The annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards, Women of Color STEM Awards and Minorities in Research Science Emerald Honors have brought diverse young people many role models they would otherwise never know. Career Communications Group (CCG) magazine events provide opportunities to meet and talk to the superstars showcased below. The 2012 class of CCG’s Hall of Fame inductees make positive contributions in the fields of science, engineering and high-tech. Their stories are inspiring to all who read them.
Erroll B. Davis Jr.,
Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools
Board Member, General Motors
1988 Black Engineer of the Year
Erroll B. Davis Jr. is less than a year into one of the most important jobs of his career—overseeing the education of 50,000 students and supervision of 6,000 employees in the Atlanta Public Schools system. Davis currently serves as superintendent. He previously was chancellor of the University System of Georgia, where he was responsible for the state’s 35 public colleges and universities (302,000 students, 40,200 faculty and staff). His experience is vast. He has served as chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Alliant Energy Corporation—an energy holding company—and as president and CEO of WPL Holdings. He was also a member of senior management at Wisconsin Power and Light Company, starting as vice president of finance and ending as CEO and president. Davis holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a master of business administration degree in finance from the University of Chicago. Davis and his wife, Elaine, established the Davis Family Foundation, which makes annual grants to students in need. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards.
Guion S. Bluford
Board Member, Aerospace
1991 Black Engineer of the Year
Guion S. “Guy” Bluford, Jr. is the first African American to fly in space. A veteran of four space flights, Bluford’s name and face became famous all over the world as he helped in the deployment of a communications satellite for India on NASA mission STS-8 in 1983. While on STS-39 in 1991, Bluford helped in observations of the atmosphere and gas releases and assisted in deploying five satellites. In total, he logged 688 hours in space. He was educated at Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University. After finishing Penn State as a distinguished ROTC graduate in 1965, he began active service with flight training, logging 4,000 hours in jet planes. In 1972, Bluford entered the Air Force Institute of Technology residency program graduating with a master’s in aerospace engineering in 1974. He continued his studies to complete a doctorate, also in aerospace engineering, and became a NASA astronaut in 1979. Bluford retired from the Air Force in 1993 and left NASA that year. He continues to contribute to the advancement of space science.
Arthur E. Johnson
Board Member, Booz Allen Hamilton
1997 Black Engineer of the Year
Arthur E. Johnson began his professional career as a software engineer with IBM. After taking his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, he became involved in the space program for IBM at Johnson Space Flight Center. He has more than 20 years of corporate executive experience in the information technology and defense industries. A former head of strategic development at Lockheed Martin Corporation, Johnson, who retired as a senior vice president in 2009, is now providing expertise to Booz Allen Hamilton as a member of its board of directors. He will serve on Booz Allen’s Audit Committee. He also serves as a director of AGL Resources, Inc. and Eaton Corporation, as independent trustee of Fidelity Investments, and was the founding chairman of the board of trustees of the National Defense Industrial Association. In 1993, President Bill Clinton named Johnson to a three-year term on the Defense Science Board. He joined the Presidential Advisory Council on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1994.
Mark E. Dean
IBM Fellow
Vice President, IBM Almaden Research Center
Senior Location Executive-Silicon Valley
2000 Black Engineer of the Year
As a young engineer at IBM, Mark Dean helped set standards for today’s personal computers. He led a team that produced the world’s first 1,000-megahertz microprocessor. Today, he oversees more than 400 scientists and engineers doing exploratory and applied research in various hardware, software and service areas, including nanotechnology, materials science, storage systems, data management, web technologies, workplace practices and user interfaces. An engineer by training, Dean has more than 25 years experience in the information technology industry—all with IBM—where he has been central to the design of a range of computers. He has developed all types of systems, from embedded to supercomputers. He has more than 40 patents or patents pending. Dean received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee and an electrical engineering master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. He earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Dean’s awards include the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Distinguished Engineer award, induction into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Ronald H. Brown American Innovators Award.
Reggie Van Lee
Executive Vice President, Healthcare
and Not-for-profit Business
Booz Allen Hamilton
2008 Black Engineer of the Year
Reggie Van Lee leads Booz Allen Hamilton’s healthcare business and not-for-profit business. For 27 years, he has helped private and public sector organizations foster change and assisted in driving growth in not-for-profit organizations. He co-led the Urban Enterprise Initiative with the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, where he drove competitiveness to small businesses in Harlem. He is a founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and is a member of the M.A.C Aids Fund board. Van Lee is chairman emeritus of the board of the Evidence Dance Company and a trustee of the Studio Museum in Harlem. He is also chairman of Howard Theatre Restoration Inc.’s board of trustees, chairman of the board of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, a cabinet member of Habitat for Humanity International’s Global Capital Campaign and member of the board of the Washington Ballet. Van Lee holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Carolyn W. Meyers, Ph.D.
