District of Columbia. The number of students enrolling in engineering and computer science increased by more than 60 percent. Under his leadership, the faculty research grants grew multiple times. He acquired resources to modernize the laboratories and created an environment for student success in national competitions. He initiated and led the development of a new bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering, a master’s degree in civil and mechanical engineering, and the first doctoral degree in engineering and computer science. Shetty set up the SEAS Research Institute, which attracted industry partnerships in senior capstone projects and graduate thesis. He has authored over 250 scientific articles and journal papers and proceedings, and he holds seven patents. “Dr. Shetty demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to his university community as well as to the public. As a member of the National Science Board, I can say he is a national asset to the development of diverse, domestic STEM talent.” - Dr. Victor McCrary

Dr. Phillip A. Williams currently serves as the NASA Langley Research Center’s deputy chief technologist, where he provides strategic leadership of the center’s multimillion-dollar innovation investments. During the pandemic, Williams’ efforts leading an overhaul of the portfolio’s information technology and communication infrastructure significantly streamlined the transition to a distributed workforce by creating virtual collaboration spaces and dynamic, cross-portfolio dialogues. Before his current role, Williams led a team within the organization that made outstanding contributions to advancing U.S. government progress in in-space assembly. Under his leadership, the team completed the implementation of a three-phase, iterative analysis approach that established a common taxonomy and value proposition that remains in use today, assessed the federal government investments and plans to identify potential gaps and synergies, and engaged with industry to examine the intersection of government and commercial objectives and roles. “Dr. Williams’ leadership and technical acumen have continually resulted in the products and achievements that have contributed significantly to NASA’s mission through the establishment of partnerships and relationships that result in high-value, cross-organizational integration.” - Melvin Ferebee, Director of Systems Analysis & Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley

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NYDEIA BOLDEN-FRAZIER, PH.D. Professional Achievement in Government Award Technical Advisor, Sub-Core Technical Competency Warhead Lead Munitions Directorate, Ordnance Division, Damage Mechanisms Branch Air Force Research Laboratory

Dr. Nydeia Bolden-Frazier works for the Department of Defense and is currently the technical advisor of 60 personnel with over 500 years of combined research experience. The workforce consists of military, contractor, and civilian personnel. She leads the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate, Ordnance Division (AFRL/RWM), Damage Mechanisms Branch (AFRL/RWMW) in all technical aspects, effortlessly executing over $50 million worth of warhead research that covers basic research to prototypes and demonstration. She has aligned the workforce and programs to focus on the following six research efforts: hypersonic, selectable effects, airto-air (A/A), hard target defeat, distributed collaborative cumulative effects (DC2E), and emerging and pervasive technologies. These efforts will transition to more than $6 billion worth of DOD programs. Additionally, she advised on partnerships with the United Kingdom and Sweden, which allowed both countries to benefit from each other’s knowledge. She always sought opinions and ideas from others and recommended decisions that directly influenced the research of AFRL/RWMW. “Dr. Bolden-Frazier is among the top leaders I know. Her technical vision and leadership skills are advancing cuttingedge technology for the U.S. Air Force.” - Timothy Tobik, Deputy Chief Ordinance Division 50

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VEONICCA S. WESLEY Professional Achievement in Industry Award

2021B CASSANDRA OKECHUKWU, SCD, MSN, MPH Research Leadership Award

Principal Systems Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Principal Health and Life Scientist MITRE Corporation

Veonicca Wesley is a principal system engineer for the Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD) business unit of Raytheon Technologies. She serves as an integrated product lead and system design and architecture manager. Her passion for helping the warfighter grew expeditiously after completing two consecutive internships with Raytheon in Tucson, AZ. Her desire to develop innovative technology paired with a passion for equipping the warfighter with advanced technology resulted in her accepting a full-time position with RMD, which she has held for over a decade. Wesley also serves as RMD’s campus manager at Auburn University, where she builds a corporate relationship with the university, increases RMD’s campus presence, and recruits the next generation of engineers. She also leads Math Move U workshops and volunteers at local high schools by sitting on career and STEM panels and supporting engineering workshops. Wesley always finds time to return to the school system she attended, Birmingham City Schools, to do motivational speaking and assist with robotics and STEM activities. She also mentors college students majoring in STEM at Tuskegee University.

Cassandra Okechukwu is a principal health and life scientist with the MITRE Corporation. She joined the organization in 2018 after spending many years in academia, including her role as an associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she is still an adjunct associate professor. During her time at Harvard, she directed her research to the role of social determinants—such as income, education, employment, and housing—on health outcomes. At MITRE, Okechukwu helped the Health Resources and Services Administration develop a more equitable approach to award federal grants to communities in need. Her insights helped create a system for identifying unmet needs across every state and territory. Now, she is engaged in fine-tuning the program and in understanding how existing health centers can improve their services for those in most need.

“Veonicca is an exceptional leader in the specialization of complex weapons systems development, production, and deployment. Even more, she has dedicated a significant amount of her time and energy to helping others to achieve their success.” - Laura McGill, Deputy Vice President of Engineering, Raytheon Missiles & Defense

“Because of Cassandra’s consistent leadership in discovering and developing unique approaches to the nation’s most pressing healthcare inequities, because of the direct impact she has had on our country’s most vulnerable communities, I am honored to nominate Cassandra for this award.” - Dr. Jason Providakes, President & CEO of The MITRE Corporation

www.blackengineer.com

BEYA BRANNON SAM, PH.D.

NORBERT SATCHIVI, PH.D.

BYRON SLEUGH, PH.D.

Research Leadership Award

Senior Investigator Award

Research Investigator Corteva Agriscience

Principal Research Scientist Corteva Agriscience

Senior Technology Fellow Award

Brannon Sam holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin (2015), where he developed novel transition metal catalyzed reductive couplings for the synthesis of complex organic molecules. Inspired by the opportunity to have a tangible, global impact on food security for millions of people, he joined the Discovery Chemistry group at Corteva Agrosciences in 2015 as a senior chemist in search of new active ingredients for protecting crops from disease. In his roles as fungicide chemistry lead generation leader and a chemistry external collaboration leader, he directs separate teams, both internal and external to the organization. In search of a more immediate impact, he volunteers in the local community on behalf of Corteva’s Science Outreach organization and on his own accord as a Starfish Initiative mentor of a high school student who aspires to be a first-generation college attendee and graduate. As mentor, Sam provides both personal and career guidance as the student progresses through all four years of high school.

Norbert Satchivi started his career with Dow Agrosciences (now Corteva Agriscience) in 2001 as a field scientist in Canada responsible for the characterization/ development of late-stage candidates in the discovery pipeline. He joined a senior team and took advantage of the opportunity to learn the art and science of being a field scientist. He designed and led field studies to develop and register the now commercial cereal herbicides Simplicity™, Frontline™, and Prepass™. Upon joining Corteva Crop Protection Discovery in 2007, Satchivi led multiple projects and crossfunctional teams to discover and advance novel technologies such as the trademarked Arylex. The success and impact of a scientist depend on the ability to engage a broader network of internal customers (regulatory, marketing, and field sales), academics, and potential third-party partners. The relationships he builds with multiple key stakeholders/customers inside and outside the organization are the foundation upon which his success has been enabled.

“Brannon has distinguished himself among his peers through his synthetic creativity, leadership, and strong sense of ownership to discover actives, leads, and pipeline molecules.” - Dr. Vid Hegde, Global Leader CP Discovery Research, Corteva Agriscience

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“Norbert’s technical achievements and role as a leader in the scientific community are well established. His impact on the agricultural industry has been amazing as he continues to bring new tools to farmers to help feed the growing world.” - Dr. Robert Cicchillo, Herbicide Biology Group Leader for Corteva Agriscience.

Global Biology Leader Corteva Agriscience

Byron Sleugh leads the global Weed Management Crop Protection Center of Expertise and serves as global biology leader for the Pasture and Land Management herbicide portfolio. Sleugh’s research in academia and the industry is significant in enhancing the operational effectiveness of farms across the U.S. He continues to contribute to the scientific community through sustained publications, involvement, and leadership in scientific societies and mentoring young scientists. He is also linked to the Corteva Global African Heritage Alliance (GAHA) and the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). Through GAHA, he participates in strategic influence on the business’s culture of diversity. He serves as an active member, recruiter, and mentor of diverse young scientists in the agricultural industry. “I am honored to submit this nomination of Byron Sleugh for the BEYA STEM Achievement Award as senior technology fellow. Byron is humble, and his influence is great, influencing innovation, business success, and empowering people across the globe.” - Courtney Gallup, Corteva Agriscience

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

GENERAL ENGINEERS · ,_,, .. -'{--· : ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS �._� ..•� . -�MECHANICAL ENGINEERS ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS COMPUTER SCIENTISTS OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYSTS

Cerner

https://www.atec.army.mil/career_opportunities.html Please register 11-13 February 2021 NLT 11:59pmEST

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AWARD WINNERS! Dr. John Slaughter Legacy Award Olie Burton

Most Promising Scientist in Industry Award Nyaradzo Longinaker

Modern Technology Leader Outstanding Achievement Award Damon Adams

Clarence Kennedy

Eddie Bland III

Alberto Lomeli

Devin Brown

Larry Lynn

Kory Brumfield

Paul McKenzie

Nicole Bullock

Nicholas A. Mingle

Herbert Cannon

Brian Northern

Michael Carswell

Richard Oliver-Goodwin

McKensey Corey Carter

Steve Patton

Brittani Chambers

Lesley A. Perkins

Keshonna Cooper

Maurice Peterson

Alveon Dixon

Stacee Pindell

Walter Ferguson

Anthony Printis

Natalie Franklin

James Riddick

Amrit Ghimire

Richard Simms

James Grant

Calvin Sojournary

Leon Hamer

Les Struthers

Lisa Hill

Kabirah Taylor

Tristan Hyde

Amanda Touchet

Kelly Johnson

Steve Wilson

Danielle Jones

Isaiah Wojckchonski

Natash Jones

Crystal Woods

Maria Joseph-King

Takita Zielieke

2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S

ROBERT OLIVER NICHOLSON, MS, MA, MBA Student Leadership - Graduate Level Award Doctor of Business Administration Candidate Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Army Contracting Command/Army Futures Command U.S. Army Materiel Command

Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) Robert Nicholson is an acquisitions, logistics & technology noncommissioned officer (NCO) in the Army Materiel Command. He hails from Priory, Jamaica, and attended Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA in 2004, and initial advanced individualized training (AIT) in 2005 at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Nicholson is DAWIA Certification Level III in contracting and demonstrated senior logistician certified. His academic background includes multiple master’s degrees in business administration, acquisitions and procurement management, homeland security; a bachelor’s degree in chemistry; and certificates in emergency and disaster management and health laboratory sciences. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in business administration, focusing on motivation and self-regulation. He joined the 923rd Contracting Battalion in Fort Riley, KS, in March 2018 and served as the training, operations, and planning noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) and an appointed small business professional supporting the Army Research Laboratory under Army Futures Command. “SFC Nicholson is a role model for not only the STEM community but for all that aspire to serve something greater than themselves. His pursuit of education in science is evident in all he does.” - Lt. Col. Robert J. Bartruff, Battalion Commander

