Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Wells.
Jennifer, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I initially joined AIAA when I was a student in the Aerospace Engineering department at Texas A&M. AIAA had a student chapter at A&M and they frequently hosted speakers from industry and government jobs. They discussed their careers at NASA, the DoD, and other large aerospace and tech companies – all places at which I was interested in someday working. It was an easy decision when I decided to become a student officer of the A&M chapter; first as Publicity Chair and then as Vice Chair.
About a year after I graduated and was working for a Johnson Space Center (JSC) contractor in Houston, I saw an announcement for a Young Professionals (YP) event for the AIAA Houston Section. The YP Chair of the section at that time was hosting a series of happy hours to recruit other YPs for AIAA. Shortly after attending the first few events, I had an expanded professional network of other YPs and an offer to become the Honors & Awards Chair for the section. From there, I quickly learned that anyone willing to put in the work was given the opportunity to take on additional leadership roles. I then spent two years as Treasurer and one year as Chair-Elect, and am currently finishing up my term as Chair of the Houston Section.
Has it been a smooth road?
Like any endeavor, there have been a few bumps in the road. There were a few struggles personal to me and also within AIAA. Working as an officer while finishing grad school and working full time was a lot to handle, but valuable time-management skills were acquired here. There was also a learning curve associated with heading the organization versus simply doing my job in other roles. Some section officers had to resign due to work or personal reasons, and that does put a strain on remaining officers; however, it is not an unexpected issue for volunteer organizations.
The most significant struggle within AIAA Houston has been the impact of some of NASA’s largest programs in Houston: the ending of the Space Shuttle and Constellation programs. Many members moved to different industries or away from the Houston area, so in the process, our section lost hundreds of members. As the jobs at JSC have been slowly recovering, so has AIAA, but we are still not where we were about ten years ago. Many companies cannot afford to donate as much or as often as they used to (although we still have some very generous and repeat donors), or to cover their employees’ yearly membership dues for professional societies or technical events. Anecdotally, many YPs were unable to get jobs at JSC when they graduated a few years ago due to the cancellation of these programs, and they went to different industries. We do have several enthusiastic and engaged YP members, and I believe that as the jobs continue to recover, the YP numbers will increase as well as their participation in professional societies.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) – Houston Section story. Tell us more about the business.
AIAA was founded in 1963 through a merger of the American Rocket Society and the Institute of Aerospace Sciences. It is the largest professional society dedicated to furthering the education of the public about aeronautics and astronautics, the government and corporate entities focused on these subjects, and other social and political issues affecting the aerospace industry. To quote our website, “[T]he purpose was, and still is, ‘to advance the arts, sciences, and technology of aeronautics and astronautics, and to promote the professionalism of those engaged in these pursuits.'”
I currently serve as the Houston Section Chair, which involves heading the section officers and volunteers known as the Executive Council. I hold monthly council meetings and help officers to organize events centered around AIAA’s mission (as stated above), which include but are not limited to: dinner meetings with distinguished speakers, including astronauts, politicians, industry leaders, and other honored guests; technical symposiums, lunch and learn lectures, social and networking events, volunteer events, education and outreach, student and professional contests, facility tours, and joint events with other professional societies. Additionally, I handle the business of the section including filling appointed positions, nominating and recognizing section members for awards, and promoting the section and its events.
What most impresses me about AIAA Houston is its continued influence in the community and the dedication of some of its most enthusiastic members. The volunteers who are most involved have been working tirelessly for years to keep AIAA running smoothly and they care deeply about working to hold events and publish information for the rest of the section. These members have managed to help recognize each other for their efforts and to put members in contact with very highly accomplished professionals who help them to further their careers.
In my opinion, AIAA stands out as an organization due to the passion of its members for the industry. So many of our members have stories that began similarly to mine: they decided when they were children and teenagers that they wanted to work in the aerospace industry. They took the initiative to take the courses, get the degrees, work the internships, and apply for the jobs that would get them there, and for many of them, AIAA was part of that path. This passion can be found not only in what they accomplish in their careers and volunteer efforts with AIAA, but also simply when we all gather to watch things like the Wings Over Houston Airshow, or a cargo ship launch, or a Soyuz landing. Nearly everyone can be seen with that same look of wonder when watching such accomplishments.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There are two big factors that contribute to the aerospace industry that affect Houston members: commercial pursuits and government funding. Commercial participation in space activities will continue to increase with the imminent introduction of commercial human space transportation for low-Earth orbit (LEO), which include International Space Station (ISS) activities. In the future, there are commercial contenders for new space stations. However, the lessons learned through government-funded programs will influence how companies get to space to some extent.
As for government programs, it is harder to predict what will happen with aerospace systems. Programs change with new administrations and budgetary considerations. I am not sufficiently versed in policy to say with any certainty what will happen in the future, but I have trouble foreseeing significant increases for space programs from the government aside from possibly programs that are already in work. Aeronautics is largely part of the DoD, so money is organized differently than for NASA.
What I do see happening is that new and higher-fidelity technology will drive future aerospace products and services, and shifts in the industry could move efforts closer to practical solutions for Earthbound issues. The public and policymakers may be more likely to pursue funding for programs and projects that have a clear purpose more directly affecting themselves and their constituents, rather than purely for the sake of exploration (although this is a pursuit that is still near and dear to many of us). One of the most pressing needs for these new technologies, then, is to be able to communicate with the public about how they can benefit the people, which is one area in which AIAA strives to excel.
Pricing:
- AIAA is a non-profit professional organization with several options for membership.
- The section in which one becomes a member is based on the zip code provided during registration.
- Individual Professional Membership: $30 – $120, depending on years out of school (student to professional transition begins with lower pricing)
- Full-Time Student Membership: $25
- New Young Professional Membership: $60
- Educator Associate Membership: Free of Charge
Contact Info:
- Address: Webster, TX 77598
- Website: http://www.aiaahouston.org/
- Email: http://www.aiaahouston.org/contact/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/86390767618/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/aiaahou/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3329361
Image Credit:
Jackelynne Silva-Martinez, Jennifer Wells
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