Wanda Austin
Dr. Wanda Austin | |
---|---|
Born | 1954 (age 69–70) |
Nationality | U.S. |
Occupation | Engineer |
Engineering career | |
Discipline | Aerospace |
Institutions | |
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.[1]
Early life and education
Austin was born in The Bronx in New York City. She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science.[2] 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
Before becoming CEO, Austin was senior vice president of Aerospace's National Systems Group, which supports the national security space and intelligence community. Prior to that, she served as senior vice president of the corporation's Engineering and Technology Group. Before working at Aerospace, Austin worked at Rockwell International on the technical staff.
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.[2] 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.[citation needed] In 2012, she won Horatio Alger Award.[2] She is a member of the California Council on Science and Technology.[3] 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.[citation needed]
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,[2] 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.[3] 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.[2] She was inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in September 2007.[3]
References
- ^ "Wanda Austin's Biography at the Aerospace Corporation web site".
- ^ a b c d e "Wanda M. Austin". Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Wanda Austin". California Council on Science and Technology. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
External links
- Articles created via the Article Wizard
- 1954 births
- Living people
- American aerospace engineers
- American women engineers
- Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering
- Fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- The Bronx High School of Science alumni
- People from the Bronx
- Franklin & Marshall College alumni
- University of Pittsburgh alumni
- University of Southern California alumni