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

2021B

WESLEY COMBS

ERIC CUNNINGHAM

Student Leadership Undergraduate Level Award

Technical Sales and Marketing Award

Undergraduate Student University of Houston

North American Executive Director Sales & Marketing General Motors

Wesley Combs is a senior at the University of Houston majoring in mechanical engineering and set to graduate in spring 2021. He has gained designation as a University of Houston Tier One Scholar, the NSBE Pyramid of Excellence awardee, and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers Scholar. Combs is committed to the broader impact of engineering in society. He has volunteered for numerous activities with the National Society of Black Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is a recipient of the 2018 Texas Society of Professional Engineers Scholarship, the David and Jean Wiley Foundation Scholarship from 2016–2018, and the 2018 NSBE Academic Award of Excellence. “I fiirst met Wesley as he was making his transition from Houston Community College to the University of Houston. From the moment I met him, I could tell that he was a special student. Even prior to enrolling at UH, he was working as a summer research intern for a National Science Foundation-funded project. As the director of the program for master’s in engineering studies, I meet hundreds of students each year, and Wesley is among the brightest.” - Dr. Jerrod Henderson, PROMES Director at the University of Houston

Eric J. Cunningham is a marketing professional with a passion for the automotive industry. His experience spans across many areas, including but not limited to brand management, advertising, sales and service, and marketing. In 2009, he was named regional director for Buick GMC’s regional office in Dallas, TX. In this assignment, he was responsible for sales and aftersales growth and revenue for two of the industry’s fastest-growing brands and had responsibility for 14 states in the South-Central part of the U.S. Cunningham has been an integral part of multiple product launches and has more than 25 years of extensive wholesale and retail field experience working in General Motors sales and aftersales functions. He has been a people leader for over 15 years and continues to promote every team he manages. “Eric has extensive knowledge in sales leadership, strategic planning, diversity marketing, and more. He embodies what it means to be an innovator, skilled at his profession, and driven to serve others and his community.” - Stephan Carlisle, Executive VP & President, GM North America

www.blackengineer.com

BEYA MY HA

KEITH D. HAMILTON

Technical Sales and Marketing Award

Director, Technical Program Management Walmart

Sr. Director of Programs & Business Development Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

My Ha is responsible for 20 associates and has indirectly led teams across all information security, which comprises over 600 security professionals across multiple disciplines providing enterprise tools, technologies, and services that protect the Walmart global enterprise and customers. Ha has been instrumental in enabling Walmart’s digital ecosystem through her ability to oversee large, complex projects and organizations. Through her leadership, she has cross-functionally led initiatives such as multi-factor authentication, rolling out this technology to approximately 2.4 million associates, delivering on a multi-year initiative to implement modern encryption solutions globally for Walmart stores’ point of sale, and driving the delivery to modernize Walmart’s identity and access management technology stack. “I fully support and endorse My for this award as she truly represents someone who has achieved greatness in her career. One of the most lasting impressions anyone in their career can make is leaving a mark or making an impact on someone you work with, and My has truly done that for many here at Walmart.” - Nick Givens, Sr. Director II, Walmart Security Engineering

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Keith Hamilton currently leads Spirit’s Business & Regional Jet programs, a growing market segment for the company, with profit and loss responsibility of approximately $125 million and growing to $330 million in 2021. He is responsible for business development for regional business jet and other strategic pursuits. During his time at Spirit, Hamilton has had several roles with increasing responsibility levels, including an international assignment at Spirit’s facility in Malaysia. He has successfully marketed the company to existing and new customers to bring in new business while managing current programs with strong execution. In his role of leading Spirit’s Regional & Business Jet programs, Hamilton interfaces directly with a global set of customers who partner with Spirit on various aviation and transportation technologies. This diverse customer set includes Rolls Royce, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Aerion, and Virgin Hyperloop.

V I S I T O U R C C G M E D I A YO U T U B E PA G E A F T E R T H E E V E N T F O R F U L L V I D E O R E P L AY AWA R D C E R E M O N Y: L . E A D . M E / B B T1T X

“As Spirit’s chief operating officer and Keith’s direct manager the past year, I can personally attest to Keith’s commitment to continuous growth, professional development, and leadership both at Spirit and in the community.” - Sam Marnick, EVP Chief Operating Officer, Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.

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BEYA

Legacy

2021BEYA Before 2016, Legacy Awards were in a special recognition category. The awards were renamed to honor BEYA’s legacy that dates back to 1987. Legacy awards, presented annually at the BEYA STEM Conference, honor a winner’s voluntary work in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) community, as well as excellence in the STEM workforce. Legacy awards were introduced at BEYA’s 30th-anniversary conference to celebrate the scientific and technical contributions of men and women who have won the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) since 1987. For more than five years, the Engineering Deans Breakfast at BEYA has been the place for special recognition honorees to receive Legacy Awards.

AWA R D

WI N N ER S

onathan Jones received the Eugene M. DeLoatch Legacy Award at the 2018 BEYA STEM Conference. Jones, a fermentation improvement engineer at Dow AgroSciences, was recognized for its dedication to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach in local communities. DeLoatch retired in 2016 after 32 years at the helm of Morgan State University’s Mitchell School of Engineering. He became the inaugural dean of the school when it was launched in 1984. His extraordinary career as an educator made a substantial impact on the number of minorities in engineering. He is the 2017 Black Engineer of the Year. The Linda Gooden Legacy Award is named for 2006 Black Engineer of the Year Linda Gooden, one of the most respected business leaders in aerospace and defense during her 40-year career. She is currently chair of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. Gooden is one of a select number of people who have presented awards named after them at BEYA. In 2019, she presented Lockheed Martin employee Audrell K. Samuels with the legacy award that bears her name. “Ms. Audrell Samuels exemplifies the definition of volunteerism in her work with the STEM outreach program and her service to the enterprise resource groups she belongs to and supports,” said Gooden. Here is what she said about BEYA’s legacy in 2006. “I am honored to be among this distinguished list of nominees; the 20th anniversary of the Black Engineer of the

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Year Awards makes it even more special,” Gooden said. “What we do today will set the stage for the next 20 years, just as those who walked down the aisle and accepted this award 20 years ago set the stage for us.” Ramon Richards, senior vice president of integrated technology solutions at Fannie Mae, was the 2019 Dr. Christopher Jones Legacy Award winner. The award was presented by Dr. Christopher Jones, 2016 Black Engineer of the Year and retired corporate vice president of Northrop Grumman. As an executive leader with the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) organization, Richards creates opportunities to strengthen African Americans’ talent pipeline in technology leadership. In 2020, the Dr. Mark Dean Legacy Award went to William Green, a senior technical staff member and IBM Master Inventor. Dean, the 2000 Black Engineer of the Year, is credited with developing landmark technologies, including the color PC monitor, the Industry Standard Architecture system bus, and the first gigahertz chip with engineer Dennis Moeller. In 1995, Dr. Dean was one of only 50 active fellows of IBM’s 200,000 employees and the first African American. He holds over 30 patents and retired from IBM in 2013. During his acceptance speech, Green said he stood behind a long legacy of achievement at the century-old IBM Corporation. “I stand behind Tom Laster, the first Black salesman, Calvin Waite, the first Black

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S engineering manager, George Carter, the first Black executive, Rod Atkins, the first Back senior vice president, and of course, Dr. Mark Dean,” Green said. In 2020, the Edward T. Welburn Legacy Award went to Corey Randolph, who went from being an intern at Nissan to earning the role as a lead electrical engineer for the Nissan Leaf. He is now a resource in the zero-emissions technology development team of Nissan Technical Center of North America. The presenter of the award at BEYA’s Engineering Deans Breakfast was Gerald Johnson, a twotime BEYA winner himself, and currently the executive vice president for global manufacturing at General Motors (GM). The Edward T. Welburn Legacy Award is named for the 2015 Black Engineer of the Year. He joined GM’s design staff in 1972 and made history in 2003 by becoming GM’s chief designer, the first Black American to achieve that position at any automaker in the world. Welburn is the sixth design leader in the entire history of General Motors. The first to lead the organization globally, creating a network of 10 design centers in seven countries: the United States, Germany, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil, and India. The Rodney C. Adkins Legacy Award for Business Transformation carries on Rod Adkins’s legacy, the 2007 Black Engineer of the Year. Adkins was responsible for leading the transformation across IBM and developing strategies for a new era of computing, new markets, and new clients. One of the first winners of the Rodney Adkins award is Verett Mims, assistant treasurer in Boeing’s global treasury operations. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from Southern University A&M College in her native Shreveport, LA she headed to Massachusetts for a master’s degree in physics at MIT. Adkins, who also earned a bachelor’s degree in physics, retired from IBM after a trailblazing career managing multi-billion-dollar business units and delivering product innovations and enterprise solutions. In February 2018, Mims was presented with the Rodney Adkins Legacy award by Ted Colbert, CEO of Boeing Global 58

Legacy 2021B

Services at the Boeing Company since October 2019, and Adkins himself. In 2019, the Rodney Adkins Legacy Award went to Paul F. McKenzie, a technical specialist in the tracked combat vehicles software program at General Dynamics Land Systems. McKenzie founded the Dynamic Network of African Americans (DNA2) to support and empower African Americans at General Dynamics Land Systems.

development and, through it, to change people’s lives. He joined the Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a research scientist in 1969 and rose to become director of the laboratory director. He was the 1994 Black Engineer of the Year.

The Walt W. Braithwaite Legacy Award is named for the 1995 Black Engineer of the Year. One of Braithwaite’s most notable aerospace contributions was his role in bringing computer-aided design to Boeing. Known as the father of CAD/CAM Integrated Information Network (CIIN), Braithwaite, then a supervisor in central engineering, introduced networked design/manufacturing systems to the company, changing the way airplanes are designed and produced, and allowing seamless collaboration between different manufacturers. Projects such as the 777, 787 Dreamliner, and 737 Max significantly benefited from the technical innovation.

Darryl A. Boyd, Ph.D.

In 2020, the Walt Braithwaite Award was presented to Myron Fletcher, who began his aerospace journey at the age of 16 as an aerodynamics engineer at NASA. In just six years with the Boeing Company, Fletcher was the first engineer to deliver qualified space hardware to the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, LA where he was a rocket propulsion engineer working on the core stage for NASA Space Launch System, the world’s most powerful rocket. “Myron makes it his goal to give back and uplift others in promoting STEM and the importance of mentorship by advocating for diversity and inclusion across Boeing’s enterprise,” said Braithwaite during the 2020 award ceremony. Steven Handy, a section supervisor at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and a member of the engineering team that is responsible for developing the U.S. Army’s Remote Monitor Control Equipment system, won the William R. Wiley Legacy Award for Research Science in 2017. William R. Wiley (1931–1996) was a lifelong believer in the ability of research to drive

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

ADMIRAL MICHELLE HOWARD LEGACY AWARD Research Chemist Naval Research Laboratory, Department of the Navy

Dr. Darryl Boyd maintains active roles in various scientific organizations, including the American Chemical Society (2020– 2022, councilor), the Chemical Society of Washington (2020 chapter president), RadTech International (editorial board member), the National Organization of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers (2018 national conference chair), and Sigma Xi. Boyd is an advocate of community STEM outreach. He regularly participates in volunteer STEM events all over the country throughout the year. He is a science instructor for Roots Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., and he has served as the STEM director at the Transformational Education Adventure (TEA) Center in McLean, VA, since 2017. Both positions allowed him to introduce science to children in grades K–5. Boyd is the owner of Science Made Simple LLC and the founder of www. DrBoydTheChemist.com, where he posts original content, including science videos, fun science facts, and blog posts about science. www.blackengineer.com

BEYA “It is with great pleasure that I enthusiastically endorse the nomination of Dr. Darryl Boyd. His contributions and achievements are most worthy of this prestigious award.” - L.C. Selby, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chief of Naval Research

improving workplace culture across rich, multi-generational talent. She serves as president of a non-profit called Dramatic Results and is IF/THEN ambassador for the American Association of the Advancement of Science. In Hamilton’s free time, she likes to scuba dive, puzzle, and try new cuisines!

