Wanda Austin

Dr. Wanda Austin
Born	1954 (age 69–70) The Bronx, New York
Nationality	U.S.
Occupation	Engineer
Engineering career
Discipline	Aerospace
Institutions	American Academy of Arts and Sciences United States National Academy of Engineering American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics NASA Advisory Council U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee Defense Science Board
Engineering career

Wanda Austin (born 1954) is the President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, a leading architect for the nation’s national security space programs. The Aerospace Corporation has nearly 3,500 employees and annual revenues of more than $850 million. She assumed this position on January 1, 2008.

Early life and education

Austin was born in The Bronx in New York City. She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Franklin & Marshall College, a 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.

Career

From June 2001 through December 2003, she was a senior vice president of the Engineering and Technology Group. Austin was appointed senior vice president of Special Studies in 2004, which involved work with the intelligence community and National Reconnaissance Office. From 2004 to 2008, she served as senior vice president of Aerospace's National Systems Group after which she became CEO of the company in 2008.

In 2009, Austin served as a member of NASA Advisory Council and U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, both of which were White House commissioned. In 2010, Austin was appointed to the Defense Science Board and in 2011 she was elected as Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2012, she won Horatio Alger Award. She is a member of the California Council on Science and Technology. Austin 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.

Awards

Austin is a recipient of the National Reconnaissance Office's Distinguished Service Medal, the U.S. Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management, the Air Force Scroll of Achievement, the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Martin Luther King Spirit of the Dream Award, and the Women in Aerospace Outstanding Achievement Award. She was granted membership of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans in 2012, and in 2009 received the Black Engineer of the Year award. She was inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in September 2007.

External links

• The Aerospace Corporation