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Judy L. Smith, the first African-American woman to graduate from the Johns Hopkins School of Electrical Engineering in 1979, has been appointed to the board of directors of Women in Aerospace (WIA). WIA is a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to expanding women’s leadership opportunities and visibility in the global aerospace community. Her two-year appointment to the WIA board of directors is effective January 2012.
Smith brings to the industry advocacy group more than thirty years’ experience in management, advisory and leadership positions providing support to agencies within the Department of Defense. In her current role with Exelis–the diversified, global aerospace, defense and information solutions company recently spun off from ITT Corporation–Smith identifies and qualifies business opportunities for the company’s Information Systems division. An $800 million operating division of Exelis, Information Systems provides advanced engineering services and integrated network solutions to a variety of government, civil and commercial customers.
Prior to joining Exelis, Smith held leadership positions at Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, GTE and Booz Allen Hamilton. Additionally, she was the managing partner for OnPoint Consulting.
“Judy’s legacy of leadership in executive-level strategy, information technology solutions and new business ventures for some of the aerospace industry’s biggest names makes her a terrific addition to WIA’s board of directors,” said Michael R. Wilson, president of Information Systems. “And her personal commitment to mentoring, community involvement and continuing education is admirable. Judy’s keen understanding of space and defense policy, players and priorities promises to benefit WIA’s important mission in the same way it’s helping support business-growth objectives at Exelis.”
Smith has been a member of several nonprofit boards and has been the recipient of several awards recognizing her mentorship of nonprofit leaders and her commitment to community initiatives. In a 2003 interview with US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine, Diversity 2.0: Employers Speak! Smith and a number of other executives were asked to comment on key workforce issues for their organizations, and how they were addressing them. Here's what she said about the glass ceiling:
"Yes, I think it is true that understanding the intangibles is extremely important, and the way to address that is: Mentor, mentor, mentor. Mentor up…mentor down…mentor across. Mentoring is all about helping others learn the intricacies of the organizational culture; teaching the value of fostering relationships; and improving communication. One of my favorite quotes that I think captures the idea of strength in effective mentoring is from Booker T. Washington. Mr. Washington said, "There are two ways of exerting strength. One is pushing down. The other is pulling up." To me, a strong, successful mentoring relationship is about pulling up -- together."
Smith has appeared several times in the pages of US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine and is a regular speaker at Women of Color STEM Conference seminars. She holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University, as well as a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore.
A virtual spokesperson for black technology, BlackEngineer aspires to serve as leading news and information provider on the advancements in black technology with deep insights into black engineering, black entrepreneurs, black education, and historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). In fact, BlackEngineer is one of the very few to promote the achievements of black technology. The Black engineer of the year awards (BEYA) is one of our successful ventures to promote black technology, progress and achievements made in black technology, and the sentiments of the Black community in the US, the UK, Caribbean, and Africa.
Black technology entrepreneurs are increasingly providing the horsepower that drives the global economy. Over the last two decades, black entrepreneurs have created more jobs, and contributed much more to the economic expansion of the Black community as a whole, than any black pastor or politician. Black entrepreneurs are taking risks and building businesses that generate economic growth and increase prosperity in underserved areas, as more minority-owned and minority-focused businesses emerge, willing to serve the financial needs of Black entrepreneurs. US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine's annual list of Top Black Technology Entrepreneurs reflects the expanding scope of leading Black entrepreneurs in information technology, homeland security, and defense.