ARLINGTON W. CARTER LEGACY AWARD

“Sydney Hamilton is a shining example of how one person’s dedication and commitment to service can touch so many lives.” - Pat Cazeau

Sydney Hamilton

Structural Design Engineer, Reflector, Responsible Engineering Authority Space & Launch Boeing Defense, Space & Security

He secured NSF Bridge funding for the doctorate at the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences (CECAS), demonstrating his commitment to diversifying STEM educational and professional opportunities to historically underrepresented populations. “Oliver has already made significant contributions to research and education in the areas of mechanics and advanced materials and is well poised to continue this positive trajectory.” - Anand Gramopadhye, Dean of College of Engineering at Clemson University

DR. EUGENE DELOATCH LEGACY AWARD

Oliver Myers, Ph.D.

DR. JOHN SLAUGHTER LEGACY AWARD

Associate Professor/Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence for Undergraduate Studies College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences Clemson University

Sydney Hamilton grew up dreaming of flying, so it is only fitting that she works at The Boeing Company today. After graduating with her dual degrees, she began her career as an airplane structural design engineer for the wing and fuselage structures. Advancing in her career, she became an airplane service engineer supporting airplane repairs. Afterward, she transitioned to Boeing Space & Launch as a mechanical design engineer. There she developed and maintained the largest database of additive manufactured analysis at Boeing. Later, as the responsible engineering authority, she designed, analyzed, and supported the design and manufacturing of satellite reflectors. Presently, she is a manager of the Structure Stress Team in Commercial Aircrafts. Throughout her career, Hamilton has shown her passion for volunteering in her community and STEM advocacy. Hamilton co-founded Boeing Generations to Generations, an employee resource group dedicated to

www.blackengineer.com

Olie Burton II

Sr. Director, Enterprise Technology Services & Support General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)

Dr. Oliver Myers joined Clemson University in 2014 and currently serves as an associate professor of mechanical engineering. He received bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland. As a student, Myers was part of the first cohort of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. He has remained in touch with the program as a faculty member, mentoring students and recruiting some to his lab. He also is a presenter each year at Clemson University’s Men of Color National Summit. As a result of these projects, Myers has authored or co-authored well over 70 journal and conference publications recognized by domestic and international communities.

Olie Burton is a General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) employee, currently serving as senior director of enterprise technology services and support within the Global CIO organization. Burton brings over 23 years of experience in engineering, operations, and strategic planning to the organization. He has a deep understanding of field operations, service desk management, and IT service management. Burton started his career in the United States Air Force as a military training instructor. After retiring from the Air Force, he pursued a career in information technology. As a system engineer for Computer Science Corporation (CSC), he worked closely with field personnel

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

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Visit us at intelligencecareers.gov/NGA and search for current job openings!

We’re committed to driving and achieving real change — creating a tomorrow we can all be proud of, standing together as one. Jacobs’ Action Plan for Advancing Justice and Equality is about achieving true equality for all of our employees current and future, with a focus on empowering our Black employees to advance and achieve at Jacobs. It’s about doing our part as a global leader to educate and change the culture in our communities — reaching brighteyed future talent early to highlight and celebrate futures ripe with potential.

And, it’s an opportunity for our global community to get this right… once and for all.

To learn more about our openings (experienced, graduate, intern and co-op) please visit our Jacobs Early Careers page: careers.jacobs.com/early-careers/

Find out more at www.jacobs.com or follow us @jacobsconnects

Supports the recruitment, development, and retention of Black talent

2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S and other engineers on networking platforms and server infrastructure. While developing these core engineering skills, he increased his business and technical acumen, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland University College. Burton has mentored many of the employees that report to him, providing training and advancement opportunities. “Olie Burton is a transformational leader, mentor, and exceptional employee at GDIT. The outstanding technical contributions Olie has made to date have transformed our organization and provided millions of dollars in savings and cost avoidance.” - James Hannah, CIO Vice President Enterprise I.T. for GDIT

DR. SANDRA JOHNSON LEGACY AWARD

Makita R. Phillips, Ph.D. Structural Analyst Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

(NSBE) member who has received several awards and served numerous capacities. Currently, she is serving as the graduate school conference chair for NSBE’s 47th annual convention. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and founder of the Minority Engineering Graduate Student Association at NC State and the Engineering Alumni Chapter at Florida A&M University. Her outreach helps spread engineering to the world and increase inclusivity.

educational program with unmanned systems portfolio team members. During the program, Porter highlighted the engineering positions that prepared her to be the solution architect today. She offered insights on making future career and educational pursuit decisions to meet personal and professional goals. Porter also works with family members and youth in her hometown of Chicago, IL, to equip and encourage them to enter STEM career fields.

“Dr. Makita R. Phillips’ educational achievements, leadership accomplishments, and technical excellence in areas of national importance demonstrate that she is a strong candidate for this recognition. The qualities that she has exhibited at APL, and in other areas of her life, are the basis for my nomination.” - Dr. Ronald Couch, Section Supervisor

“Krystal exemplifies what it is to be a professional within our company, and she consistently advances our company’s core values of integrity, inclusion, innovation, agility, collaboration and commitment.” - Michael Hile, Vice President, Airborne Sensors and Analytics Division, Airborne Solutions Operations

DR. WANDA M. AUSTIN LEGACY AWARD

JOHN D. HARRIS II LEGACY AWARD

Keith Burrell

Krystal A. Porter

Engineering Fellow Raytheon Technologies

Krystal Porter serves as lead engineer for the Airborne Reconnaissance LowEnhanced (ARL-E) program, an extensive record program at Leidos. Porter joined ARL-E in 2019, and within a few weeks, had learned a system that typically takes more than a year to master. Porter’s impact was felt almost immediately as she developed an innovative solution to complex issues with the system. Her expertise is highly respected, and she was recently featured as a guest speaker for an internal

Keith Burrell is recognized as the Raytheon Intelligence and Space leading authority in cost-effective electronic packaging for high-reliability space applications. Burrell is a highly soughtafter technical leader due to his technical depth in detailed mechanical design, circuit card design and layout, chassis/ enclosure design, tolerance analysis, and design for manufacturing, assembly, and test for his technical breadth in materials and process selection, noise suppression, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

Lead Engineer / Solutions Architect Leidos

Makita R. Phillips was the first Black woman to obtain a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in mechanical engineering. Phillips uses her technical expertise in computational analysis to investigate structural and thermal concepts critical to society and national security. Before joining APL, Phillips was an American Society of Engineering Education and National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow and research and development engineer at Carbice Corporation and the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is an active National Society of Black Engineers

Legacy 2021B

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

www.blackengineer.com

BEYA analysis, thermal analysis, structural analysis, durability analysis, and more. He also participates regularly in multiple Raytheon-sponsored events, including Engineer Week, Boys and Girls Club events, Los Angeles Food Bank events, and STEM events at local schools. “Keith has earned the trust of fellow employees and customers due to his technical reputation and leadership and character traits. I find him to be an exceptional engineer, leader, and most importantly, a person of the highest integrity.” - Carlos Peralta, Engineering Fellow at Raytheon

RODNEY ADKINS LEGACY AWARD

David Christopher Williams

Director – Hyper Automation/Emerging Tech AT&T

satellite broadband and LTE technology. His ideas drive change across the company as his team has developed 400plus bots, automating 40 million contacts annually. Additionally, he also invented secured funding and managed a decision engine driving $200 million annually in credit reduction.

engineering, Davis enjoys mentoring and educating other engineers, interns, and co-ops. She has sat on several panels and conducted tours and demonstrations on multiple occasions for STEM programs focused on developing an early interest in engineering among female middle and high school students.

“From a youth who started with humble beginnings with The Boys Club and Big Brothers & Sisters to an accomplished technical and business professional solving some of today’s most challenging problems, David is the embodiment of optimism overcoming obstacles, and he has my emphatic and energetic support for this award.” - Trish Renz, Vice President, Business Customer Sales & Service AT&T.

“Wilma is always engaged with team activities and is very personable and enjoyable to work with. For her contributions to the advancement of flight simulation in engineering and through her determination to provide a platform for the design, development, and evaluation of aircraft to meet business goals and ensure safety, I believe she is most deserving of this award.” - Brent McCall, Manager Simulation of Bell Flight

STEPHANIE C. HILL LEGACY AWARD

Wilma L. Howell Davis Principal Engineer Bell Textron Inc

David Williams began his career with AT&T in the Network Technology Organization. During his time with the company, he has held many roles and assignments in business units such as Network, Consumer Operations, Data Center Management, Enterprise Support, and more. In these roles, Williams has created deep-link HTML marketing initiatives that garner 90 million monthly impressions and led Competitive Intelligence, which helped shape AT&T’s mobile-first strategy and employee discounts. He has been responsible for supporting several Fortune 500 companies encompassing $120 million in revenue and authored two patents for reprogrammable RFID and bridging

www.blackengineer.com

2 0 2 1 S P E C I A L R E C O G N I T I O N : V I S I T O U R C C G M E D I A YO U T U B E PA G E A F T E R E V E N T F O R F U L L V I D E O R E P L AY AWA R D C E R E M O N Y:

Wilma L. Howell Davis is a principal engineer for Bell Textron, where she currently leads a simulation software development team for the new “FlyBy-Wire” Bell 360 Invictus engineering simulator. This simulator is used to develop embedded aircraft control law software for execution in the 360 Invictus Flight Control Computer. Over 34 years of software development in the aerospace industry, including 19 years at Bell, have provided her with the opportunities that have made this simulator build successful. Outside of her contributions to the advancement of flight simulation and

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Do your best work ever. IBM and its logo, ibm.com and Let’s put smart to work are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. See current list at ibm.com/trademark. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. ©International Business Machines Corp. 2018/2019. R00227

IBM is a proud sponsor of BEYA 2021. At IBM, we believe that progress is only possible when everyone is empowered to reach their full potential, not despite their differences, but because of them. We are seeking undergraduate students who are striving to build a better future. Putting your time and development first, the IBM Accelerate Program is designed to put you in the driver's seat of your career. Congrats to BEYA Award Winners: Corville Allen, Senior Technical Staff Member, Master Inventor - Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award Leteshia Lowe, QA and Test Engineer, IBM FlashSystems - Modern-Day Technology Leader Award

ibm.com/employment/ accelerate

@LifeatIBM @LifeatIBM

EMPOWERED TO BE YOUR FULL SELF

INCLUSION & DIVERSITY ARE INNOVATION | IMPACT

Our teams discover solutions to the world’s toughest challenges in artificial intelligence, 5G, biometrics, and more. A proud supporter of BEYA since 1985, we know that innovation happens at the intersection of inclusion and diversity. MITRE fosters a community of innovators, learners, knowledge-sharers, and risk-takers and offers a workplace culture where our employees can grow, thrive, and prosper.

JOIN US |

BEYA Ad 2021.indd 1

1/4/21 3:33 PM

2021 B M O D E R N - DAY T E CH N O LO GY

2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S

LEADERS

2021

In the fall of 1999, a few

months before the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) scheduled for February 2000, plans for the upcoming BEYA gala were swept up by global preparations for the biggest New Year party of our times. To mark the beginning of a new millennium, the BEYA Conference, which launched in the spring of 1986, decided on a new category award that looked back at the accomplishments of hundreds of men and women who had been recognized for their success in scientific and technical fields since 1987, as it looked forward. “Marching into the Millennium” was chosen as the theme of BEYA 2000 not just to honor the winners in a new decade, but to serve as a call to action from BEYA winners who wanted people to keep up in what was described as a century of technological advances. In February 2000, Dr. Mark Dean, one of the personal computer’s architects, was crowned Black Engineer of the Year. Dean led a lineup of 100-plus BEYA winners into the new millennium. A new group of achievers called the ModernDay Technology Leaders was also celebrated at the BEYA Conference. No doubt, in showcasing the careers 66

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

of Blacks in technology over a weeklong series of events during Black History Month, the awards ceremonies, job fairs, and other recognition events at BEYA had inspired others and shown young people that they, too, could have a career in engineering.

