Wendy Okolo facts for kids

Wendy A. Okolo is an amazing engineer from Nigeria. She works for NASA at the Ames Research Center. NASA is the United States' space agency! Wendy is a research engineer who helps create smart systems. She made history as the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. She also helps support women working at Ames.

Her Journey to Engineering

Wendy went to Queen's College, an all-girls school in Lagos, Nigeria. After that, she moved to the United States. In 2010, she earned her first degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).

Making History at UTA

Wendy continued her studies at UTA. In 2015, when she was 26 years old, she earned her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. This was a very special moment because she was the first Black woman to achieve this at UTA. While she was studying, Wendy was also the president of the Society of Women Engineers at her university. This group helps support women who want to become engineers.

Her Career in Space and Tech

Wendy started her career even before finishing her degrees. She worked as an intern for Lockheed Martin. There, she helped with NASA's Orion spacecraft. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts into space.

Working with NASA

Wendy spent two summers helping with the Orion project. She worked on how to manage the requirements for the spacecraft. She also helped with the hatch mechanisms, which are the doors that open and close on the spacecraft. Later, as a graduate student, she worked for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Today, Wendy is a sub-project manager at NASA Ames. She is a research engineer in a group called the Discovery and Systems Health Technology (DaSH). Her work helps make sure that complex systems, like those on spacecraft, are healthy and working correctly.

Her Personal Life

Wendy says her sisters were a big influence on her. They taught her about sciences by showing her how they connect to everyday life. She sees her sisters as her heroes.

Awards and Recognitions

Wendy has received many important awards for her work and studies:

• Amelia Earhart Fellowship (2012)
• DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship (2012)
• Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC) Fellowship (2012, 2013)
• AIAA John Leland Atwood Graduate Award (2013)
• Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) for The Most Promising Engineer in the United States government.

See also

In Spanish: Wendy Okolo para niños

• Aerospace engineers