Equal Opportunity Publications - Article Page

CAREERS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY PROVIDE LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT, EXCITING ASSIGNMENTS, INTERACTION WITH TALENTED COLLEAGUES, AND MEANINGFUL WORK. FOR THESE FOUR FEMALE ENGINEERS, THESE WERE PRIME CONSIDERATIONS WHEN THEY“SIGNED ON.” YEARS LATER, THAT IS WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO FIND.

For Katie Boyles, the dream of working for NASA began early on, when she was a fifth grader attending the organization’s Space Camp. Returning to Space Academy II as a high school student cemented that desire. “I wanted to contribute to the nation’s manned spaceflight program,” says Boyles.

Boyles held steadfast to her dream. While attending the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where she graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in aerospace engineering, she participated in the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Cooperative Education Program and worked on the Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (NASA EarthKAM) payload project with former NASA astronaut Dr. Sally Ride. Her last two co-op tours were in the Applied Aeroscience and Computational Fluid Dynamics Branch at NASA Johnson Space Center, where she has worked for the past 12 years as an aerospace engineer.

Surrounded by a workforce of 18,000, Boyles continues to be awed by the caliber of intellect, innovativeness, and daily dedication of NASA employees as they strive to advance human space exploration and the aerosciences discipline. “The attributes evident in the people who work here are a combination of technical knowledge in science, math, and engineering, good communication skills, and teamwork,” she states.

Boyles’ responsibilities, including determining the aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics of a spacecraft during all mission phases, require computational modeling, wind tunnel experimental testing, and flight-testing. Working in the rarefied gas dynamics group necessitates performing analyses of low density flows and developing plume models. She also handles assessments of on-orbit plume impingement during a spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station.

Recognizing the importance of female role models and of promoting STEM careers to girls at a young age, Boyles is a member of the Women@NASA project, which has taken up that cause.

A mother with two daughters, she says, “My husband’s unwavering support and role as a stay-at-home dad greatly contributes to the success of our family and my career.”

Also helping her balance career and family is the culture at NASA, an employer that genuinely cares about its employees and provides a family-friendly environment. “At NASA there is a definite culture of family,” says Boyles.

At work Boyles enjoys being involved in a variety of projects and programs, including the International Space Station and the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. “I’m proud that my branch produces aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic products that contribute to the design of a space vehicle and to the success of its mission,” she says.

Boyles’s strategy to grow her career includes remaining open to new opportunities. “Some of the most enjoyable and fulfilling work I’ve done came about by saying yes to work assignments that required me to push myself outside my comfort zone,” she says. “These opportunities allowed me to develop new skills and gain confidence in my capabilities. They also resulted in some pretty amazing experiences.”

According to Boyles, engineering is a particularly challenging and exciting career. “Witnessing the outcome of my hard work in such ways as the design and development of a new spacecraft or the success of a spaceflight mission is extremely rewarding. For our country to be an international leader and successfully progress into the future, maintaining a strong engineering workforce is critical,” states Boyles.

Manal Ezzat, PhD, Project Management Professional, believes being active in student chapters of the American Society for Civil Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers jumpstarted her professional career. “Organizing, participating in and attending seminars, working on innovative projects, and collaborating with professionals as a student prompted me to persevere in my engineering studies,” she says.

Ezzat, who has a bachelor’s in civil engineering and master’s and doctoral degrees in structural engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, developed an interest in engineering early on. “At seven or eight I loved playing with LEGOs, building houses, and then taking them apart to build others,” she recalls. “It made me wonder what holds buildings up and why bridges don’t fall down. I wanted to know the answers so that I could one day be a significant contributor to society and plan and design cities, buildings, and beautiful structures.”

An 18-year employee of the 35,000 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) workforce, Ezzat is currently the national program manager for the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Educational Activities Schools Program. Although she began her engineering career in the private sector, where she spent 14 years, once she started a family Ezzat looked to the government for a more stable and secure work environment.

Her first job at USACE— she was a design manager— was “like having a cherry on the top of a cake, when it came to fulfilling my career aspiration to serve on a design team, renovate a historical building that most people see only in pictures, serve my country’s Army, and support the troops,” she explains.

In her current capacity managing the Congressionally authorized program for replacement, renovation, and expansion of DOD schools in the U.S., Japan, Korea, and Europe, Ezzat coordinates all technical and fiscal activities in conjunction with overseeing USACE districts and field staff.

“From the start of humanity, engineering has been a great and exciting profession that will not diminish,” says Ezzat. “There will always be endless opportunities for innovation and creativity as long as the right skills and ability to think outside the box are available.” She believes that fast-tracked, demanding engineering expertise is what leads a “tech savvy” world and fosters career opportunities that will forever be on the rise.