In 2002, US Black Engineer (USBE) magazine hailed the Modern-Day

the ever-changing needs of large companies or the public, workers who were proving their long-term value to their employers or clients in the most challenging business environments.

USBE magazine urged that when bad news always seems ready, those looking for hope and inspiration need look no further than the men

“Our work puts us in contact with many of them,” the magazine explained. “Young men and women who are developing a cuttingedge technology or doing vital research in science for government or private industry; innovative managers or staff members of research labs or high-tech programs.” Technology category award winners as the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They are “Engineering the Future,” wrote USBE magazine. “The Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference honors African Americans who have established themselves as leaders in technology and science. It also is fitting, as we celebrate the accomplishments of these frontrunners, to recognize the next generation of leaders in these fields.” The list also included bold and talented entrepreneurs fulfilling

and women in the Modern-Day Technology Leaders list. Six years ago, one of the speakers presenting awards at the ModernDay Technology Leaders Lunch held during the 28th annual BEYA STEM Conference was no other than Gerald Johnson, nominee for the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Award. During the ceremony, Johnson said the accomplished technology leaders represent our present-day state of achievement and the promise that future decades hold for America’s most prestigious companies and organizations.

www.blackengineer.com

BEYAMDTL A

Zenabu Bawa-Mamudu

Divisional Staff Microbiologist Abbott

Jacqueline Glanville-Powers Manager, Engineering Standards Abbott

Arwa Kassamali Cedric Marionneaux

Director - Product and Technical Service Engineer Abbott

Armond Moore

Environmental Health & Safety Engineer Abbott

Alain-Serge Nagni

Software Manager and Manager Project Engineering Abbott

Adekunle Adedotun Database Engineer Amazon Web Services

Tonny Ouma

Senior Solutions Architect Amazon Web Services

CW3 Weaver Prosper

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Arlington National Cemetery R&D Engineer Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Stephen Fast, Ph.D.

Acting Data Sciences Department Head Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Meghan Flannery-Hayes

Head, Complex System Engineering and Monitoring Applications Engineering Department Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Margalit Goldschmidt, Ph.D.

Assistant Research Professor Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Akshay Nemlekar

Jennifer Mosquero

Pavnesh Rathi

Sade Ruffin, Ph.D.

Cheree Rumley

Dawnetta Van Dunk

Sr. Associate - Corporate Strategy AT&T Director - Network Ops Centers AT&T Senior Tech Solutions Manager AT&T

Diwakar Sharma Area Manager AT&T

Rachel Smith

Assistant Vice President - Mobility Sales and Service Centers AT&T

Stephanie Smith Director AT&T

John Spalding III

Sales Executive II - Global Business AT&T

Jwyanza Watt

Assistant Vice President Global Billing and Data Privacy AT&T

Lead Associate Booz Allen Hamilton Associate Booz Allen Hamilton Associate Booz Allen Hamilton Lead Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

C Yacob Argaw, Ph.D.

Thermal Process and Analytical Engineer Corning Incorporated

Kameron Chambliss

Senior Development Engineer Corning Incorporated

Chukwudi Okoro, Ph.D. Senior Research Scientist Corning Incorporated

Mardochee Reveil, Ph.D. Sr. Research Scientist Corning Incorporated

Edward Chikwana, Ph.D. Human Health Risk Assessor Corteva Agriscience

Vater Williams

Ebony Johnson

Nebiyu Yoseph

Jonathan Jones

Monique John Sr. Tech Strategy & Operations Manager

Albert McDonald Jr.

Associate Director - Talent Acquisition AT&T Lead Solution Architect AT&T

AT&T (Xandr)

Artecia Wilson

Senior Product Manager AT&T (Xandr)

Lakshman Singh, Ph.D.

Senior Research Associate Corteva Agriscience Fermentation Research Group Leader Corteva Agriscience Technical Director Cummins, Inc.

D Mark Senior

Aerospace Engineer Defense Contract Management Agency

Engineering Project Manager Avionics Division Korwa – Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Sarah Roberts

Jesus “Dominic” Priestley Sr.

Lauren Shugarts

Information Security Analyst Advisor Eagle Alliance

Research & Development Engineer Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Raven Moreland

Systems Engineer Ball Aerospace

Danielle Barnett

Erica Banks

Program Director Eagle Alliance

Allen Dunbar

Andrea Blackwell

Information Security Officer Equifax

Department Head: Structural Acoustics Department and Assistant Research Professor Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State R&D Software Engineer Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Sr. Market Development Manager AT&T Sr. Quality Methods & Procedures Process Manager AT&T

B IT System Architect BAE Systems

Principal Booz Allen Hamilton Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

Erin Edwards

Marlena Clark

Carl Gomez

Eylia Gaitan

Rochelle Jones

Sian Lewis

Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Miesha Lites

Consultant Professional Services 2 AT&T Senior Associate Transformation AT&T Director - Business Operations AT&T Director AT&T

www.blackengineer.com

Associate Booz Allen Hamilton Lead Associate Booz Allen Hamilton Associate Booz Allen Hamilton Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

Keith Shivers

Project Manager, In-Service Aircraft Carrier Hull Systems Department of the Navy

E Alveon Dixon

Clarence Kennedy Octavia Howell

G Eddie Bland

Engineering Team Lead - Sr. Principal Engineer GCI, Inc.

Damon Adams

L E A D E R S

Amanda Hanford, Ph.D.

T E C H N O L O G Y

Eliza Bradley, Ph.D.

Dameon Ming

Professional Network Support AT&T

M O D E R N - D A Y

Sr. Project Manager Abbott

Malang Maane

Agile Coach and Product Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Devin Brown

Systems Administrator Senior Advisor General Dynamics Information Technology

Kory Brumfield

Director, ESD Managed Services General Dynamics Information Technology

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

B AD Being back in the workplace requires confidence. That’s why we’ve developed technology to create safer indoor environments across America, in factories, offices, schools and hospitals. From monitoring occupancy to purifying the air, our technology is making the next step humanly possible. usa.siemens.com ©Siemens, 2020. All Rights Reserved.

BEYAMDTL Herbert Cannon

Project Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Calvin Sojourney

Cyber Security Analyst Senior General Dynamics Information Technology

Michael Carswell

Les Struthers

Mckensey “Corey” Carter

Amanda Touchet

Systems Engineer Manager General Dynamics Information Technology Project Manager General Dynamics Information Technology Division Cyber Advisor General Dynamics Information Technology

Walter Ferguson

Senior Systems Engineering Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Natalie Franklin

Systems Administrator Expert General Dynamics Information Technology

Amrit Ghimire

Software Developer Advisor General Dynamics Information Technology

Quality Program Management Analyst General Dynamics Information Technology

Steve Wilson

Senior Project Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Isaiah Wojciechowski

Systems Technician II General Dynamics Information Technology

Brittani Chambers

Process Engineer General Dynamics Land Systems

Paul McKenzie

Senior Engineering Specialist General Dynamics Land Systems

Student Hampton University

Tiara Gray

Industrial Engineer 2 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Deshawn Jones

Manager, Network Communications 2 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Camisha Peterson

Electrical Engineer 4 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Antaux Rollins

Engineering Technician 4 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Alex Thomas

Manager Engineering 2 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Warrick Williams

James Grant

Anthony Printis

Manager 2 - Design Engineering Huntington Ingalls Industries

Leon Hamer Jr.

Crystal Woods

Leteshia Lowe

Lisa Hill

Takita Zielieke

Senior Systems Engineer General Dynamics Information Technology Sr. Network Engineer General Dynamics Information Technology

Kelly Johnson

Senior Program Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Danielle Jones

IT Operations Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Natash Jones

Systems Administrator Senior Advisor General Dynamics Information Technology

Maria Joseph-King, Ph.D.

Statistical Analysis Senior Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Larry Lynn

Communications Technician General Dynamics Information Technology

Nicholas Mingle

Software Developer Expert General Dynamics Information Technology

Brian Northern

Richard Oliver-Goodwin

Solution Architect General Dynamics Information Technology

Lesley Perkins, Ph.D.

Program Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Maurice Peterson

Configuration Management Analyst General Dynamics Information Technology

Stacee Pindell

Information Security Analyst Expert General Dynamics Information Technology

James Riddick Jr.

Senior Test Engineer General Dynamics Information Technology

Richard Simms Sr.

Senior Systems Engineer General Dynamics Information Technology

www.blackengineer.com

Engineering Specialist Systems General Dynamics Land Systems

Tristan Hyde

Software/Configuration Management Principal Investigator General Dynamics Mission Systems

FlashSystems Test Lead, Quality Assurance/Test Engineer IBM Corporation

J Michael “Mika” Ayenson

Section Supervisor/Project Manager Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Malik Little

Steve Patton

Section Supervisor Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Kabirah Taylor

Payload Integration Project Manager Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Alberto Lomeli

Vice President JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Isaiah Adams

Vice President JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Talia Bryant

Managing Director JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Steven Ellsworth

Vice President JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Velma Johnson

Vice President JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Thomas Jones

Vice President JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Brenda King

Vice President JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Terraia King

Managing Director JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Raquel Romero

Managing Director JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Sr. Advanced Network Engineer II General Dynamics Mission Systems Quality Strategist and Tester General Dynamics Mission Systems Sr. Engineering Specialist General Dynamics NASSCO Senior Full Stack Developer General Motors Technology Relationship Manager General Motors Production Group Leader General Motors Body Shop Business Planner General Motors Systems Engineer General Motors

Senior Reliability Engineer General Motors Controls Engineer General Motors Production Group Leader General Motors

Justin McGrath Andrea Hodge

Damien Julkes Ebele Kemery Ita Lamont

Dwayne Layne

Wisdom Mills-Owoo Malcolm Player Tiffany Polk

L E A D E R S

Software Architect General Dynamics Information Technology

Sr. Engineer Reliability General Dynamics Land Systems

T E C H N O L O G Y

Project Manager General Dynamics Information Technology

Engineering Specialist Systems General Dynamics Land Systems

M O D E R N - D A Y

Keshonna Cooper

Senior Network Engineer General Dynamics Information Technology

H Larry Luster

James Reid

L Samatar Ali

Senior Associate, Mechanical Engineer L3Harris Technologies

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Women in STEM at the National Security Agency

‘Amazing’ Network Moves Careers Forward

THE POWER OF PEOPLE AD Jenaye Minter wouldn’t be where she is today without that one very special quality of the NSA community. “There are tons of people to help you get to where you need to be.”

Jenaye Minter Computer Engineer

As a Co-op Program intern, she gained experience in signals intelligence and product testing. Now an employee, Jenaye is developing expertise in network engineering. She says the career options at NSA are limitless, and the people you meet will help you navigate your next move. “The networking is amazing.” Learn more at IntelligenceCareers.gov/NSA

U.S. citizenship is required. NSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NSA offers: • Tuition Assistance • Professional Training and Development • Leadership Opportunities • A Friendly Environment that Fosters Innovation • The Time to Enjoy Family and Friends • An Opportunity to Contribute to the Good of the Nation

To learn more about a future career with Thales, please visit: thalesdsi.com/contact/careers/ or jobs.thalesgroup.com/search-jobs

Follow Thales

2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S Louis Antoine

Director, Engineering Management L3Harris Technologies

Arnold Arrington

Scientist, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

M O D E R N - D A Y

T E C H N O L O G Y

L E A D E R S

Dewayne Bishop

Senior Specialist, Mechanical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Nicolette Bostock

Associate Manager, Electrical Engineering L3Harrris Technologies

Lauren Burrell, Ph.D.

