Women in Aerospace

10/07/2026

WIA is proud to highlight Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, Co-Founder and CEO of Vicillion and a Ph.D. Candidate in the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department at UF, as the recipient of WIA's 2026 Initiative, Inspiration, Impact Award!

Ms. Kanjumba is recognized for her visionary leadership in pioneering Africa’s first equatorial commercial spaceport, that’s focused on expanding global space access while inspiring and empowering the next generation for the growing space economy.

We look forward to honoring Ms. Kanjumba at WIA’s 41st Annual Awards Dinner & Ceremony on December 10. Please join us in celebrating her and this well-deserved recognition!

https://www.womeninaerospace.org/secure/awards.html

10/06/2026

For this week’s , we celebrate Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, an engineer and NASA's first female launch director whose work pushed for female involvement within aerospace.

Charlie lived in Gaffney, South Carolina. She was inspired by Saturn V launches when she was young. These launches sparked an interest in space exploration. Her high school physics teacher even encouraged her to pursue her career within engineering, which pushed her to pursue it full time. She was educated at Clemson University, earning a bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. Computer engineering continues to be dominated by men, showcasing determination and strength.

Charlie was NASA's first female launch director, where she led Artemis I and Artemis II missions strongly. More recently, she made history by overseeing the first crewed Moon mission in April of this year. This Moon mission uniquely stands to be the first one of its kind in over 50 years.

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson gained numerous awards such as the Presidential Rank Award and the Distinguished Service Medal. She acted as a pioneer within aerospace through the oversight of the Artemis missions and the crewed mission to the Moon. Overall, Charlie helped mark a significant milestone in NASA's exploration efforts, and will continue to inspire others to pursue aerospace.

Written by Sofia Sims

09/30/2026

WIA is proud to highlight Merrie Scott, Senior Vice President of Membership Engagement at AIAA, as the recipient of WIA's 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award!

Ms. Scott is recognized for her passion for aerospace, advocacy, and steadfast leadership in uniting a community of aerospace professionals and organizations.

We look forward to honoring Ms. Scott at WIA’s 41st Annual Awards Dinner & Ceremony on December 10. Please join us in celebrating her and this well-deserved recognition!

https://www.womeninaerospace.org/secure/awards.html

09/29/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined Women In Aerospace today for an insightful discussion on the future of space acquisition!

We were pleased to welcome Mr. Tom Ainsworth, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, who shared insights on the progress of the Space Acquisition Tenets and Formula, as well as emerging ideas and expectations for today’s space acquisition professionals.

Thank you to Mr. Ainsworth for sharing his expertise and perspective, and to our hosts at Accenture for helping make today’s program possible.

We appreciate everyone who joined us for this important conversation and look forward to continuing to bring the WIA community together for opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with leaders across the aerospace and space community.

09/29/2026

For this week’s , we celebrate Emily Howell Warner, pilot, LABEL, and first woman captain of a scheduled U.S. airline whose strength helped women gain roles within aviation.

When Emily booked her first-ever flight aboard a Frontier Douglas DC-3, she explored her curiosity toward aviation through a round-trip flight from Denver to Gunnison. She expected clarity on pursuing a career as a stewardess, but she landed elsewhere instead.

She briefly got a chance to view the plane’s cockpit and speak with the flight crew. When the copilot suggested studying how to fly formally, her career truly took off. She was educated at Clinton Aviation Company. Quickly, she earned her private pilot’s license along with her commercial, instrument, multiengine, and instructor ratings.

Before becoming an airline captain, she worked as a certified flight instructor in the Cessna 150. Then, she flew for Frontier, Continental and for UPS. Emily made history as the first woman inducted into the Air Line Pilots Association, being the leader of Continental’s first all-female flight crew, and was the recipient of the Amelia Earhart Award as the Outstanding Woman in U.S. Aviation. Emily Howell Warner stands in the National Aviation Hall of Fame and National Women's Hall of Fame as a crucial model for women with aviation and aerospace interests alike. She helped increase acceptance of women in the airline industry overall, and won’t be forgotten.

Written by Sofia Sims

09/28/2026

Celebrate World Space Week with NASA!

Join NASA on October 8th for “From Space to Screen: Connecting the World through Artemis II” at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Hear from NASA+ Head Rebecca Sirmons and Artemis II Optical Lead Nikki Desch about how NASA used laser communications to transmit high-definition video, imagery, and mission data across nearly 250,000 miles of space, bringing the Artemis II mission to millions around the world.

📅 October 8 | 3:30–4:15 p.m. ET
📍 Webb Auditorium, NASA Headquarters
🎤 In-person presentation + Q&A

🔗 Register:

This World Space Week, hear how NASA connected the world to Artemis II as it journeyed farther from Earth than any prior human mission.

09/22/2026

Join Women In Aerospace for an upcoming program on the future of space acquisition!

On September 29th, WIA welcomes Mr. Tom Ainsworth, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, for an in-person discussion on the progress of the Space Acquisition Tenets and Formula, as well as expectations and emerging ideas for today’s space acquisition professionals.

📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026
⏰ Registration & Breakfast: 8:30–9:00 a.m. | Program: 9:00–10:00 a.m. ET
📍 Accenture | Washington, DC

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from a senior leader shaping the nation’s space acquisition enterprise.

Register by Thursday, September 24!
🔗 Register now: https://www.womeninaerospace.org/secure/eventreg/256.html

09/22/2026

For this week’s , we celebrate Deborah Lee James, former President at Government contractor SAIC, author, and previous 23rd Secretary of the Air Force, whose role as the second woman to serve as a Secretary of the Air Force encouraged the involvement of women within aerospace and aviation.

Deborah’s career began in a hope to serve in public service for the benefit of others. Deborah studied at Duke University and Columbia University collectively, studying Comparative Area
Studies and International Affairs.

Deborah Lee James made history as only the second woman to lead a U.S. military branch, but that wasn’t always her path. In fact, she had diverse experience across many areas. However,
she faced a pivotally important rejection from the U.S. Foreign Service. This meaningful rejection redirected her toward national security roles instead.

Before serving as a leader of a military branch, she worked within the Department of the Army, where she served on the House Armed Services Committee. Beyond that, she also led Pentagon reserve affairs during the Clinton administration. She continued to lead and make large impacts as a private-sector leader at SAIC before finally becoming the integral role of the Secretary of the Air Force for the United States of America.

Deborah Lee James has paved her path in history as the second female Secretary of the Air Force, and will continue to inspire women to go for roles dominated by men.

Written by Sofia Sims

09/16/2026

We're also excited to announce the WIA Foundation's 2026 Scholarship recipients!

Join us in celebrating these outstanding young women and their promising futures in the aerospace community. 🚀

Read the full announcement and meet this year’s honorees:
https://www.womeninaerospace.org/news/09-16-2026_1.html

09/16/2026

🎉 We’re thrilled to announce the 2026 WIA Award winners!

Join us in celebrating these outstanding individuals and their achievements and leadership in the aerospace community. 🚀

Read the full announcement and meet this year’s honorees:
https://www.womeninaerospace.org/news/09-16-2026_1.html