Ezzat asserts that the lack of young females going into engineering can partly be attributed to teachers who do not provide the motivation that pushes students to utilize their full abilities in math and science. “Engineering is a problem-solving field that requires breaking down big problems into smaller components,” she says. “It calls for simplicity, smart thinking, and attention to detail—all of which women are good at.”

Critical to success, Ezzat believes, are self-confidence, a good work ethic, excellent listening and communication skills, perseverance, and the willingness to ask questions and learn from mistakes. “Never think you know everything,” she advises. “The ocean of knowledge and creativity is endless.”

Ezzat ‘s strategy to grow her career is simple. “Do your job to the best of your ability, stay focused, take control of your projects, increase your knowledge, and learn new skills,” she explains. “There is nothing unique about my skills or talents, I just apply them and use them daily in my job. Ability is a mindset. If a guy can do it, a girl can too—and often be better at it.”

Part way through her intended career in biochemistry, Tameka Demps changed paths and enlisted in the Marine Corps. “I knew the Marines would provide the organization I wanted and needed,” says Corporal Demps, combat engineer, fire team leader, Improved Ribbon Bridge Platoon, Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. She is based at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Three years later, her responsibilities almost exclusively entail working with boats and bridges. Says Demps, “Each day I work with the 55 Marines in my platoon to maintain upkeep on bays and boats. We also provide rafting capabilities during both joint service operations and to surrounding units within Camp Lejeune.”

The capabilities provided by engineering units are essential to the Corps’ mission, says Demps. “Combat engineers are known as the jack-of-all-trades and I enjoy the fact that there are many sides to being a combat engineer. One day I might build a bridge and on another deal with demolition. I appreciate the work ethic and the camaraderie I find in the Corps work ethic and the camaraderie I find in the Corps and truly believe that Marines are the best our country has to offer,” she remarks.

Demps finds her profession challenging and rewarding. Demonstrating that women can do the same jobs as their male counterparts will, she believes, encourage more females to become engineers and Marines. The skill most necessary is a willingness to learn and work hard.

“Perhaps the best advice I can offer female engineers is to take the punches and roll with them. Understand you will be corrected but don’t take it to heart. Corrections are given for a reason,” she states. “To grow in this career it’s absolutely necessary to be a constant learner. Taking the time to remain knowledgeable affords you a greater chance to always be a few steps ahead of the game.”

It’s also important that female combat engineers accept the fact they will get dirty. “Many times the work involves late hours, often in the rain, but the fact that I continue to enjoy my job despite perceived ‘hardships’ makes me believe that my job fits me as well as I fit it,” she says.

During her seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, she spent the majority of her time outside the wire expanding patrol bases, building defensive positions, and demilitarizing bases. “Working as a Marine with the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police, the Jordanians, and the Georgians has taken me far from home but has given me something that would not have been possible anywhere else. Working alongside my brothers and sisters, I’ve come to appreciate what engineers bring to the table,” says Demps. “A simply built out-house is a luxury in the middle of the desert. So, too, is the safety afforded by an indirect fire bunker with thousands of meters of wire.”

According to Demps, who serves as a mentor to junior Marines, “What engineers can do to help people is only limited by a lack of imagination,” she concludes.

Growing up, Mary Ridgeway was fascinated by the construction of the Missouri Gateway Arch and intrigued with building bridges. “The advice of my high-school guidance counselor, coupled with the fact I couldn’t see myself at a desk job, led me to engineering,” says Ridgeway. “I wanted to see my work.”

Now a division administrator, Ridgeway is responsible for overseeing the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) federal-aid program in Delaware. She has been with the agency, which has 2,950 employees, for 13 years.

“Throughout my career I’ve worked in the public sector; first for a small Missouri city, then for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), and now for the federal government,” she says.

Ridgeway earned her professional engineering license in Missouri, and has an associate degree in civil engineering from St. Louis Community College and a bachelor’s of science in engineering from Southern Illinois University, In college, she spent a summer work/study program at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an experience she credits with putting her ahead of many jobseekers. She also joined the campus chapter of the American Society of Professional Engineers, which provided opportunities for teamwork, problem solving, collaboration, and professional interaction.

“Graduating during the recession of the 1980s, I was drawn to the government sector because of the job security it offered,” says Ridgeway, who worked with the highway administration while at the DOT. “I was attracted to the FHWA by the training programs and opportunities it offered, as well as the caliber of employees,” she explains.

