2023 RISING STAR AWARD WINNER
PNAA ’ s Women in Aerospace Rising Star Award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated a drive for excellence that has inspired change and innovation . The award winner is not afraid to break molds . She understands the importance of sharing new ideas and fostering a thought process that has a positive influence in the workplace and community . The winner is a creative forward thinker who puts ideas into action .
MISSY FELIX is a rising star at Blue Origin and in the space industry . She is a Technical Fellow Engineer in the field of vibro-acoustics with expertise in dynamic Finite Element ( FE ) model development and analysis , vibro-acoustic predictions , and damping design . Missy is one of the critical few vibro-acoustics experts in the space industry and is currently working on Blue Origin ’ s New Glenn Orbital Launch Vehicle .
Missy ’ s passion for aerospace was launched at a young age with encouragement from her father , who immigrated to the United States from Haiti to become a mechanical engineer , and her mother who encouraged her curiosity and interest in science . She studied simultaneously for her bachelor ' s and master ’ s degrees in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg , Pennsylvania , graduating in 2009 . After graduation , Missy began work at Boeing in Seattle , Washington on the 787 Interior Noise and Interior Noise Technology teams . She had the opportunity to participate in extensive flight tests on the 787 and work on noise control technology projects on both the 787 and 777X vehicles . In 2011 , she received the Achievement Award for significant noise mitigation contributions to customers of the 787-8 .
In 2017 , Missy moved to Blue Origin where she had the opportunity to lead the design and implementation of the acoustic treatment on the inside of the New Glenn Payload fairing . She developed a novel acoustic material system for the fairing before broadening her scope to work on vibro-acoustics issues across the entire vehicle . In 2021 , her leadership in the field was recognized by Dexter Johnson ( Technical Fellow at NASA and Head of the Loads and Dynamics Technical Discipline Team ), who asked her to join the NASA Engineering and Safety Center ’ s Technical Discipline Team for Loads and Dynamics as an affiliate member , focusing on vibro-acoustics .
Missy has also demonstrated a deep passion for her community . During her time at Boeing , she was a technical mentor for new team members , trained engineers in technical modeling and prediction processes , and served as an advisor and subject matter expert for FE projects for new team members . Missy has continued her service at Blue Origin , where she was the inaugural lead of New Jackson , Blue Origin ’ s Black Business Resource Group , receiving an award in 2020 for her leadership of that team . She served as an executive mentor for the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship , a program that provides Black students with mentoring and work experience in aerospace . She also serves as a technical and career mentor for engineers and has implemented initiatives that support community growth and engagement , employee retention , and youth STEM outreach activities .
Bill Kindred , Director of Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion at Blue Origin states , “ I have been a DEI Director for the past 15 years and have rarely met someone who is not only a technical genius on a strong growing path , but also spends a great deal of her own time inspiring internal and external people to become scientists and engineers .”
PNAA is proud to recognize Missy with its 2023 Rising Star Award .
98 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2024