Wanda Austin
Wanda Austin is the President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, leading architect for the nation’s national security space programs. The Aerospace Corporation has nearly 3,600 employees and annual revenues of more than $850 million. She assumed this position on January 1, 2008.[1]
Biography
Early life
Wanda was born in Bronx in 1954 to a barber and was the middle of all three sisters. Once she had a fire in her house and her father rescued her, her mom, and two sisters, and soon after moved to Projects. She attended Bronx High School of Science and after graduation earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Franklin & Marshall College by 1977.[2]
Later on, Austin got her master’s degree in systems engineering and mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, and a doctorate in systems engineering from the University of Southern California.[3]
Career
She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the International Academy of Astronautics. From June 2001 through December 2003 she was a senior vice president of the Engineering and Technology Group and became him again from January 1 to April 1 of 2004. Prior to it, she was a general manager for both the Electronic Systems Division and MILSATCOM.[3] In 2009 she was named Black Engineer of the Year and that same year Dr. Austin also served as a member of NASA Advisory Council and U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, both of which were White House commissioned.[2] In 2010 the White House have appointed her to be Defense Science Board member and in 2011 she was elected as Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[citation needed] In 2012 she won Horatio Alger Award.[2]
References
- ^ "Wanda Austin's Biography at the Aerospace Corporation web site".
- ^ a b c "Wanda M. Austin". Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Wanda Austin". California Council on Science and Technology. Retrieved October 7, 2013.