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The Women in Aerospace Awards Dinner & Ceremony is an annual event dedicated to celebrating women’s professional excellence in aerospace. The Awards Ceremony is WIA’s premier event of the year, honoring women and their allies whose outstanding contributions to the aerospace community are legendary. Participation in the event demonstrates your commitment to WIA’s mission: to expand women’s opportunities for leadership and increase their visibility in the aerospace community.

The 2025 dinner and ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington VA.

Register to Attend the Awards Dinner

WIA encourages interested parties to purchase tables and individual seating early to be sure space is available. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Register Here!

The 2024 Award Recipients are:

Outstanding Achievement Award

Marissa Galfond, Laurel, MD, is recognized for outstanding technical contributions and leadership in the development of a revolutionary weapon survivability modeling and simulation software. Ms. Galfond currently serves as the Assistant Group Supervisor of the Tactical Weapons System Engineering Group at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Aerospace Awareness Award

Debra Facktor, Arlington, VA, is recognized for her outstanding leadership and collaborative dedication to inclusion in the aerospace community. Ms. Facktor currently serves as Head of U.S. Space Systems at Airbus U.S. Space and Defense, Inc.

Initiative, Inspiration, Impact Award

Sylvie DeLaHunt, Laurel, MD, is recognized for her key technical contributions to a missile interceptor development program for the U.S. Navy and her extensive advocacy for women in aerospace. Ms. DeLaHunt currently serves as the Assistant Supervisor of the Discovery Program at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Leadership Award

Dr. Wanda Peters, Washington, DC, is recognized for her inspirational leadership, groundbreaking contributions, and tireless dedication to mentoring and advancing women in aerospace. Dr. Peters currently serves as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs in the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at NASA Headquarters.

Allyship Award

Dan Dumbacher, Potomac, MD, is recognized for his outstanding work to champion the advancement of women in the aerospace profession through mentorship and inclusion. Mr. Dumbacher currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Kathryn Sullivan is honored for her dedication to advancing humankind’s understanding of aerospace and preserving our planet’s environment for future generations. Dr. Sullivan is a former NASA astronaut and former Chief Scientist and Administrator of NOAA.

Read About 2024’s Awardee’s

Register to Attend the Awards Dinner

Nominations are open now!