Software Engineering Scientist L3Harris Technologies

Luke Daanomah

Senior Associate, Engineer L3Harris Technologies

LaTasha Dandy

Lead, Program Management L3Harris Technologies

Rachel Fitzhugh

Senior Specialist, Image Science Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Tye Green

Manager, Electrical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Andrea Greene

Manager, Mechanical Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Lelia Jenkins

Director, Engineering Management L3Harris Technologies

Paul Johnson

Principal, Project Management L3Harris Technologies

Jeffrey Louis

Associate Manager, Manufacturing Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Ngina McLean

Acting Sector Lead/Engineering Manager Surveillance & Automation Systems L3Harris Technologies

Natacha Olugemo

Senior Associate Software Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Anthony Riggins

Supervisor, Optical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Willie Singley

Senior Member Engineering Staff L3Harris Technologies

Anthony Wheeler

Lead, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Nathan Young

Lead Software Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Carol Brevett, Ph.D. Principal Scientist Leidos

Raejon Burton

System Administrator Leidos

Erica Bush

Lead Regulatory Scientist Leidos

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

2021B

Stephen Collymore

Bernard Sellars

Maya Cooper

Derek Shorte

Maricel DeMotts

Eric Simmons

Christina Fox

Cynthia Simon-Arndt

Akberom Gebrecherkos

Cassius Smith

Sophia Graf

Desira Stearns

Annitta Haywood

Derek Stiles

Stacey Herring

Joaquim Thompson

Michelle Hostetler

Darrell Valentine

Ashley Jefferson

Glen Weaver

Kaso John

Courtney Winstead

Bryan Jolly

Keith Alemu

Kizzalibah Lavala

Carrie Bass

Aaron Maitland

O’Shae Bridges

Yuri Marsan

Latasha Brinson

Shameka McCaskill

Torrance Brown

Rayford Miller

Jane’l Dixon

Stephanie Moorer

Michael Dixon

Steven Ortiz

Nikela Gates

Kevin Perry

Cayla Gilbert

Josh Princivil

Cherice Hendershot

Kenda Ramie

Shaemekia Jamison

Jenna Rendon

Kenyon Johnson

Programmer - Analyst Leidos

Deputy Task Order Manager Leidos Curriculum Developer Leidos Systems Engineer Leidos Sr. Relay Setting Engineer Leidos Senior Systems Engineer Leidos Product Lead Leidos

Release Manager Leidos

Sr. Systems Integration & Test Engineer Leidos Business Systems Analyst Leidos R&D Project Manager Leidos Vice President, Enterprise Infrastructure Leidos

Program Manager/Network Engineer Leidos Robotics Engineer Leidos Airframe IPT Lead Leidos Project Engineer Leidos

Program Manager Leidos

Software Developer Leidos

Research Facility Manager Leidos Deputy Program Manager Leidos Engineering Supervisor Leidos Sr. Geospatial Analyst/Deputy Site Lead Leidos Senior Engineering Manager Leidos

Sr. Cyber Systems Security Analyst Leidos Cloud Software Engineer Leidos

Information Systems Security Officer Leidos Behavioral Health Scientist Leidos

Senior Information Security Engineer Leidos Strategic Diversity Outreach Director Leidos Principal Systems Engineer Leidos Engineering Supervisor Leidos

Senior Systems Engineer Leidos Quality Engineering Manager Leidos Enterprise Architect Leidos

Software Engineer Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation Electrical Engineer Lockheed Martin Corporation Systems Architect Senior Lockheed Martin Corporation Ethics Analysis Senior Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation Software Engineer Sr Lockheed Martin Corporation Program Management Senior Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation Program Planner Lockheed Martin Corporation Government Finance Analyst Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation Field Sales Support Systems Engineer Lockheed Martin Corporation Cyber Intel Analyst Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation Applications Analyst Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation Systems Engineer Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation

www.blackengineer.com

BEYAMDTL Roscoe Kidd Jr

Jesse Campbell

Rosa Carbajal

Tiffany Marr

Sean Durrant

Logan Carrington

Melvin McCray IV, Ph.D.

Chinyere Ukazim

Regina Evans

Monica McKendrick

Chelesa Kpodi

Tammi Harris

Benett Mclean

Taylor Jánae Million

Charles Hicks

Dashagne McNeil

Chedic Waters

Rhonda Hicks

Dinesha Ramie

Fred Williams

Peeya Iwagoshi, MBA

Jerome Smith

Jerry Bobo

Jamarian Monroe

Systems Integration/Test Engineer Senior Lockheed Martin Corporation Program Management Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation Mechanical Engineer Lockheed Martin Corporation

Systems Engineering Senior Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation Electrical Engineering Associate Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation Hardware Engineering Associate Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation Technical Task Order Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation

Stacy Smith

Electronics Engineer Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation

Sylvia Watts-Flippo

M Giovanni Lawrence Research Assistant Morgan State University

N Melvin Ferebee Jr.

Director, Systems Analysis and Concepts NASA Langley Research Center

Reginald Fagin

General Engineer Naval Air Systems Command

Devontae Mitchell

Flight Test Engineer Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division

Jonny Rice Jr.

Electronics Engineer Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division

Cynthia Manns

Courtney Crittenden

Assistant Program Manager Naval Sea Systems Command

John Funn

Principal Assistant Program Manager Naval Sea Systems Command

Julius McCullough

Control Systems Engineering Team Leader Naval Sea Systems Command

Vanessa Thomas

LCS Modernization Acquisition Program Manager Naval Sea Systems Command

Chaz Wilder

Systems Integration Manager Naval Sea Systems Command

James Stewart

Department Chief Scientist Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division

www.blackengineer.com

Machinery Controls Lead System Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division Computer Scientist Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division Branch Manager Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division Engineer/ILS Reference Desk Data Manager Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division Technical Project Manager Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Danny Clemons

Mechanical Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Crystal Hill

Electronics Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Ashley Holloway

IT Systems Architect/Lead Systems Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Davon Johnson

Senior Manager, FPVR Helpdesk NetApp Program Manager NetApp Manager, Customer Assurance Program NetApp Manager - USPS NetApp

Senior Technical Program Manager NetApp Global Account Manager NetApp

Chester Oates, MBA

Cloud Data Services Solutions Engineer NetApp

Ed Shepard

Senior Director Sales NetApp

Tymeka Whiteside

Operations Program Manager NetApp

Fangzhou Liu

Ph.D. Student New Jersey Institute of Technology

Adrian Brown

Branch Manager/Engineer, Code S54 Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Senior Principal Environmental Engineer Northrop Grumman Corporation

James Watkins

Staff Engineer Satellite Systems Northrop Grumman Corporation

Division Manager Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, Air Dominance Department

Richard Calvin Michael Chin

Elijah Kibler

Engineering Manager Northrop Grumman Corporation

Malcolm Lewis

Systems Engineering Manager Northrop Grumman Corporation

Engineer Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport Computer Engineer Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport

Concepcion Vazquez

Branch Head, Information Management Systems Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport

Arnold Arrington

Scientist, Systems Engineering NetApp

James Ayscue

Director Digital Support NetApp

Mariama Beemer

Chief of Staff Revenue Marketing NetApp

Quincy Benbow

Manager District Sales NetApp

Cynthia Brown

Senior HR Director NetApp

Armelle Franklin Kelvin Franklin

Manager, Real-time Collaboration and Enterprise Search Northrop Grumman Corporation

Tonyetta Gallagher

Manager Systems Engineer Northrop Grumman Corporation

Valerie Mansfield

Business Enterprise Program Manager Northrop Grumman Corporation

Janice Murray

Staff Quality Analyst Northrop Grumman Corporation

Keyshawn Phelps

L E A D E R S

Weapon Systems Explosives Safety Review Board (WSESRB) Executive Secretary Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity

Project Manager and Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division

Product Marketing Manager NetApp

T E C H N O L O G Y

Cyber Software Engineering Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lead Scientist Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division

Senior Program Manager NetApp

M O D E R N - D A Y

Systems Engineering Manager Lockheed Martin Corporation

Electrical Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division

Systems Engineer Northrop Grumman Corporation

Marcus Sills

Sr. Principal Cyber S/W Test Engineer Northrop Grumman Corporation

Daniel Washington

System Engineering Integration and Test Lead Northrop Grumman Corporation

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

2021B

2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S Rayon Williams, Ph.D.

R Kwesi Abakah

Electrical Engineer II Raytheon Technologies

Obafolarin Aluko

L E A D E R S

Lead Repair Design Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Lance Amar-Atsen

Senior Principal Software Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Allan Arisi, Ph.D.

Sr. Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Sean Bradshaw, Ph.D.

Hot Section Engineering Turbine Technology Manager Raytheon Technologies

Melissa Broadnax

Deputy Lead - Digital MRO Raytheon Technologies

M O D E R N - D A Y

T E C H N O L O G Y

Deven Carter

Electrical Engineer II Raytheon Technologies

Krystal Cunningham

Senior Multi-Disciplined Engineer I Raytheon Technologies

Angela Doyle-Plummer Lead Process Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Rukiya Higgins

Material Program Manager Raytheon Technologies

Howard Jacas

Director, Program Chief Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Christopher Jelks

Principal Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Howard Liles

Senior Design Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Kerwin Low, Ph.D.

Deputy Technology Manager Raytheon Technologies

S David Carter

Principal Member of Technical Staff Sandia National Laboratories

Elijah Finch

Software Developer Sandia National Laboratories

Antoinette Evans

Engineering Manager, 747/767/777/787 Water and Waste Systems The Boeing Company

Mary Fox

Technical Publications Project Management Specialist The Boeing Company

Romar Frazier

Uzoma Onunkwo, Ph.D.

Deputy Director, Global Safety and Regulatory Affairs – Washington D.C. The Boeing Company

Tonya Ross

Electrical Design and Analysis Engineer II The Boeing Company

Computer Systems Researcher Sandia National Laboratories Systems Engineer Sandia National Laboratories

Brent Gaddis II

Christine Garcia

Program Manager Lead, External Technical The Boeing Company

Kiamsha Barnes

Patrick Girukwigomba

Corey Brown

Rashara Givhan, Ph.D.

Gene Gamble

Jamaal Granger

Arnold Ndegwa

Anthony Hayter

Johnna Sargent

Stacey Hill

Prince Yengbe

Oscar Johnson

Camille Keely

Ricky Jones

Roman Ashford

Rafael Lewis Sr.

Devin Biggers

Clarissa McMillar

Bernice Billups

Darryl Mitchell

Systems Engineer II Textron Inc. Principal Engineer Textron Inc.

Software Engineer II Textron Inc. Test Engineer III Textron Inc. Senior Engineer Textron Inc. Engineer Textron Inc.

Director - ACQ Analysis and Planning The Aerospace Corporation Mechanical Systems Design & Analysis Engineer The Boeing Company Programmer Analyst The Boeing Company

Lead Manufacturing Engineer The Boeing Company Software Manager The Boeing Company

Flight Systems VMS Labs Manager The Boeing Company Business Development Representative The Boeing Company Manager, Boeing Leadership Rotation Program The Boeing Company Material Processes and Physics Engineer The Boeing Company Chief Architect The Boeing Company IT Business Partner The Boeing Company Multi-Skill Rotational Engineer The Boeing Company

Senior Electrical Engineer II Raytheon Technologies

Director, Company Contributions & Boeing Global Engagement The Boeing Company

Procurement Coordinator The Boeing Company

Vincent Phillips

Chesla Boatner

Agile Transformation Program Manager The Boeing Company

Shawna Ong

Senior Principal Material Program Manager Raytheon Technologies

Chief of Staff & Strategic Engagement Program Manager The Boeing Company

Ron Moore

Kelly Muhammad

Shawn Braddy

Environment Health and Safety Specialist The Boeing Company

Senior Manager, Mechanical Systems, Nacelles & Externals Engineering Raytheon Technologies

Monica Challenger

Structural Analysis Engineer The Boeing Company

Barrow Shurn

Alexis Coates

Leslie Teal

Kevin Davis

Joshua Virgin-Bryan

Jodie-Ann Duquesnay

Kellye Randle

Manager III Engineering Raytheon Technologies

Nasr Shuaib, Ph.D.

