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Dear Members of WIA,

I’d like to take this moment to thank you for allowing me serve as the Chair of Women in Aerospace for the past three years. This organization has continued to inspire me through amazing conversations and connections and opportunities for learning and growth.  I am honored to be surrounded by individuals who are just as dedicated to this industry as I am, and for that, I am eternally grateful. 

I would like to start by saying Thank You to those who I worked closely with during the past three years as we look back at our collective achievements.   I hope everyone will enjoy this walk down memory lane! 

In 2016, WIA held a successful two-part annual conference series, attracting industry leaders to our events with thought-provoking topics and high-level speakers.  We held a very successful networking reception with joint associations: Space Foundation, WID, SGAC and Airbus, and we worked to re-establish and strengthen relationships with our WIA global networks.

In 2017, WIA served as a reception sponsor for the Hidden Figures movie premier, as well as sponsoring a book discussion event, in partnership with NASA and the DC Public Library.  For the Hidden Figures book discussion, WIA donated 500 books so that each student could receive a copy of the book. In our efforts to strengthen our WIA global networks, we also welcomed WIA Japan and WIA Mexico to our network.  

Continuing on to 2018, WIA had the highest attended Awards Dinner in the past four years, we held a networking program in Southern California that had over 140 individuals attend, and WIA held six very successful professional development webinars – with the majority selling out!  WIA was thrilled to welcome seven new corporate members, adding to the momentum of our member engagement.

These accomplishments that I chose to share with you, are just a few out of the many that WIA has done throughout my term as Chair. Starting May 1st, Dr. Rebecca Keiser of the National Science Foundation will become the Chair of Women in Aerospace, and Bridget Chatman of SAIC will serve as Vice Chair. I have no doubt that these two women will do an amazing job for WIA.  I can’t wait to see the successes they achieve.

Thank you to everyone who has made these past three years such an amazing experience, and thank you to those of you who dedicated their time and efforts to see WIA become a leading organization in the aerospace industry.

I am honored to have served as WIA’s Chair. Thank you all for this incredible privilege. All the best in 2019!

Sincerely,

Shelli Brunswick, Chair of Women in Aerospace