I am a Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin, where I have worked since 1999 when I was awarded a masters in Aerospace Engineering. I began my career at Lockheed in California before moving to Denver in 2001. My responsibilities have included Software Engineering and Systems Engineering roles on several defense industry programs. These programs include missile defense programs and satellite infrared detection systems. I have 4 kids, ages 12-19 and took 12 years off to be a stay at home mom.

What inspired you to explore STEM when you were young?

When I was in elementary school, I was very inspired by a particular trip to the science museum. I fell in love with the idea of being an astronaut. That was a dream that I decided not to pursue, but it very much influenced my career path to aerospace. At this point, I’m happy to get to work on satellite systems that are in space.

What do you enjoy most about what you do in your STEM career?

I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to solve technical problems and I love designing new projects. They are like big puzzles with lots of pieces that have to fit together to make the full system work.

What is a fun, bizarre or insightful STEM fact about your field?

Engineering is designing and making things using scientific ideas and tools. Engineers follow the Engineering Design Process when working on a project.