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Over 12 years with Northrop Grumman, Kathryn Hamilton has held engineering, systems engineering processes, and systems engineering jobs.
Hamilton won the 2018 Professional Achievement award for her experience and leadership of large STEM initiatives, and achievement as a role model for others in the field.
"Movies have the power to make us laugh, cry and be inspired," Hamilton said in her acceptance speech at the 2018 Black Engineer of the Year Awards. "In sixth grade, my father took me to the IMAX Theater to see Blue Planet," she said. "The film featured Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, and I wanted to be an astronaut!"
Although Hamilton hasn't become one yet, she's worked beside many space travelers in the Flight Controls group for the Space Shuttle Program.
"God has blessed me with wonderful opportunities," she said. "From working with astronauts to autonomous vehicles, supporting our space-based surveillance systems, and our brave service members," she said. "I thank my supportive parents, husband, and son, and the numerous mentors and managers who have brought me to this moment."
As the engineering manager for the F-22 Raptor Program, Hamilton regularly interfaces with Air Force customers.
She also serves as the F/A-18 Engineering Manager and works with the Navy and her Northrop technical team to offer solutions on defense services for warfighters in the field.
Hamilton has helped promote a partnership with Cleveland Elementary School in Pasadena, which led to its prize-winning performance in the regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition.
She has served as strategic planning chair and outreach chair for the Women’s Initiatives for Networking and Success (WINS) Employee Resource Group at Northrop Grumman.
WINS helped establish a relationship with a Habitat for Humanity chapter that culminated in a successful home dedication ceremony, bringing recognition to the Northrop Grumman company and team.