Aprille Ericsson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aprille Ericsson
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| Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology | |
| In office March 29, 2024 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Michael J. Holte (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Aprille Joy Ericsson
April 1, 1963 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) Howard University (MS, PhD) |
Aprille Joy Ericsson, born on April 1, 1963, is an amazing American aerospace engineer. She has worked as an important leader for science and technology in the government. Dr. Ericsson made history as the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Howard University. She was also the first African-American woman to get an engineering Ph.D. while working at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
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Early Life and Education
Aprille Ericsson grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She later moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts for high school. From a young age, she loved space. She remembers watching the Apollo missions when she was in first grade. Her dream was to become an astronaut for NASA. However, due to asthma and a knee issue, she could not join the astronaut program.
In 1980, during high school, she joined a special engineering program at MIT. This program helps minority students learn about engineering. She earned her bachelor's degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering from MIT in 1986. Later, she received her master's degree in engineering from Howard University in 1990. She then earned her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Howard University. This made her the first African-American woman to achieve this.
Career at NASA
While studying at Howard University, Aprille Ericsson started working at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. She has worked at NASA for over 30 years. She has been an engineer, a technology expert, and a project manager.
Dr. Ericsson helped with many important projects. These include the James Webb Space Telescope, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). She also worked on the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2).
She worked in different teams at NASA. One team was the Robotics group. Another was the Guidance Navigation & Control Discipline. In this role, she helped spacecraft stay stable and in the right position during their missions. She also worked on missions that sent spacecraft to other planets and moons.
One of her early projects was the Tropical Rain Measuring Mission. This project collected data on weather patterns like El Niño and La Niña. This information helped scientists understand how these patterns affect farming. She also helped develop the laser tools for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which launched in 2009.
Dr. Ericsson helped manage science tools like the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS). This system uses lasers to measure the depth of ice sheets and the height of trees. She also managed a plan for a mission to bring dust from Mars back to Earth.
Inspiring Future Engineers
Aprille Ericsson loves to mentor young people. She has done this throughout her life and career. She gives talks and serves on boards at many universities. She also advises STEM programs for students before college. She reviews grant proposals for NASA and other science groups.
She currently advises students at MIT and Howard University. Dr. Ericsson has taught math and mechanical engineering at Howard University and Bowie State University. She also taught about space theory at a middle school.
She works hard to encourage minority students in science and engineering. She leads a group called the Dynamical Mathematical Visionaries National Society of Engineering Jr. Chapter in Washington, D.C. She has been a speaker at the USA Science and Engineering Festival since 2010. She also spoke at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. NASA recognized her efforts with an award in 2002.
Dr. Ericsson-Jackson believes it is important to have more diversity in STEM fields. She especially wants to include more minority female students. She thinks that better internet access can help Black students get into STEM. She also campaigns for all girls to get more involved in math and science. She notes that girls are very capable but are sometimes discouraged from these subjects.
As the President of the Parent Teacher Organization at her daughter’s school, Dr. Ericsson hosted hands-on STEAM events. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. She also hosted a "Family Science Camp" in the summer. This camp included children from her family and community. They visited Howard University's Dental school and attended sports events. She used these activities to teach math and science in fun ways.
In 2022, Dr. Ericsson received the Ralph Coats Roe medal. This award is from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). It honored her work in encouraging young people, women, and other underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers.
Leadership in Government
On September 28, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Aprille Ericsson for an important role. She was chosen to be the assistant secretary of defense for science and technology. The Senate approved her for this job on February 28, 2024. In this role, she helps lead the Department of Defense's science and technology efforts. This includes policies for the science workforce and research labs.
Awards and Recognition
- Women in Science and Engineering Award (1997)
- NASA Goddard Honor Award (1998)
- Center of Excellence Award for the TRIMM Project (1998)
- Women's Network - Top 18 Women Who Will Change the World
- Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture, & Computer Science Alumni Excellence Award (2002)
- Elected to the Howard University Board of Trustees (2004)
- Washington Award (2016)
- National Society of Black Physicists Honor Award (2019)
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Ralph Coates Roe Medal (2022)
