REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Jan. 12, 2023) – For Stephanie Rauseo, 2022 was a year of professional wins.
Rauseo is a quality engineer matrixed from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center to the Technical Management Division for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Management Office. She was named UAS Employee of the month and also recognized by the Army Aviation Association of America Tennessee Valley Chapter as a “Rising Professional.”
Both of her awards were a complete surprise, she said, but in talking with Rauseo it is easy to see why she was recognized. Her passion for her job and shepherding programs into the best they can be is obvious.
“I've been that contractor doing rapid contracts and trying to get that already developed technology to the field quickly,” Rauseo said. “To see smaller companies winning because they have that technology is wonderful -- they just don't necessarily have all the processes in place. I can help move them along in the right direction from a quality perspective. And getting that new technology out in the field and to the Soldier is very cool.”
What makes these accomplishments extra bright are that they were made while Rauseo was juggling another job – parenting a toddler, which is widely known to be the hardest job of all. She credits the flexibility that her office has adopted in the COVID-19 era with being able to still get the job done – and done well – while also tending to her daughter.
Rauseo grew up a math whiz and initially planned to become a teacher, but her parents, who were both math teachers, instead suggested engineering as a career option. While studying at the University of Alabama, she discovered an affinity for industrial engineering. After working for a defense contract manufacturer for several years, Rauseo came on board with the DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center in 2018.
Rauseo’s husband is also an engineer and while they cannot talk specifics about the projects they work on, she said that they both benefit from bouncing ideas and problem solving with one another.
“He's an electrical engineer who does design work and I am on the manufacturing side of the product,” she said. “Leveraging each other’s thoughts and experiences allows us to see the product as a whole. I can see and understand what goes into the design process and he can leverage what is being viewed from a quality viewpoint.”
As a woman in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics field, Rauseo has some advice for the young women following in her footsteps – and a daughter who might one day be among them.
“Trust your instincts and trust your voice – there is no stupid question,” Rauseo shared. “Whatever the guys can do, you can do. Our brains are wired differently. As a female in STEM, you'll bring your different mindset and take to a problem. Everyone benefits from those well-rounded ideas.”
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The DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the Army’s research and development focal point for advanced technology in aviation and missile systems. It is part of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command. AvMC is responsible for delivering collaborative and innovative aviation and missile capabilities for responsive and cost-effective research, development and life cycle engineering solutions, as required by the Army’s strategic priorities and support to its Cross-Functional Teams.
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