Associate Director Raytheon Technologies Senior Principal Systems Engineer Raytheon Technologies Staff Engineer, Systems Engineering Raytheon Technologies

Jon Walters

Associate Director Raytheon Technologies

Senior Electrical Engineer Raytheon Technologies

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Software Engineer The Boeing Company Systems Engineer The Boeing Company Project Engineer The Boeing Company Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer The Boeing Company Payload Mechanical Engineer The Boeing Company

Jacob Ndjali

Taiwo Olorunniwo

Manager, Factory Support Collaboration Center & Data Analytics Team The Boeing Company

Delroy Pascual III

Mechanical System and Analysis Engineer The Boeing Company

SaToya Pettiford

BDS IT Program Manager The Boeing Company

Kayla Rosario

Propulsion Engineer The Boeing Company

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BEYAMDTL Aro Royston

Keith Sylvester

LCDR Kimberly Young-McLear, Ph.D.

Raynaldo Santiago Jr.

Kim Vu

Cadet Second Class Katharine Stroh

Steven Slaughter Jr.

CW2 Alexis Forchiney

Samuel Abbay

Gregory Smith Jr.

SFC Austin Skinner

Kenan Fears, Ph.D.

Chyna Smith

Brian Wilder

LCDR Shantrice Chapel

Roderick Gaines

LCDR Derik Rothchild

Ryan Delts

Lieutenant Ikechukwu Ume

Graphic Artist The Boeing Company

Chief Engineer for Thermal Products The Boeing Company Structural Analysis Engineer The Boeing Company

User Experience Designer The Boeing Company

Gregory Strawder, Ph.D. Materials and Process Engineer The Boeing Company

Stephen Tyson

Environmental Control and Life Support The Boeing Company

Chinyere Udoh

EE Systems Design Engineer The Boeing Company

Sandra Uter

Senior Web Developer The Boeing Company

Olivier Villegas

Angelique Waller

Technical Account Manager The Boeing Company

Shalonda Webb

F/A-18 Mission Management Electronic Warfare Software Team, Manager The Boeing Company

Calvin Williams

Software Engineer Level 4 The Boeing Company

Christine DiFonzo

Senior Software Systems Engineer The MITRE Corporation

Wendell Norman

Software Apps Development, Lead The MITRE Corporation

Chasidy Perrin

Lead Enterprise Architect The MITRE Corporation Principal Health Systems Engineer The MITRE Corporation

Abdulrahim Sheikhnureldin Senior Data Scientist The MITRE Corporation

Daniel Sims

Multidisciplinary Systems Engineer The MITRE Corporation

Nicole Waddell

Principal Systems Engineer The MITRE Corporation

Justin Williams

Senior Cybersecurity Engineer The MITRE Corporation

U Master Sergeant Darryl Carn Jr. Knowledge Management Officer U.S. Air Force

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Platoon Sergeant SFC - E7 U.S. Army Chemical Demilitarization Team Leader U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Civil Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Computer Scientist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center

Chonteau Johnson

Thermal Mechanical Engineer U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Materials Research Engineer U.S. Naval Research Laboratory USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant U.S. Navy Engineer Officer U.S. Navy

Assistant Training Officer U.S. Navy

Khadijah Nixon

Lead Civil Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District

Undergraduate Student Undergraduate Research, Experiential Learning and Honors (URELAH)

Shenita McConis

Jiajun Xu, Ph.D.

Chief of Planning U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District

Keyon Austin

Construction Control Representative U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District

Michael Lanier

Team Lead, Project Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Engineering Center

Elmo Webb

Levee Safety Program Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District

Sonia Jackson-Suggs

Project Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District

Gbandi Nikabou

Civil Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District

Willie Brown

Research Civil Engineer U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

DeAnna Dixon

Assistant Professor University of the District of Columbia

W Snigdha Arora

Software Engineering Senior Manager Walmart

Francisco Cisneros

Senior Software Engineer Walmart

Bill Johnson

Technical Expert Walmart

Venessa King

Senior System Engineer Walmart

Vasudevan Natarajan

Senior Technical Expert, Cyber Security Walmart

Faisal Rahman

Enterprise Technical Expert, Cybersecurity Walmart

Ferdinent Thomas

Civil Engineer U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Software Engineer II Walmart

Keithley Crooks

Operations Supervisor World Wide Technology

Electronics Engineer U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command

Joseph Hill Jr.

Tiona Harris

Monica Lyons

Project Engineer World Wide Technology

Electronics Engineer U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command

James Pittman

Kevin Ledbetter

LaDonald Townley Jr.

IT Specialist U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command

Engineering Team Lead World Wide Technology Lead Technician World Wide Technology

L E A D E R S

Eldred Ribeiro

Construction Engineer Technician U.S. Army

Cadet (Student) U.S. Coast Guard Academy

T E C H N O L O G Y

Procurement Agent The Boeing Company

Lead Systems Engineer and Integration U.S. Air Force

Cyber Risk Management Fellow - Detailee U.S. Coast Guard

M O D E R N - D A Y

Product Manager The Boeing Company

Lead Systems Engineer U.S. Air Force

Dante Milledge

Computer Scientist U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

E Q UA L E M P L OY M E N T O P P O RT U N I T Y A N D I C D I V E R S I T Y

SITY EEO-IC

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NC LI

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AS ONE COMMUNITY

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NetApp specializes in helping our customers get the most out of their data with industry-leading cloud data services, storage systems, and software. Belonging at NetApp We believe diversity, inclusion, and belonging leads to more innovation, better access to talent, and improved business outcomes. Our strategies are intended to increase the demographic and cognitive diversity of our employee population, promote a culture of inclusion, and to leverage such diversity to achieve business results. Congratulations to our 2021 BEYA award recipients for their outstanding achievements! Modern Day Technology Leaders Regina Evans Mariama Beemer Ed Shephard Chester Oates Tymeka Whiteside Rhonda Hicks Tammi Harris

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2021B SCIENCE

2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S

SPECTRUM R

TRAIL BLAZERS

ecently, Career Communications Group (CCG) published short stories about BEYA-winning engineers as an educational resource for middle and high school students. Becoming an Engineer is used by community organizations to help young people learn about engineers, different engineering jobs, and how they can become engineers themselves. In 2004, CCG put together a similar career guide featuring more than 100 people of color covering the science spectrum. One titan of science, Chadwick A. Trujillo, helped discover the dwarf planet dubbed Sedna in November 2003. Sedna orbits our sun far beyond Pluto. The list also included Derrick H. Pitts, chief astronomer and planetarium programs director at the Franklin Institute Science Museum. Pitts is the author of a book about the famous Halley’s Comet. Not a lot of people know that Pitts designed many of Franklin Institute’s public exhibits. The guide also showcased “hidden figure” Shirley M. Malcom, a leading zoologist. She has served as the head of education and human resources at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for more than a decade. What CCG editors found as they compiled the list was that minority scientists were all pushing the performance envelope to encompass everybody. Visionaries do not follow pathways. Instead, they blaze trails through uncharted territory for those

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

coming up behind them. Trailblazers are forward-thinking people who spark the imagination and creativity of next-generation leaders. CCG’s Trailblazer Award was first presented in 2004 to women and men who had distinguished themselves by their discoveries, innovations, and achievements in science and technology. In 2005, the Trailblazer Award went to distinguished thinkers and doers making a difference in mathematics, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social science. The list included Darnell E. Diggs, a research physicist at the Air Force Research Laboratory; Sandra Burke, who was recognized for drug delivery from polymer-coated intravascular stents for the treatment of coronary heart disease; Peter Delfyett, a fellow of the Optical Society of America and mentor to a new generation of scientists; and Dr. Walt Hollow, who founded the Native American Center for Excellence at the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1993 and served as its director until 2003. This year’s Trailblazers are just as inspiring as the very first cohort in 2004.

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BEYA

SST

Shola Akinmeji

Jerry Lewis

Veronica White

Kendrick Carter

Terraun Jones

Kimberly Lyles-Smith

Yemane Gessesse, Ph.D.

Quincy Mack

Director of Engineering Cummins, Inc.

Manager Engineering 3 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Shannon Grady, Ph.D.

Corville Allen

Technical Specialist Cummins, Inc.

Senior Technical Staff Member IBM Corporation

Wysheka Austin

Jaime Arribas Starkey-El

Sr. Manager Procurement Abbott

Director, Manufacturing Technology Abbott

Angela Reeves, Ph.D.

Manager, Engineering Standards Abbott

Laura Ruvuna, Ph.D.

Sr. Manager, Global ProcurementManufacturing Abbott

Kanyatta Walker

Vice President, Global Product and Technology ADP

Alfree Conklin

Research & Development Software Engineer Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Abdalla Nassar, Ph.D.

Associate Research Professor; Head of the Process Physics, Analytics, and Engineering Department Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Alexia Reyes

Research and Development Engineer Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State

Karmen Alexander

Senior Project Program Manager AT&T

Allen Bell

Technical Sales Consultant 5 AT&T

James Coger

Principal Systems Engineer AT&T

Carnell Council II, DBA

Principal Advisory Services Consultant AT&T

Kortne Harris

Principal Business Manager AT&T

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Global Service Director AT&T Area Manager - Business Field Services AT&T

Alecia Maclin

Sr. Real Estate & Construction Manager AT&T

Kesha McDade

Technical Sales Director AT&T

Sabrina McKnight

Director - Financial Analysis AT&T

Cyril Robinson III

Technical Sales Consultant III AT&T

Sonja Shaw-Hollins

Technical Leader Corteva Agriscience

Senior Operations Leader/Doctoral Student General Electric/Clemson University

Data Scientist Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Phyllis Childs

Sr. Spec. RF/Wireless Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Safety Group Manager General Motors Senior Group Leader - Die Engineering General Motors

Tyson Fields

Hilda Vargas

Davida Jackson

Kimberly Harrison

Senior Product Manager AT&T (Xandr)

Chris Tait

Product Program Manager AT&T (Xandr)

Eric Christian

Vice President & Chief Technology Officer Atrium Health

Terry Kimbrough

Engineering Manager BAE Systems

Yvette Ali

Senior Vice President - IT Project Lead Citi

Daniel Mutuku

Senior Engineer II Consumers Energy

David Parks

Project Manager Corteva Agriscience

Hugo Garnier

Eskinder Hailu

Juliane Feitosa

Professional Networking Planning Engineer AT&T Data Analyst AT&T

Engineer 2 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Senior Manager, Electrical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Richard Kee Sr.

Scientist, Senior Systems L3Harris Technologies

Materials Shift Leader General Motors

Reggie Parker

Senior Manufacturing Controls Engineer General Motors

Senior Manager, Engineering Management L3Harris Technologies

Nneka Taylor

Bodyshop Director General Motors

Associate Manager, Mechanical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Jocelyn Moore

Katrina Thompson

Business Intelligence Engineer General Motors

Scientist, Systems Engineer L3Harris Technologies

James Patterson

Mark Clark

Theogene “Theo” Lavergne Jr.

