Samantha Bonelli
I have been working in the space and defense industry for 7 years, starting in July 2019, and it has been an amazing journey that has changed me for the better. I currently work at L3Harris Technologies where my responsibilities are split between new business capture for space-based missions and executing our existing contracts to serve our customers. L3Harris Space and Mission Systems manufacture exquisite optical systems for space. Most of our work is classified, but we focus on national security as well as space exploration for NASA, and the why behind the systems that fly is really the most powerful part of what I do. I received an engineering leadership award from L3Harris for my customer research and technology effort supporting NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for an all-glass telescope. Most recently, I received the 10 under 10 award from St. John Fisher University, which was probably my proudest day because that took who I am based on my academics, my work, and my volunteer work. My educational journey includes an undergrad in physics with a concentration in math from St. John Fisher, followed by my Master of Science from Johns Hopkins University in space systems engineering, which I completed while working full-time and was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I also pursued a PhD at Mississippi State University and got about halfway through before I realized that there's more to life than my work and education. Stepping away from the PhD is now one of the things I'm most proud of because my perspective has shifted, and my focus has been on finding life outside of the workplace and school, particularly through volunteer work over the past 3 years.
• Bachelor of Science in Physics with concentration in Math
• St. John Fisher University
• Master of Science in Space Systems Engineering
• Johns Hopkins University
• Doctoral studies (incomplete)
• Mississippi State University
• Engineering Leadership Award
• L3Harris Technologies
• 10 Under 10 Award
• St. John Fisher University
• WE3 Board at L3Harris (Secretary and Communications Lead)
• Mentor for post-9/11 veterans transitioning to civilian life
• Secretary and Communications Lead for WE3 Board at L3Harris
What do you attribute your success to?
I was raised to believe that I could achieve anything I wanted, if I worked for it. I had moments of weakness in the past; times I considered taking the path of least resistance. My parents challenged me in those moments to make sure I was making the right choice for me, and I'm so glad they did. I credit them with my work ethic.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to find life outside of work. Find what lights your soul up, and do that. For a while, it was my work. It still is, but joined with serving my community and spending time at home with the love of my life. A turning point was withdrawing from my doctoral program; my ego was what wanted the 3 letters at the end of my name, but my heart wasn't all in.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say women are tasked with so much at work and outside of work. We struggle with being the best version of ourselves every single day. Focus on yourself in a positive way, you are powerful and control your life; do what YOU want, not what others might prefer. Go to therapy, practice mindfulness and self-care; give yourself whatever you need to thrive. I'll go back to my PhD journey - a part of my ego wanted those 3 letters at the end of my name, and what I really needed, what my soul needed, was to step away from that and to do other things that interest me. There's more to life than boosting your resume.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Women are still gravely under-represented in Space and Defense. However, I will say, and maybe this is something that I've been blessed to not struggle with at L3Harris specifically, but being a woman hasn't impacted my career. I think I've been treated very fairly and been seen as a respected person in the room, regardless of my gender. I think I've been respected for who I am and my technical contributions over my gender, which I don't think is super common yet, but I think, fortunately, the teams that I've crossed paths with at my organization are really, really wonderful.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Above all, I think recognition and communicating with people when they're doing well. I think we need to do more of that, we need to focus more on that, boosting up our top talent across the board. And I feel that way personally as well, communicating with my family, my fiance, letting people know when I'm happy and why. Communication is key across my life.
Milestone Moments
Ten Under 10 recipient
Locations
L3Harris Technologies
Rochester, NY