Annette Summers Executive Director asummers@womeninaerospace.org August 28, 2024 THE 39th WOMEN IN AEROSPACE AWARDS HONORS SIX EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. Washington, D.C. – Women in Aerospace (WIA), a leading professional organization dedicated to expanding women's opportunities for leadership, education and visibility in the aerospace community, is proud to honor six remarkable women and allies of women for their contributions to the aerospace industry and to the advancement of women in the field. The WIA Awards celebrate women's professional excellence in aerospace, annually recognizing female leaders and their allies, who have made outstanding contributions to the aerospace community. The 2024 Women in Aerospace 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. This year, there were two separate Award Selection Committees; one specifically dedicated to the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the second focused on WIA’s additional awards. Both committees, comprised of volunteers from the industry, government and nonprofit/academia, reviewed a total of 30 women nominated across six award categories. Each of those nominated women serves as an inspiration to our community. As part of the Awards Ceremony, the Women in Aerospace Foundation will also present four merit-based scholarships to promising young women who will serve as the next generation of female leaders in the aerospace industry. This year’s scholarships go to: Halyn McKenzie, Yale University Elizabeth Petersen, Colorado School of Mines Elena Saez, University of Notre Dame Asia Stanford, University of Central Florida ___________________________________________________________________ Women in Aerospace (WIA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding women's opportunities for leadership and to increasing their visibility within the aerospace community. For individuals and organizations interested in participating in the Awards Dinner on October 10, 2024, at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington VA, registration and sponsorship opportunities are currently available through our website. For more information, visit the WIA website at womeninaerospace.org or call our Headquarters at (202) 547-0229. ### | 
