REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The Women's Economic Development Council recognized a U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center employee Sept. 15 by for significant contributions to the Huntsville community.
Julie Locker, AMRDEC's cyber lead, was nominated for the technology category at this year's Women Honoring Women Celebration Awards titled, "When Perseverance Meets Passion." Locker is responsible for growing capabilities within AMRDEC's Cyber Engineering Center to protect cyber resiliency for Army aviation and missile systems.
"Our purpose is to actually ensure that our weapons system are protected against hackers and to ensure Soldiers in the field are protected and everything works as it's intended to work," Locker said.
The WEDC Foundation has recognized women with more than $365,000 in scholarships since its inception in 1998. Each year, through nomination, the Women Honoring Women event selects six or seven women in Madison County who have established a successful career and become leaders in their community despite overcoming significant obstacles.
Although Locker has been a single mother throughout her career and a minority in her industry, she has continued to rise through the ranks into several key leadership roles including AMRDEC's first female associate director of weapons development.
"It was difficult juggling my two boys and a career but it's not impossible. My boys are both wonderful and they turned out great, which is a testimate you can do that," Locker said.
Before her career at AMRDEC, Locker worked in Washington as the acting science and technology portfolio manager for aviation technology within the office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army's Research and Technology Area. Locker has also been recognized for integrating the Common Missile warning systems on Black Hawk aircraft as part of the Army's quick reaction program, fielded in Afghanistan within six months of the Sept. 11 attack.
According to her nomination packet, Locker has exhibited strong leadership skills coupled with strong ethics. Locker is a mentor within AMRDEC's mentoring program but has consistently demonstrated mentorship throughout her career of 31 years. She has mentored many young engineers who have excelled and become high-level managers and technical experts in their fields.
Locker graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1985. She has received numerous awards over her career, including Commander's Award for Civilian Service in 2015 for her accomplishments as the aviation portfolio manager at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.
This year marks the 15th anniversary for the Women Serving Women Celebration and the second consecutive year a AMRDEC employee has been honored. Juanita Harris, director of the Weapons Development and Integration Directorate, was an honoree of the event last year.
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The U.S. Army 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 ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
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U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center
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