2008 Women of Color Honorees
Career Achievement (Industry) Career Achievement (Industry)
Pauline Bennett Nora Lin
Associate Manager, Supportability Engineering Group
Booz Allen Hamilton Defense Divisions System, Electronic Systems
Northrop Grumman Corporation
BS–Electrical Engineering, MIT
MS–Electrical Engineering, Cornell University BS–Physics, Chung Yuan Christian College of Science
MS–Physics, University of Alabama
As a systems engineer and team leader with top-secret
clearance, Pauline Bennett is tasked with evaluating satellite
Nora Lin has worked as an engineer
hardware and algorithm systems for the US military and other
in the defense industry for 25 years.
government clients. “I measure [effectiveness] by the amount
“I hope my achievements inspire
of stuff you get done,” she says. “A lot of people talk a good
other female engineers to achieve
game or order other people around. But what’s their bottom
professional goals,” says Lin, who
line?”
will become president of the Society
Before joining Booz Hamilton in
of Women Engineers (SWE) in July
2004, she worked in the MIT Lin-
2009. Through SWE, Lin shares
coln Laboratory, was an Air Force
her knowledge with female engi-
Graduate Research Fellowship
neers and college students. Lin also
candidate, and a National Science
initiated the creation of a Northrop
Foundation Minority Fellow. As an
employee group in support of SWE and chaired it.
early-career researcher, she was
Lin has been a Northrop Grumman employee for 15 years at
employed by AT&T Bell Labora-
the Rolling Meadows, Illinois campus. She began as an asso-
tories. She also held positions at
ciate scientific programmer and later became a software engi-
Tek Microsystems and Boeing
neering technical lead/manager leading engineering teams in
Satellite Systems.
the development of real-time software for military programs.
Away from work, she plays clarinet and piano, and sings
Since 2002, she has headed a team that supports electronic
contralto with a group called the Angeles Chorale. She also
warfare systems products, which generate over a billion dollars
teaches Sunday school and helps organize Boy Scout campo-
in sales annually. “My department makes sure products are
rees. But even Bennett has limits. She says that while she is
safe, reliable, and support customers — American and allied
pursuing an electrical engineering doctorate, she does not
soldiers in combat,” she says.
anticipate submitting her final dissertation draft anytime soon.
“I can’t do everything,” she says with a smile.
Service, dedication, and innovation have marked Lin’s career.
And why she anticipates staying in the industry another 25.
Her talents surfaced in middle school when young Pauline
“I like working in defense,” she says. “We are always dealing
took a telephone apart and then put it back together. Her par-
with new technology and analyzing how to improve or invent
ents, immigrants from Belize, encouraged her interests and
systems.”
provided speech therapy to help boost her confidence.
Career Achievement (Government)
Rear Admiral Michelle Howard
Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, US Navy
BS–United States Naval Academy
MS–Military Arts and Sciences, US Army Command and General Staff College
When she was 12, Rear Admiral Howard decided on a career in uniform after watching a documentary about
service academy personnel. Six years later she was accepted to the Naval Academy. Trained to be a surface
warfare officer, RADM Howard rose to become the first ever African-American woman to command a ship,
the USS Rushmore, in 1999. She is also the first female graduate of the Naval Academy to attain the rank of
rear admiral.
“Our job is to fight and win the nation’s wars,” says RADM Howard. Although accomplishing this goal
involves diverse projects and programs, the Navy has two initiatives that are always active: public awareness and sustaining
enlistees.
“It is important to educate the public about what the Navy does,” says RADM Howard, “Several admirals have gone to colleges
across the country to promote career opportunities. As a woman and minority, I can personally attest that the Navy has tremen-
dous opportunities available for motivated individuals. It is a great career option.”
RADM Howard is a key advisor to the Secretary, who is responsible for 900,000 people and an operating budget of $140 billion.
Howard interacts with high-ranking military commanders, members of Congress, and CEOs of major defense companies.
28 WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2008 www.womenofcolor.net
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72