Senior Manager, Information Technology General Motors

Senior Program Manager Leidos

Wendell Summerville

Cyber Security Engineer Senior Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation

Plenum Integrator/AIP Technical Lead General Motors

Alejo Jumat

User Experience Designer, Sr. Health Catalyst

Melodie Vines

Analytics Engineer, Consultant Health Catalyst

William Carbonell

Engineer Mechanical 2 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Ademola Adejokun

Andrew Ambris

Lead Member of the Engineering Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation

Jamin Brown

Program Director - Hypersonics Lockheed Martin Corporation

Jasmine Crooks

Operations Excellence Teams (OET) Program Coordinator Lockheed Martin Corporation

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2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S Troy Lambert

Project Engineering Manager: Enterprise Business Transformation, Technical Assistant to the SVP Lockheed Martin Corporation

Kristen Malaykhan

ELDP Program Manager, AWARE Sustainment EPM Lockheed Martin Corporation

Emma Stevens

Omar Rivera Morales

Computer Engineer; Program Protection Lead Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport Division

Joseph Armstead III

Deputy Director, Business Development Oceaneering Technologies Oceaneering International, Inc.

Regulatory Compliance Analyst Sr. Staff Lockheed Martin Corporation

Denisha Clayton

Johnny Aquino

Jasmine LeFlore

Interdisciplinary Product Team Lead Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division

Obidon Bassinan

Electronics Engineer Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division

Erika Howard

Lead Systems Engineer Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division

Darryl Ladd

Advanced Lightweight Torpedo Project Engineer Naval Sea Systems Command

Diedre Gilmer

Head, Electromagnetic Signatures Technology Division Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division

Sarah Catlin

Deputy Test Director, Joint Expeditionary Command and Control Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division

Yaseen Farooq

Propulsion Plant Shift Test Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division

Jabril Muhammad

Combat Support Systems Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division

Marcus Davis

Scientist Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport

Deputy, V2500 CSE CIPT Aftermarket Raytheon Technologies Senior Project Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Jennifer Thomas

Component Integrated Product Team Deputy, F135 Raytheon Technologies

Christian Washington

Senior Software Engineer I Raytheon Technologies

Nannette Wright, Ph.D.

Misha Dowd

Engineering Manager, Software Product Services & Solutions The Aerospace Corporation

Willard Downs

Angela Buford

Senior Manager of Strategy & Operations The Boeing Company

Kelley France

Manager, R&D Science and Engineering Sandia National Laboratories

Dennisa Thomas

R&D Systems Engineering Sandia National Laboratories

Adam Williams, Ph.D.

Principal R&D Systems Engineer Sandia National Laboratories

Roy Moye III

Structural Design Engineer Spirit AeroSystems

Logan Bryant Engineer Textron Inc.

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Branch Chief U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Renan Bautista

Customer Support Engineer The Boeing Company

Senior Technical Expert, Information Security Walmart

Alyce Jacobs

Sabine Dukuze

IT Manager The Boeing Company

Anena Metoyer

Manager ISM, LSIM & HF The Boeing Company

Anthony Metoyer

BR&T Quality & Operations Leader The Boeing Company

Josef Allen, Ph.D.

Jeffrey Robinson

Richard Freeman Ph.D., P.E.

David Canada

Tearie Buie

Systems Engineer Sandia National Laboratories

General Engineer U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Markeeva Morgan

Quenton McKinnis

Sudan Abdur-Rahman

Technical Fellow The Aerospace Corporation

Director, Program Management Excellence Raytheon Technologies Product Engineer Sandia National Laboratories

2021 SST

Director, Special Projects Dallas The Boeing Company

Advanced Network Engineer, Cyber Security Walmart

Manoj Ganadhini

Software Engineer III Walmart

Victoria Harris

Senior Risk Specialist Walmart

Ravi Honnavalli Technical Expert Walmart

Intel Data and Tech Futures Division Technical Advisor U.S. Air Force

Chris Min

Nathaniel Bridges, Ph.D.

Niranjan Rajamohan

Research Biomedical Engineer/Neural Interface Team Leader U.S. Air Force

Courtney Thornton Electronics Engineer U.S. Air Force

Derrick Wilborn Program Analyst U.S. Air Force

Vernessa Noye

Supervisory Computer Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center

George Grant

Electronics Engineer U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command

System Engineer Walmart Senior Security Engineer Walmart

Mohommad Ali Shaik Senior Software Engineer Walmart

Narayanan Subramanian Senior System Engineer Walmart

Johnathan Welker Systems Engineer Walmart

Abby Willis

Systems Engineer 2 Walmart

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Leidos is seeking powerhouse talent for positions in the areas of IT, engineering and science. Our diverse workforce is dedicated to solving some of the world’s toughest challenges – join us and help make a difference. Join us at leidos.com/careers

Leidos is proud to support its Black Engineer of the Year Award honorees.

AD Krystal Porter Lead Engineer

Mark Clark Manager, Dynetics

Dr. Wanda M. Austin Legacy Award

Science Spectrum Trailblazer

Modern Day Technology Leader Award Winners

Carol Brevett Principal Scientist

Raejon Burton Windows Server Systems Administrator

Erica Bush Lead Regulatory Scientist

Cassius Smith Info Systems Security Engineer

Stephen Collymore Programmer Analyst

Maya Cooper Research Scientist

Maricel DeMotts Curriculum Developer

Christina Fox Software Engineering Manager

Akberom Gebrecherkos Sr Relay Settings Engineer

Annitta Haywood Product Lead

An equal opportunity employer: disability/veteran

Inc.

A premier partner of BEYA

Stacey Herring Senior Systems Engineer

Michelle Hostetler Senior Systems IntegrationTest Engineer

Keze Lavala Network Project Lead

Aaron Maitland Robotics Engineer

Steven Ortiz Animal Care Facility Manager

Ashley Jefferson Product Manager

Kaso John R D Project Manager

Bryan Jolly Vice President Enterprise Infrastructure

Shameka McCaskill Systems Engineer Manager

Ray Miller Program Manager

Stephanie Moorer Software Developer Lead

Kevin Perry SCOL Deputy Program Manager

Joshua Princivil Distribution Engineer

Kenda Ramie Project Manager Site Manager

Jenna Rendon Sr Engineering Manager

Bernie Sellars Information Security Analyst Team Lead

Derek Shorte Cloud Software Engineer

Eric Simmons Information Systems Security Officer

Cynthia Simon-Arndt Life Scientist III

Desira Stearns Strategic Diversity Outreach Director

Derek Stiles Principal Systems Integration Engineer

Joaquim Thompson Distribution Engineer

Darrell Valentine Senior Systems Engineer

Glen Weaver Quality Engineering Manager

Courtney Winstead Chief Architect

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2 0 2 1 B E YA W I N N E R S

2021B

STUDENT LE AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS AWA At the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA), we know that it is crucial to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals. Each February, we also have the pleasure of honoring brilliant and inspiring college students in STEM. This year’s group of Student Leadership Award winners at BEYA are some of the most talented, giving, and accomplished students in America. Due to the global pandemic, the awards ceremony will look a bit different. However, the conference’s digital twin has all the fun and benefits of the physical event and more. So, join us in congratulating this year’s STEM Student Leadership Award Honorees.

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ACADEMIC AWARD

Joy Watson

COMMUNITY AWARD

Aubri Bowman

Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Mathematics Virginia State University

Sophomore, Computer Science Alabama A&M University

Corban Weatherspoon

Oluwatisefunmi Ayo-Idowu

Senior, Engineering/PhysicsBioengineering Delaware State University

Junior, Mechanical Engineering Howard University

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BEYA

EADERSHIP RDS AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS LEADERSHIP AWARD

Kristopher Small

Senior, Electrical Engineering Hampton University

Ka’Darrell Howell

Junior, Industrial Engineering & Mathematics University of Tennessee, Knoxville

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MILITARY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Nicholas Walker

Junior, Mechanical Engineering Florida A&M University

Brandon White

Senior, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering U.S. Coast Guard Academy

STUDENT RESEARCH BEYA AWARD

Kwaneitra Powers

Senior, Construction Management Alabama A&M University

Grant Steans

Graduate Student, Electrical Engineering Florida A&M University

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

Victor R. McCrary, Ph.D.,

VP for Research & Graduate Programs, The University of the District of Columbia

US Black Engineer & Information Technology (USBE&IT) magazine launched the maiden issue of Leading Voices (LV) in the fall of 2017. Broken up into three or four columns written by inventors, entrepreneurs, and STEM policymakers, the section spotlights the 14 challenges outlined by the National Academy of Engineering, and disruptors such as artificial intelligence and bioengineering. During its first few years, LV has provided perspectives on smart cities, building a weather-ready nation, and where AI is in your future. An auspicious start for one of USBE magazine’s newest sections. Leading Voices is available in print and online at www.blackengineer.com

Leading Voices Contributing Editors .........................

Victor R. McCrary, Ph.D.,

VP for Research & Graduate Programs, The University of the District of Columbia

Korie Grayson, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Michigan

HBCUs: Our Nation’s National Security Assets for Science and Engineering O

ur historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) produce the top engineers and scientists who have the skills necessary to compete globally with anyone in their respective fields. They’re not only good for increasing the diverse STEM workforce, but in addition they are centers of research and innovation. There are 101 accredited historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. Of these, there are 11 HBCUs that are Carnegie-classified R2 research-intensive institutions. There are also 15 ABET-accredited HBCU engineering schools. All together (with some overlaps between the categories), these 22 HBCUs offer a competitive advantage for the U.S. with respect to its position in the global science and engineering landscape, and there are several key reasons why. First, HBCUs constitute only 3 percent of the engineering schools across the country. Yet, they collectively produce 30 percent of African-American engineers at the undergraduate level throughout the nation. Further, a recent National Science Foundation survey showed that, of the top 8 schools that graduate Black undergraduate students who ultimately go on to earn Ph.D.s in STEM, seven of those schools are HBCUs. These facts illustrate the importance of the work and research happening at our esteemed institutions. Secondly, HBCUs also have higher graduation rates in STEM degrees at the undergraduate level versus their majority-serving counterparts and all minority-serving institutions (MSIs). This is significant because we know STEM will be extremely important in our society moving forward. As such, we will need people from all aspects of the nation’s research ecosystem for support. HBCUs provide an advantage there. Because they graduate more people in STEM than their majority counterparts at the undergraduate level, they are also the seed corn for those professions. Finally, because HBCUs tend to have a higher percentage of U.S. students than majority-serving schools, our institutions

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are vitally important to the national security of our country because they can be candidates for security clearances. Many of our industries in this sector, particularly in the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, include its contracting, industrial-based organizations. They can only hire U.S. citizens. The same is true for the U.S. Navy, which hires thousands of civilians for its warfare centers. Where can they find that technical talent? HBCUs offer exactly what they need. This can be achieved most effectively when socio-cultural perceptions change regarding HBCUs. One such belief is that the best talent, not only in STEM, comes from the top 10 percent of the nation. In our country, that group happens to be majority white. However, if there are not enough people going into STEM, especially in the majority population, the industry must start digging deeper. HBCUs and our sisters and brothers in the HSIs, TCUs, and other MSIs, are and can be a real asset to the nation’s STEM-based companies. We’ve seen this before in pivotal points of America’s development. HBCUs and Black and minority populations have contributed to and swayed the tides of historic events throughout the decades, including the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and World War II. It can continue to do so now and in the future for our economic prosperity and national security. Here’s the reality: The foreign talent our country has relied on importing for so long is declining in numbers coming to the U.S. as there are opportunities for that talent globally; e.g. these individuals are choosing to be professionals in their homelands. We have to start making an investment in the talent within our own country. The industry must prioritize the recruitment of diverse, domestic STEM talent. It must prioritize the leadership and ingenuity of HBCU graduates and our creative, innovative faculty researchers. That is a national imperative for the U.S. to keep pace in science and engineering globally. S Contact Info: victor.mccrary@udc.edu

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Korie Grayson, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan

