Wendy Okolo, 36, is a trailblazer in aerospace engineering, breaking down barriers and redefining opportunities.
Her journey is one of bravery, brilliance, and unwavering determination to make a difference.
Wendy A.Okolo is a Nigerian-American aerospace research engineer at NASA Ames Research Center’s Intelligent Systems Division.She was born in 1989 and raised in Nigeria, attending Saint Mary’s Primary School and Queen’s College in Lagos.
Okolo became the first Black woman to receive a Ph.D.
in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she was mentored by Atilla Dogan.During her undergraduate years, she served as president of the university’s Society of Women Engineers.She also worked as the Special Emphasis Programs Manager for Women at NASA Ames.
She excelled academically from a young age, earning straight A’s, which reflected her natural brilliance.However, her journey to engineering was not entirely her own at first.“My mother decided I’d be an engineer before I even knew what that meant,” Okolo once explained.
Though she had an early interest in engineering, it wasn’t until her first semester at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) that she discovered her true passion: aerospace engineering.
Soaring to New Heights at NASA.
Okolo’s career has been nothing short of impressive.She started as an undergraduate intern at Lockheed Martin, working on NASA’s Orion spacecraft.Over two transformative summers, she honed her skills in Systems and Mechanical Engineering, laying the groundwork for a career in aerospace innovation.
She worked in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Control Design and Analysis Branch at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base while pursuing her graduate degree.She is currently a sub-project manager in NASA Ames Research Center’s Intelligent Systems Division, where she leads ground-breaking research in the Discovery and Systems Health Technology (DaSH) divisions.
A Woman of Many Firsts
Okolo’s trailblazing contributions have earned her numerous prestigious awards, establishing her as one of the leading minds in aerospace engineering.Her notable accomplishments include:
- Amelia Earhart Fellowship
- Department of Defense NDSEG Fellowship (2012)
- Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC) Fellowship (2012, 2013)
- AIAA John Leland Atwood Graduate Award (2013)
- NASA Ames Early Career Researcher Award (2019) – the first woman to receive this honor
- NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal (2021)
- Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) – Most Promising Engineer in the U.S.government
- Recognized among the Most Influential People of African Descent (2021) by the United Nations
In addition to her accomplishments, Okolo will make her literary debut in June 2023.Her book, Learn to Fly: On Becoming a Rocket Scientist, details her journey and serves as an inspiration to future aerospace engineers.
Championing Diversity and Inclusion in STEM
Okolo’s influence extends far beyond her own accomplishments.She is committed to breaking down barriers for women, people of color, and underrepresented groups in STEM.
Her initiatives include creating nursing rooms for working mothers to help them return to work and revising job descriptions to remove gender-biased language, which encourages more women to apply for technical positions.A highly sought-after keynote speaker, she actively shares her insights on STEM inclusion, mentorship, and leadership, motivating young girls and career women to pursue their dreams with confidence.
