REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Feb. 13, 2014) -- Two U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, employees were recognized Feb. 6-7 at the 29th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Conference in Washington, D.C.
Gayla T. McMichael, AMRDEC's outreach and diversity program manager and Fernando (Rios) Merritt, logistics engineering team lead, were honored in a range of categories that include technical accomplishments and commitment to community educational outreach.
McMichael was recognized with the Corporate Promotion of Education Award and Merritt was recognized in the categories of Professional Achievement, Community Service, Outstanding Technical Contribution and Career Achievement-Government.
Maj. Gen. John F. Wharton, RDECOM Commanding General, commended the award winners for their dedication to the Army and civil service excellence.
"The accomplishments of our award winners at the BEYA STEM Conference show that we have the world-class team of dedicated Army civilians that it takes to develop the best technologies to empower the joint Warfighter," said Wharton.
"It is imperative that we recruit and retain the best minds in America. Our nation deserves nothing less."
McMichael designs, leads and supports a vast array of high quality educational Outreach programs and services across a diverse K-20 continuum, with students, educators, and administrators through STEM camps, career exploration experiences, mentoring, K-16 tours, teacher training workshops, and collaborative Outreach projects through educational partnership agreements.
"I love working with our nation's youth," McMichael said. "They are our future leaders, and STEM professionals. I take seriously my efforts toward inspiring the minds of tomorrow."
"Outreach and Diversity is not just a job for me, it is my passion. I truly have the best job in the world and God has been good to me."
'I was very honored and yet humbled to have been nominated and selected for one of the BEYA STEM awards this year," Merritt said. 'It was quite a surprise. I realize the awards are competitive and only go to those that have excelled and made major contributions in the areas of science and technology."
In addition to his recognition at BEYA, Merritt recently won a Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award for his work to integrate cold spray technologies into Army systems. He has more than 30 years of service with the Army and Air Force.
The Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Global Competitiveness Conference is the largest gathering of STEM professionals and leaders who are committed to increasing the percentage of people from historically underrepresented communities in the technology workforce.
The two AMRDEC employees were part of a group of seven RDECOM employees recognized at the event. For more information on the other recipients, see http://www.army.mil/article/142250/Seven_RDECOM_scientists__engineers_recognized_at_2015_BEYA_STEM_Conference/.
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The Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness -- technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment -- to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
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