Cecilia Clark
I've been in my field for 20 years, and I currently work as a model-based systems engineer supporting the Air Force at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. In this highly technical role, I develop and lead the architecture for military systems, handling everything from the design phase through execution in software. I work with multi-faceted teams of subject matter experts with different skills and certifications because these systems are so complex. I'm the focal point to put all the systems together - it's like building a car where you have the engine, tires, chassis, and circuits for digital panels, and you need to work with mechanical engineers, systems engineers, digital computer engineers, and electrical engineers. I've been in this position for about a year. Before this, I spent time at Boeing in St. Louis as a software quality engineer lead, and prior to that as a quality engineer lead. I also served as a quality manager for IDEX Corporation and as a quality engineer lead at Northrop Grumman. Some of my most notable professional achievements include completing my Master of Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, which is a very demanding program that prepares you well for any challenge in your career. I was also able to work on the Starliner capsule project at Boeing, which was very interesting, and now I'm supporting jet fighters for the Air Force, which allows me to support them timely and effectively as part of the team leading the systems engineering portion. My goal for the near future is to become the best model-based systems engineer and architecture in the world, and while that requires a lot of studying, experience, and working on many projects, I'm enjoying the journey because I truly love what I do.
• Certified Quality Manager of Operational Excellence (ASQ)
• Professional Engineering Degree
• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering
• University of San Marcos
• Peru
• Bachelor's Degree in Quality Engineering
• MBA
• Northern Illinois University
• Master's Degree in Systems Engineering
• Johns Hopkins University
• Professional Engineering Degree
• Scholarship from Hispanic Association of MBAs
• Scholarship from Women in Leadership
• American Society of Quality (ASQ)
• Society of Spanish Engineers
• Society of Hispanic MBAs
• Society of Systems Engineers
• Special Olympics
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to strong values instilled by my parents. My father was an engineer with two degrees - mechanical and electrical - and his passion was his career. Growing up, I saw how he enjoyed his work and he would talk to me about how to be a good engineer. My mom was a schoolteacher and principal. We would sit at the table for dinner and lunch, and we always talked about work, his projects, discoveries in science and technology. My two brothers are also engineers, so we were four engineers at the dinner table, and everybody had something interesting to say about the projects we were doing. It was a very lovely discussion on science, and that was my inspiration. Something I always remember from my father is that being an engineer is such a huge responsibility because you have to be ethical in your profession. Engineers design buildings that can fall apart and kill a lot of people if you're not careful, so you have to be very responsible about what you do and know what you're doing. Those ethical principles that my father always talked about to my two brothers and myself are ingrained in me and they've stayed with me forever.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't give up. There are going to be roadblocks out there, and sometimes you'll feel isolated because you see 20 men and you're the only woman. Don't be afraid. Step up and believe in yourself, believe in your skills. If you're going to lead that group and they're all male, so what? Do a good job. Believe in yourself and never give up.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Something that I really would like to see is more women in engineering. In my career, I can feel isolated because anytime I'm on a team of engineers, we are always a minority, and I wasn't - I didn't admit that I was the only woman on the team. I would like to see more women in STEM and pursuing more technology and STEM careers. I know it's very demanding when you go to school, and sometimes in a work environment you have to face a male-dominated field, and some people are very discouraged because there are a lot of roadblocks. But they just need to get over that and be stronger. I'd like to see more women in leadership and technical positions that thrive and keep going and be a role model for others to come.
Locations
Booz Allen Hamilton
Hampton, VA