Wendy Okolo: The Nigerian-American aerospace engineer making waves at NASA

Dr. Wendy A. Okolo is a Nigerian-American aerospace research engineer making history and breaking barriers in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

She is best known as the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and currently works as a research engineer and Associate Project Manager in the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California.

Humble beginning

Wendy was born and raised in Nigeria, where her passion for science and engineering began at a young age.

She attended Queen’s College, a prestigious all-girls secondary school in Lagos, Nigeria.

Her love for problem-solving and science led her to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering in 2010.

During her undergraduate years, she served as president of the Society of Women Engineers at UTA, setting the tone for her future in leadership and advocacy.

In 2015, at just 26 years old, she achieved a historic feat by becoming the first Black woman to receive a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from UTA.

Her doctoral research, under the supervision of Professor Atilla Dogan, focused on advanced aerospace systems and controls.

Career milestones

Dr. Okolo’s career began with Lockheed Martin, where she interned as an undergraduate, working on NASA’s Orion spacecraft.

Her work involved contributing to the Requirements Management Office in Systems Engineering and the Hatch Mechanisms team in Mechanical Engineering.

Later, as a graduate student, she worked with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Control Design & Analysis Branch.

Her outstanding performance and passion for innovation eventually led her to NASA.

Today, she is a research engineer in the Discovery and Systems Health (DaSH) Technology Area at NASA Ames.

She also served as the Special Emphasis Programs Manager for Women, where she developed initiatives to foster inclusion and representation for women in STEM.

Dr. Okolo is widely recognized for her leadership, technical expertise, and advocacy, particularly in promoting gender and racial diversity in the aerospace and tech industries.

Her career has been marked by contributions to intelligent systems, machine learning, and autonomous flight systems.

Recognitions

Wendy Okolo’s brilliance and contributions to engineering have earned her several prestigious awards:

• Amelia Earhart Fellowship (2012)
• DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) – 2012
• Texas Space Grant Consortium Fellowship – 2012 & 2013
• AIAA John Leland Atwood Graduate Award – 2013
• Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) for Most Promising Engineer in the U.S. Government
• Most Influential People of African Descent – 2021, in support of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent

In June 2023, she published her debut book titled “LEARN TO FLY: ON BECOMING A ROCKET SCIENTIST”, which chronicles her journey into aerospace and offers guidance for young aspiring scientists.

The book is available on Amazon and has been widely praised for its inspirational tone and practical insights.

Advocacy and public engagement

Apart from her technical contributions, Dr. Okolo is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.

She champions initiatives that support women and underrepresented minorities in the workplace, such as:

Creating nursing rooms at NASA to support mothers returning to work

Reviewing job descriptions to remove gender-biased language

Serving as a keynote speaker and panelist, mentoring young STEM professionals

Promoting educational programs for girls in science and engineering

She is known for her availability and willingness to mentor  and inspire the next generation, especially young African girls, women, and people of color who are often underrepresented in technical fields.

Personal life

Dr. Wendy Okolo describes her sisters as her heroes, crediting them for nurturing her love for science through their everyday experiences.

Despite her professional accomplishments, she remains grounded in family values and is currently single and yet to be married.

Net worth

Dr. Wendy Okolo’s net worth is currently estimated around $500,000.

Her earnings come from her work as an engineer, public speaking engagements, book sales, and contributions to major research projects at NASA.