Dr. Wendy Okolo, a Nigerian-born aerospace research engineer at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, has achieved a historic milestone. She is the first black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, a feat she accomplished at the remarkable age of 26.

Dr. Okolo currently serves as a special emphasis programs manager in the intelligent Systems Division at Ames. She is at the forefront of pioneering projects, including the System-Wide Safety (SWS) initiative and a Space Technology Mission Directorate Early Career Initiative (STMD-ECI) project. The SWS project focuses on predicting GPS faults in unmanned aerial systems, commonly known as drones, enhancing their safety and reliability. The STMD-ECI project is developing novel control techniques for deployable vehicles to improve precision landing and maneuverability during spaceflight’s critical phases.

Her academic and professional journey is as impressive as her current endeavors. During her undergraduate studies, Dr. Okolo served as president of the Society of Women Engineers at her university. While pursuing her graduate degree, she worked as a summer researcher from 2010 to 2012 in the Control Design & Analysis Branch at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. There, she collaborated with the team that operated the world’s fastest manned aircraft, which completed a coast-to-coast flight in just 65 minutes-a journey that typically takes over five hours for the fastest conventional aircraft.

Dr. Okolo’s research has garnered recognition and support from prestigious organizations. She has been awarded the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship by the Department of Defense, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship by Zonta International, and the John Leland Atwood Graduate Fellowship by the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Today, Dr. Okolo continues to shine at NASA. She recently received the BEYA Global Competitiveness Conference award for the most promising engineer in the U.S. government. The BEYA Conference aims to foster connections between students, educators, and STEM professionals, aligning perfectly with Dr. Okolo’s mission to inspire and support young girls in pursuing careers in STEM fields.

Dr. Wendy Okolo’s journey from Nigeria to the forefront of aerospace engineering at NASA exemplifies determination, innovation, and breaking barriers, serving as an inspiration to aspiring engineers around the world. More about Wendy Okolo here