Redefining the image of STEM I am an introvert. I’m a world traveler. I enjoy cooking, attending Carnival festivals (pre-coronavirus), and having fun. I’m also a passionate diversity advocate for STEM professions, and I want to make them better for people coming behind me. I also happen to have a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. Many people would read that last statement and never imagine that a biomedical engineer could be everything described before it, but it’s all true. That’s who I am. I’ve made it my mission to redefine the image of STEM, debunk the perceptions, and highlight the vibrancy of STEM and all it can offer people of color. Redefining the image of STEM and the image of a scientist started with my social media. I began posting things that I did in my everyday life: dressing up, going out, and celebrating. People were surprised that I was not only showcasing my work in STEM and in labs, but I was also highlighting what I did in my normal life. I didn’t understand why my social followers found it strange until I had a conversation with my father. “When I thought of what a scientist looks like, I never thought about you. I do now,” he said. After hearing my dad make that statement, I considered how many other people felt—and feel—that way about STEM professionals. My dad’s mental image of a scientist was a white guy in a coat with crazy hair. I may have big, crazy, curly hair, but I definitely identify as a Black woman. I believe the image my father had in his mind resonates with so many people, especially in the AfricanAmerican community. The perception of what a scientist is, and what we can do in society, holds a lot of weight. It can be detrimental to the future of STEM industries and the bright minds that are capable of taking it to the next level. As an undergraduate at Norfolk State University, I shared classes with other people who looked and thought like I did. They were interested in a topic that wasn’t typically discussed in Black families. I relished the fact that more people like me existed! It motivated me and molded me to be the scientist I am

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today. When I graduated, I walked with only 10 other Black chemists. Not many people can say they did that. I know people who graduated in physics and optical engineering, and they all look like me! I realized at that point that people

My dad’s mental image of a scientist was a white guy in a coat with crazy hair. I may have big, crazy, curly hair, but I definitely identify as a Black woman. I believe the image my father had in his mind resonates with so many people, especially in the African-American community. The perception of what a scientist is, and what we can do in society, holds a lot of weight. It can be detrimental to the future of STEM industries and the bright minds that are capable of taking it to the next level.

need to see me, and others who look like me, more in these spaces. I needed to tell people coming behind me: If you can see me in STEM, you should be able to see yourself there, also. If I can do it, you can too!

Leading Voices stronger pipeline for more people to enter STEM industries. I have noticed in my talks and research that we start to lose potential candidates of color, especially women, as they enter and progress in college. This is especially true in computer science and engineering programs. Why? They don’t see a lot of people like themselves represented in these types of fields. It’s disheartening to see as a woman of color in STEM who pushed past what she didn’t see, and it’s why I’m so motivated to be the redefining example. What better way to show and increase representation than to be a woman of color in the field? It’s a constant mission I try to emulate in all that I do. Part of what I’m doing currently involves being out more in the community, interacting and engaging with other young scientists, specifically in the K-12 range. There are so many initiatives happening with organizations like NSBE and individuals who host science camps and projects with younger children. Other organizations like Black Girls Code and STEM Success Summit, hosted by Black minority scientists, to help students, specifically late-stage undergraduates to early-career professionals, get in the pipeline to increase our presence in STEM. I also serve on various boards and committees to help foster this mission. I facilitate workshops, do speaking engagements at universities, and talk to kids in nonprofit programs. There’s an entire gamut of different things I and other STEM professionals of color are doing to encourage women and people of color to get involved with STEM. Our redefining message is simple: We are here, and we’re willing to help you, mentor you, support you, and encourage you. No, the numbers aren’t where we want them to be YET. But with each new budding scientist, we can increase our representation, change the image of who STEM professionals are, and reset preconceived notions of what they can accomplish. That will always be our priority. S

This is such a dire message for so many to hear if we are going to establish a

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

CAREER OUTLOOK INSIDE A career in information technology (IT) is an exciting endeavor in the digital workforce. Coursework, certifications, valuable internships, and curating the most in-demand skills will help ensure you stand out. Learn more about the specific skills, both technical and otherwise, that can prepare you to enter the IT world

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> Essential skills you will need for an IT career

> What you need to know for a career in IT

USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

CAREER OUTLOOK by Alfred Lewis editors@ccgmag.com

Want a Career in

IT?

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 92

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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

Information technology (IT) careers offer exciting employment options. Whether you like to work on routine tasks or design the systems of tomorrow. If you are wondering what the specific roles within an IT department are, here are some of the positions that you can seek to fulfill. Information technology, or IT for short, is the use of computers to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data. IT is typically used within the context of business operations as opposed to personal or entertainment technologies. An information technology career centers on various responsibilities of a computer system—including all hardware, software, and peripheral equipment—operated by a specially trained group of users. If you’re considering a career in information technology, you’ll work in one of the core areas of responsibility of IT.

• IT governance refers to the various

policies and processes that ensure IT systems are effectively implemented and suiting the needs of the company or service.

• IT operations is the daily work of

an IT department. This includes providing tech support, network maintenance, security testing, and device management duties.

• Hardware and infrastructure

refers to all the physical components of the computer infrastructure. This pillar of IT centers upon the initial setup and ongoing maintenance of equipment such as servers, routers, phone systems, and individual devices like desktops, tablets, and laptops.

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As a recent or future college graduate, you may be wondering what the specific roles within an IT department are. Here are some of the positions that you’ll seek to fulfill when you start your exciting career in IT:

• Computer support specialists

work with non-IT colleagues. They can be found troubleshooting any technology issues including software problems, computer crashes, and trouble with hardware. Computer support specialists may also assist their senior-level IT colleagues (or supervisors) with larger-scale issues.

• Computer systems analysts work behind the scenes to marry IT with smart business solutions. They usually specialize in a particular industry while working for a technology firm or work directly in an industry, like finance or government.

• Information security analysts are

responsible for the security of their company’s computer networks. They conduct tests and develop companywide security practices to ensure that all employees are safely using the network and protecting their data.

• Computer network architects

design and build data communication networks like local area networks, wide area networks, and Intranets. Their routine job tasks include creating plans and layouts for networks, articulating designs with colleagues and management staff, and upgrading hardware and software to support current networks.

change depending on the size and type of company. In smaller companies, daily work might focus on ordinary, mundane tasks like troubleshooting printers, so it is possible that you may be best-suited to be more of a jack-of-all-trades with broad skills and knowledge. With large companies, IT employees typically have a more diverse focus on the many facets of the organization itself. They may work upward into management and organizational planning roles, while other specialists may pursue more niche areas like cybersecurity. With IT roles, there’s something for everyone! What type of salaries are available for these specialized careers? Average salary ranges for IT positions span from the low $80,000s to the mid $100,000s. These competitive salaries are in line with the specialized skills and degrees that are required for employment, as a four-year degree and demonstrated skill proficiency is essential to obtaining employment.

In the next five to 10 years, expect more and more IT positions to focus on the following cutting-edge technologies, and more:

• • • • • • • • •

Artificial intelligence Machine learning Robotic process automation Edge computing Quantum computing Virtual and augmented reality Blockchain 5G The Internet of Things

• Software developers create new

and proprietary applications and systems that operate company devices, control company networks, and allow employees to complete specific tasks. Software developers speak with employees and customers in order to determine how new applications will meet their needs and function, while working closely with programmers and other IT team members.

Information technology careers are well-paying, specialized, and exciting employment options. Whether you like to work on routine tasks or design the systems of tomorrow, there are employment options for you! S

When searching for employers, consider that some of these roles will USBE & Information Technology | CONFERENCE 2021

CAREER OUTLOOK

BE PREPARED!

ESSENTIAL SKILLS YOU WILL NEED FOR AN IT CAREER

you are thinking of entering the information technology industry, then you’re most likely considering employment as a computer support specialist, computer systems analyst, information security analyst, computer network architect, software developer, etc. There are specific skills, both technical and otherwise, that can prepare you to enter the IT world.

obtaining an entry- or junior-level job without internships and/or a convincing demonstration of knowledge and/or skills. Internships, volunteer work, and industry certifications are all great ways of building your resume, demonstrating your commitment and expertise, and overcoming the barrier of being one of many qualified applicants for a specific job.

Entering the information technology field will typically require a four-year degree in an academic area of study related to either computer science or computer information systems. If you are not planning on earning a four-year degree, entry into this field can be obtained by starting in an entry-level support role and proving your skills and growth. In rare cases, applicants can demonstrate natural talent and skill in order to demonstrate employability, however this is not a standard means of entering the field. Earning a four-year degree should enable you to skip entry level support roles and enter the job market in a junior level support role in a given discipline.

You might have given some thought to your academic major or internship plan, but have you considered what skills and knowledge are most indemand by potential employers? Having demonstrated aptitude in a blend of hard skills and soft skills will ensure that you’re an attractive applicant for job openings. Here are a few categories of skills or knowledge that will help set you on a firm path to work in the IT field:

One ongoing trend that has become more and more prevalent in recent years is the growing difficulty of

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Technical skills are necessary in the IT industry. While some may be obvious or in your existing capacity, some might surprise you—or be an area that needs improvement.

» Coding » Technical writing » Social media management » Hardware deployment » Network configuration

» Operating system knowledge » Database management As you can see from above, one of the most essential skill sets an employer will look for in an IT professional is the applicant’s proficiency in writing code. If you’re looking for a job in programming or software and web development, an employer will most likely seek a qualified candidate who can read, write, and troubleshoot code in a variety of different languages because most systems utilize several languages. Even for roles that are not tasked with writing code, an IT professional should have at least a working knowledge of the more basic coding languages, like HTML and C++. You’ll want to evaluate which of the following you might need to better understand:

» Application Development » Architecture » Artificial Intelligence » Cloud Computing » HTML » C++ » C Language » PHP » UX Design » Python » JavaScript

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JOB HORIZON

by Alfred Lewis editors@ccgmag.com

If you’re looking for a job in programming or software and web development, an employer will most likely seek a qualified candidate who can read, write, and troubleshoot code in a variety of different languages because most systems utilize several languages. » Java » Ruby In addition to programming languages, an understanding of computer networking is something that will be required of most IT professionals, no matter the size of the company. IT jobs may include network architects, engineers, and systems administrators. Network administrators and systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a larger network infrastructure and system. If you’re looking to fulfill one of these roles, you’ll need an understanding of the following:

» IP Setup » Wireless Modems/Routers » Cloud Services » PHP » SQL » JavaScript » Python » C++ » Functionality » Cybersecurity » Information Management » Cloud Systems Administration Along with technical skills, soft skills are important for anyone in IT. Specifically, communication skills are essential

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because information technology professionals are often required to work with or for many teams and groups of stakeholders. IT professionals often have to provide tech solutions for people who do not have a background in technology. This requires patience and understanding, as well as a positive outlook. They have to demonstrate leadership and team building at all levels of projects, and with many different types of people. Public speaking is also a valuable skill, as IT roles are often called on to present ideas and reports to larger groups of people, from colleagues all the way up to senior management. Consider the following soft skills and envision a plan for demonstrating your capacity for the following:

» Team Building » Teamwork » Leadership » Collaboration » Written Communication » Oral Communication » Active Listening » Communicating Complex

Information in Digestible Amounts

to accurately assess project timeframes, and then deliver success within those timelines. A successful IT professional should be able to help an entire team manage their workload, on a daily, weekly, monthly, and project basis. Plan to gain experience and demonstrate your ability regarding the following:

» Scheduling » Goal-Oriented » Digital Communications » Manage Remote Working Teams » Continually Review Processes for Improvement

» Multitasking » Meeting Deadlines » ICT (Information and

Communications Technology

A career in information technology is a rewarding and exciting endeavor. Preparing yourself for a firm career path that focuses on an appropriate academic major, valuable internships, and curating the most in-demand skills will help ensure you stand out among the crowd!

Along the same vein as communication skills, an IT professional should be able

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