Thomasina Wright will cap a trailblazing career in shipbuilding with a Career Achievement Award at the 2022 BEYA STEM Conference. Over the last three decades, she has often been the first African American and the first female to hold key roles in the  Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS).

In 2020, Wright became the first Black program director at NNS with responsibility for the overhaul of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. During the project, she led a workforce of more than 4,000 personnel and managed a $3 billion budget. In addition, she is committed to mentoring a new generation of shipbuilders.

“She continues to raise the bar and embodies what it means to impact positive change,” said Xavier L. Beale of Newport News Shipbuilding. “Her value to our organization, community, and STEM are incalculable and she is a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.”