The Black Engineer of the Year Stars and Stripes Scholarship Committee has announced a lineup of 12 committee members dedicated to fostering the success of future Black engineers. The Committee comprises distinguished military veterans, educators, and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The Black Engineer of the Year Stars and Stripes Scholarship Committee is an initiative committed to empowering young Black engineers through scholarships and mentorship.

The decorated veterans, renowned educators, and leading professionals seek to create pathways for Black students to succeed in engineering and become tomorrow’s innovators and leaders.

The Committee includes retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Velma Richardson, co-founder of BEYA Stars and Stripes, Vice Admiral Anthony L. Winns (USN Ret.), current chairman of the BEYA Stars and Stripes Committee, and BEYA Stars & Stripes Pre-dinner Mentoring Chairman Craig Crenshaw, who was recently appointed secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs in the state of Virginia.

Leading the new Committee is Darrell K. Williams, a retired U.S. Army three-star General who took office as the 13th President of Hampton University in July 2022. BEYA Stars & Stripes Chief of Staff Matt Bowman supports him. He has served as chief operating officer and executive director of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Committee since 2013.

Other committee members include the chief of operations at The Leadership Compass, Christopher Jones, the 2016 Black Engineer of the Year, President of the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Sylvia Trent Adams, 2020 Women of Color Technologist of the Year, Black Engineer Professional Achievement Award winner Melvin G. Williams, Jr., exec. dir. of strategic research development, Office of Research, University of California- Davis, and Mrs. Kwan Hurst, chief operating officer, Career Communications Group, producer of the annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) STEM Conference.