President, Jackson State University
1990 Black Engineer of the Year Promotion of Higher Education Award
Dr. Carolyn Meyers was recently officially installed as the president of Jackson State University (JSU). Her investiture ceremony took place March 30, 2012, making Meyers the university’s 10th and first female president. Meyers took the helm of Jackson State University in January 2011. Under her leadership, JSU earned a reaffirmation of their accreditation for another 10 years from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as accreditations in business, teacher education and engineering. Myers has pushed enrollment to an all-time high of 8,903, increased fundraising tenfold to $4.2 million, and positioned the university to become a model for educating the underserved and achieving global recognition for excellence in education, research and service. She has more than 30 years of academic and administrative leadership experience in higher education, serving most recently as president of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. She served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she was a professor of mechanical engineering and dean of the College of Engineering. Myers also was a tenured faculty member at the Georgia Institute of Technology and was the first associate dean for research in its College of Engineering. Meyers earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Howard University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Angela Barbee-Hatter
Senior Manager, Global Accessory Engineering General Motors
2004 Black Engineer of the Year Award Winner for Corporate Promotion of Education
Angela Barbee-Hatter has made outstanding contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives throughout her career. She won a GM Distinguished Fellowship to Purdue University and became the first Black female to graduate with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Herrick Laboratories, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University. Later, she returned as adjunct professor in GM’s Engineer-in-Residence program, where she taught engineering courses and managed research projects. She was also instrumental in arranging a gift to the university for computer-aided design software and equipment worth $116 million from the Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE). Currently, she is responsible for product development strategy for GM’s vehicle accessories worldwide, including North America, Europe, China, Korea, Australia, India, and South America. In her previous position as an executive technical assistant for the Vehicle Electrification and Infotainment Division, she was responsible for GM’s Global Advanced Battery Laboratory. The laboratory is one of the largest in the U.S. and was instrumental in speeding up the introduction of electrically driven vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt.
Gloria Pualani
Corporate Director, Socio-Economic Business Programs/Government Relations Northrop Grumman Corporation
2004 Women of Color Affirmative Action Award
Gloria Pualani has used her expertise to advance the course of small business and suppliers in the aerospace industry. One of her most significant achievements was developing and implementing the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions program for Northrop Grumman, which was incorporated into the federal Small Business Innovative Research program. Pualani earned her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1976. She later completed studies in purchasing at the University of California, Los Angeles and, in 1989, earned a master’s degree in business administration from National University in San Diego. At Northrop Grumman since 1981, Pualani has grown a wealth of experience in corporate purchasing, which involves lots of contact with government agencies as well as with would-be suppliers. She administered Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems Integration Division’s Small Business Office from 1984 to 1989 before moving up to corporate manager of small business programs. Pualani was cited by the NAACP as a Black Women of Achievement Honoree in 1996 and also received a Corporate Mentor Award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.
Victor R. McCrary, Ph.D.
Science and Technology Business Area Executive
The Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory
1990 Most Promising Engineer Award, 2004 Emerald Honors for Career Achievement
In 2000, Victor McCrary was awarded the U.S. Commerce Department’s Gold Medal for the development of standards for electronic books, which paved the way for e-book readers like the Kindle and iPad. Since joining the Applied Physics Laboratory in 2003, McCrary has developed critical national programs. He oversees a $10 million research portfolio and evaluates research and development projects. McCrary also serves on advisory boards for University of Puerto Rico, University of Massachusetts, and Mississippi State University. Additionally, he created research partnerships between APL and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and is working with the U.S. Navy on a program to increase the participation of HBCUs and Hispanic-serving Institutions on Navy contracts. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Catholic University, an executive master’s of science and engineering from the Wharton School of Business and the Graduate School of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; and a doctorate in physical chemistry from Howard University. He serves as president of the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChe) and is a lecturer in the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Masters of Technology Management program.