Now heading one of FHWA’s 50 divisions, Ridgeway provides guidance and direction to her staff of 30, as well as cultivating and maintaining successful relationships Additional responsibilities include decision making, coaching and mentoring, speaking at professional gatherings, serving on internal teams, and meeting with state and local counterparts. Her ultimate charge is ensuring that the nation’s strategic investments preserve and modernize the U.S. highway system and save lives.

Ridgeway believes engineering will always be a safe and secure career choice. “The first roads were engineered in 4,000 BC and today we continue to find new and innovative ways to get from A to B,” she remarks. Explaining the new FHWA initiative, “Every Day Counts (EDC),” she says, “It’s all about using innovation to reduce the time it takes to deliver highway projects, enhance safety, and protect the environment.”

Now that states are more educated and experienced in highway issues, the role of the FHWA has shifted from mostly oversight to serving as an informational resource. Key to accomplishing that goal, she contends, is to ensure greater diversity among staff in terms of personnel, professional backgrounds, and skillsets. “Priority mandates making inroads with tomorrow’s future bridge designers, road builders, and city planners,” says Ridgeway.

To attract more young women to engineering, Ridgeway stresses getting the word out, through schools and professional organizations, that engineering offers terrific career opportunities.

Once in the field, however, engineers must do more than rest on their laurels. Ridgeway recalls a former mentor saying, “Once you’re comfortable in a job, it’s time for a change.” In addition to mandatory preparatory courses in math, science, and engineering, problem-solving ability and a passion for challenges are essential.

“In my sector, the most successful engineers are those who truly care about how they can help the public,” she states. Talk to people in your chosen discipline, join a professional organization, find a mentor, and challenge yourself every day, she advises.

“What I most enjoy about my job is mentoring and coaching young engineers and making important decisions. Even though I’m an engineering geek who loves to build things, I’m also a good listener and have the ability to make people feel comfortable about approaching me. As a leader, it is my responsibility to guide future leaders so that they, in turn, will be prepared to carry out the agency’s mission,” says Ridgeway.

“Iwas looking for something new job-wise when the opportunity to join Albany, NY-headquartered-New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) presented itself,” says Heide-Marie Dudek, PE. Eight years later she’s pursued construction management over a wide range of remediation projects throughout the state, and currently serves as project manager, Division of Environmental Remedial Construction.

With bachelor’s of science and a master’s of science in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut, Dudek has more than ten years of experience as a remedial design engineer consultant, working on both coasts for private and federal clients. “I started college as a business major, but soon realized science and math were more to my liking,” she relates. “I loved the practical applications. Engaging in a research assistantship at the Environmental Institute led me to engineering, which I believe is a fantastic career that constantly evolves and is always on the cutting edge.”

Noting that environmental engineering, like other engineering fields, has evolved over the past 30 years, she mentions the advance from concentrating on traditional water and wastewater to encompassing everything from hazardous waste site cleanup to supporting clean energy initiatives.

With remedial construction management her primary responsibility, Dudek reviews and approves design and bid packages, awards state superfund construction contracts, and provides construction management to ensure that remedial objective are met. She is also a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit writer. As part of the NYSDEC team, she develops new RCRA 373 (Hazardous Waste Storage Treatment and Disposal Facility) permit templates for use at all NYS RCRA Part 373 permitted facilities. The new templates, she explains, are designed to make the permitting process more efficient.

What she enjoys most, however, are the people. The NYSDEC, she says, employs 3,000 tremendously talented, broad-based, and diverse individuals, 300 of whom are in the Remedial Construction Division.

According to Dudek, having a strong engineering education is a good foundation for success, but the need for continued learning is a must. “Never be afraid to ask questions and seek assistance when faced with new or difficult problems, and remember that there are many ways to solve problems. Having options often leads to success,” she advises.

Dudek finds it increasingly challenging to encourage women to pursue more traditional engineering disciplines, such as in the civil arena. “Such areas are rarely in the news and are considered less exciting. Overcoming this perception continues to be a hurdle that needs to be addressed if we are to recruit the best and brightest individuals for these much needed fields,” she states.

Believing that engineering will always be an integral part of society, Dudek takes a proactive approach when it comes to encouraging young children’s interest in math. Participating in the PTA at her children’s elementary school led her to develop a “Family Fun Night,” with all games having a math theme. Not only did the children enjoy this activity, it sparked their interest in math.

Adopted by other schools in the district, Dudek believes her can-do attitude and innovativeness fosters her success at work and beyond. “I’m fearless when it comes to asking questions and I credit this talent, and my ability to review large amounts of data and develop comprehensive but concise summaries of specific problems and solutions, with making me a good fit for my job and a good spokesperson for women in engineering,” she says