Former SECAF to speak at ROTC awards luncheon

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kimberly Smith
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Former Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Sheila E. Widnall will address an industry association scholarship luncheon April 9 at the Doubletree Hotel in Bedford, Mass.

The event, co-sponsored by the Association of Old Crows and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, is a forum in which the organizations present scholarships to deserving local ROTC cadets.

During the event, the AOC's Patriots' Roost Chapter will award a $1,000 scholarship to one distinguished cadet or midshipman from each ROTC unit in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Additionally, the AFCEA's Lexington-Concord Chapter will award a $1,000 scholarship to a distinguished cadet or midshipman at each unit working towards a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Today, Widnall is a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has a distinguished career in academia. She is known internationally for her work in fluid dynamics, specifically in the areas of aircraft turbulence and spiraling airflows and is the author of more than 70 publications.

Born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, Widnall now resides locally with her family.
She was the first MIT alumna appointed to faculty in the School of Engineering, as well as the first woman to serve as MIT faculty chair.

Widnall, the first woman appointed as a service secretary, served as Secretary of the Air Force from 1993 to 1997. She was responsible for all activities of the Department of the Air Force to include recruiting, organizing, training and equipping active duty, Air National Guard and Air Reserve members. Additionally, she was responsible for planning, justifying and allocating the Air Force's annual budget.

During her tenure, the Air Force issued its long range vision statement: Global Engagement: A Vision for the 21st Century Air Force, that defined the path from the air and space force of the mid-1990s to the air and space force of today.

In 1996, Widnall was inducted into the Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame. Since returning to MIT, she has been active in the Lean Aerospace Initiative with special emphasis on the space and policy focus teams. She has served on many boards, panels and committees in government, academia and industry throughout her career.

According to event organizers from AFCEA and AOC, events such as this provide the opportunity to hear from leaders like Widnall, an important pioneer for the Air Force and the science behind it.

Registration is required by April 4 at www.afceaboston.com. Tickets are $15 for government and $35 for industry.

For further information, contact Capt. Kim Smith at 781-225-3024 or kimberly.smith.3@us.af.mil.