Inspiring The Next Generation of Women in STEM
Women engineers have played an invaluable role throughout history in developing world-changing technologies.
And Haley, a manufacturing engineer with Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control, wants to continue that legacy.
“Encouraging young women to pursue STEM fields protects the progress made,” she said. “Our work is the foundation for the next generation of women. Without future women in STEM, we will be unable to continue moving forward.”
As a manufacturing engineer, Haley’s primary responsibility is integrating people, equipment and materials to develop more efficient processes and products for customers. It was after attending a STEM summer camp when Haley became set on studying engineering, but her affinity for finding innovative solutions began far before that.
As a child, Haley clung to a notebook where she sketched her ideas and inventions. On the cover she scribbled, “Haley’s Way to Make Life Better.” Her best idea? A self-folding Christmas tree cleverly called “Merry, Bright and Boxed” to make cleaning up after the holidays more efficient.
“This notebook was the initial spark for my passion for engineering,” she said.
“Growing up in a small, rural community, there were limited opportunities to interact with women in STEM,” Haley said. “When I attended college, I was able to connect with a multitude of strong, smart women from various backgrounds. These women inspired me to become the female engineer sharing my story today.”
To encourage young women to continue to push boundaries and discover their potential, Haley shares three lessons she has learned over the course of her career:
1. Fail forward.
2. Speak up.
3. Practice fearlessness.
For three consecutive years, Lockheed Martin has ranked on Woman Engineer Magazine’s Top 50 Employer’s List. In 2021, Lockheed Martin is proud to be recognized as having a supportive culture where all engineers receive support to develop solutions to seemingly impossible problems.