Dr. Wendy A. Okolo is an aerospace engineering researcher in the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, conducting research and leading cross-functional teams in aerospace vehicle flight safety and controls optimization.
At 26 years old, she became the first black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Her expertise is in flight dynamics, vehicle controls, and systems health monitoring, exemplified by her work with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on aircraft formation flight and the Advanced Development Programs of Lockheed Martin (Skunkworks) on performance optimizing control for the U.S.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Joint Strike Fighter F-35C aircraft.
The first female recipient of the NASA Ames Early Career Researcher Award, Dr. Okolo has received multiple awards for excellence in research and technology development including a NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal, the NASA Ames Award for Researcher/Scientist, and the Black Engineer of the Year Award for Most Promising Engineer in U.S. Government.
She is a leading expert and advocate for expanding participation and opportunity in STEM, and has conducted seminal work in reframing long-standing challenges related to engagement in these fields.
An honoree of the Women In Aerospace Award for Initiative, Inspiration & Impact, Dr. Okolo is a globally recognized STEM speaker, with a remarkable ability to engage audiences.
Her best-selling book, Learn to Fly, provides a manual for scholastic success in STEM while demonstrating that everything is for everyone.