Joan Robinson-Berry
Small Business Liaison Officer, Boeing
Director of Small/Diverse Business & Strategic Alliance,
Boeing Defense¸ Space & Security
The Boeing Company
2007 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement Award
Joan Robinson-Berry is one of the highest-ranking African American female technical executives at Boeing. Currently, she is responsible for maintaining and improving Boeing relationships with the federal government on small business subcontracting and supplier diversity. Since she joined Boeing in 1986 after working in design engineering for General Dynamics and co-founding and operating a small engineering company in the inner city of Los Angeles, she has held numerous positions in many areas, including program management, engineering, quality assurance, and human resources. She was a director of technical workforce excellence, director of engineering processes, tools, and skills; and program manager of the MD-80/-90 Twin Jet Programs. She represents Boeing on the Billion Dollar Roundtable board of directors and also serves on the board for the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council. Robinson-Berry received a 2008 Boeing Diversity Change Agent Award.
James C. Dalton
Senior Executive Service
Chief of Engineering and Construction
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2007 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement in Government Award
An alumnus of North Carolina A&T State University, James Dalton earned his bachelor’s in architectural engineering in 1978. After a short time with the Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta, Ga., he joined the Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers; beginning his career as a cost engineer. Later, while on professional training, he earned his master’s degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University in 1992. Dalton was awarded the Excellence in Construction Management Award in 1995 and has received numerous performance awards including the Superior Civilian Service Award in 2001 for his work in the Far East District and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for work in Iraq in 2005. Currently, he is responsible for policy, program, and technical expertise in execution of design and construction programs costing over $10 billion for the Army, Air Force, Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and over 60 foreign nations. He provides leadership to an organization consisting of eight divisions, 41 districts, and more than 15,000 personnel. He also guides the development of engineering and construction policy for the Corps’ worldwide Civil Works, Military, and Environmental missions.
Anthony L. Winns
Vice President, International Maritime Programs Corporate International Business Development Lockheed Martin Corporation
Retired Naval Inspector, U.S. Navy
2007 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement in Government Award
Retired Vice Admiral Anthony Winns is a former naval inspector general. Now a defense industry consultant with Lockheed Martin, he retired in 2011 after 32 years of naval service. Throughout his military career, he held a range of positions including director/vice director for operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Between 2003 and 2005, he served as deputy director of the Air Warfare Division for the Chief of Naval Operations. He was also commanding officer of the Pacific Patrol/Reconnaissance Task Force, and the USS Essex, an amphibious assault carrier, and for a naval aircraft squadron. Winns is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He earned a master’s degree in financial management from the Naval Post Graduate School.
Eunice Heath
Global General Manager, Dow Chemical Co.
2007 Black Engineer of the Year Technical Sales and Marketing Award
Eunice Heath earned a Black Engineer of the Year Award recognition for success in combining engineering and technology with marketing and business. Heath’s outstanding efforts have helped create a competitive advantage for both Dow Chemical and its customers. She has been with the company for more than 20 years, and has served as a global marketing and sales director. Currently, she has the task of integrating two Dow and three Rohm & Haas (subsidiary of Dow) units. During a three-year assignment in Switzerland, she led a major acquisition as the global business and integration director. After a successful integration, she was asked to represent the business at the European Union. An active participant in her local community, she is a member of the Sisters Mentoring Sisters Ministry. Heath holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering and a master’s in business administration.
Chineta K. Davis
Retired Vice President, Northrop Grumman Corp.
2007 Women of Color Technologist of the Year
Chineta K. Davis has put her executive skills to good use in retirement. She serves as the second vice chair of the Associated Black Charities. Davis is a retired vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Corp. She joined the company in 1976 and held a variety of management and executive positions in operations, programs, site management and business development. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, completed the Executive Marketing Program at UCLA and the General Manager’s Program at Harvard University.
Malika Hobbs
Director, Contracts Division, Environmental Management Program Office of Acquisition Management Project Officer, Samuel P. Massie Chairs of Excellence Program
U.S. Department of Energy
2006 Special Recognition Honoree
Malika Hobbs has a real passion for promoting educational access and opportunity. Her contributions helped minority students win internships at the National Nuclear Security Administration. She also developed a program to enhance high school students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math. As a result, over 4,000 students took part in hands-on instruction activities. Hobbs was chief architect of a $90 million Minority-serving Institutions program which helps prepare students for STEM careers. Working with the Department of Energy’s Dr. Samuel P. Massie Chairs of Excellence program, Hobbs helped facilitate a $28 million grant for 14 historically Black colleges and one Hispanic-serving institution. Dr. Samuel P. Massie was the first African American chemistry professor at the U.S. Naval Academy.
