At the age of 36, Wendy Okolo has emerged as a prominent figure in the field of aerospace engineering, serving as a powerful role model and breaking significant barriers for future generations. Her journey is marked by a blend of courage, unparalleled intelligence, and a fervent desire to effect positive change in the world of science and technology.

Wendy Okolo: A Trailblazer from the Very Beginning
Wendy Okolo was born in 1989 in Nigeria, where her educational journey commenced at Saint Mary’s Primary School before she advanced to Queen’s College in Lagos. From a young age, Wendy exhibited exceptional academic prowess, consistently achieving straight A’s, which showcased her innate talent and dedication. Remarkably, her career path was influenced by her mother, who confidently announced Wendy’s future as an engineer long before the young girl understood the implications of that ambition.

Despite expressing her interest in engineering from an early age, it wasn’t until she enrolled at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) that Wendy truly discovered her passion for aerospace engineering—a field that ignited her imagination and resolved to navigate the complexities of flight and space exploration.

Soaring to New Heights at NASA
Wendy’s career has taken an impressive trajectory, characterized by groundbreaking experiences and achievements. She began her ascent as an undergraduate intern at Lockheed Martin, where she played a vital role in NASA’s Orion spacecraft project. Over the course of two transformative summer internships, Wendy immersed herself in Systems and Mechanical Engineering, acquiring hands-on skills that laid a solid foundation for her future endeavors in aerospace innovation.

Following her undergraduate experience, she advanced her studies as a graduate student, contributing to the Control Design and Analysis Branch at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Currently, Wendy holds the position of sub-project manager within the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center. In this capacity, she is at the forefront of influential research within the Discovery and Systems Health Technology (DaSH) division, focusing on cutting-edge technologies that enhance the safety and reliability of aerospace systems.

A Woman of Many Firsts in Aerospace Engineering
Wendy Okolo’s pioneering contributions to the field have garnered her a multitude of prestigious awards and recognition, solidifying her status among the elite in aerospace engineering. Her list of accolades includes:

• The Amelia Earhart Fellowship: Offered for women pursuing advanced degrees in aerospace-related sciences.
• The Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship (2012): A highly competitive fellowship that recognizes exceptional minority scientists and engineers.
• The Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC) Fellowship (2012, 2013): Designed to support promising students pursuing degrees in aerospace education.
• The AIAA John Leland Atwood Graduate Award (2013): An honor presented to outstanding graduate students in the field.
• The NASA Ames Early Career Researcher Award (2019): Noteworthy as the first woman awarded this honor, recognizing her contributions to research and innovation.
• The NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal (2021): An award recognizing significant contributions to NASA technologies.
• The Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) for the Most Promising Engineer in the U.S. government: Presented for her extraordinary potential in engineering.
• Named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (2021) by the United Nations: An acknowledgment of her impact on both the aerospace community and society as a whole.

In June 2023, Okolo expanded her influence with the release of her debut book, Learn to Fly: On Becoming a Rocket Scientist. This inspiring work provides an intimate look into her remarkable journey while encouraging aspiring aerospace engineers to follow their dreams and overcome challenges.

Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion in STEM
Beyond her impressive individual accomplishments, Wendy is passionately committed to advocating for diversity and inclusion within the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. She actively works to dismantle barriers for women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups. Her initiatives include creating nursing rooms for working mothers to facilitate their re-entry into the professional sphere and reforming job descriptions to remove gender-biased language, thereby encouraging more women to apply for technical roles.

As a sought-after keynote speaker, Wendy Okolo shares her insights and experiences on STEM inclusion, mentorship, and leadership, inspiring young girls and women in their pursuit of STEM careers. Through her work, she empowers others to chase their aspirations with relentless determination and courage, fostering a more equitable and diverse future in aerospace and beyond.