Nearly 60 employees of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) were recognized for their excellence and leadership in technology-related fields as part of the 17th Annual Women of Color in Technology Awards Program, held in Dallas. Texas on October 13. Among those recognized, Sonya Sepahban, senior vice president, Engineering Development and Technology for General Dynamics Land Systems, received the Technologist of the Year Award, and Neha Khanna, an electrical engineer with General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies, was recognized for her outstanding technical contributions to the satellite telecommunications industry.
In addition, 25 employees were recognized as Technology All-Stars and 31 were celebrated as Technology Rising Stars.
In acknowledging the awards, Jay L. Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of General Dynamics, said, "We want to identify and encourage role models who can help shape the future by the way they manage people and approach problems, by the encouragement they give and the guidance they offer, and through their commitment to colleagues, customer and company. Sonya Sepahban, Neha Khanna and all of the General Dynamics employees recognized this year reflect those ideals and we value their contributions to our company and community."
Sepahban, who is based in Sterling Heights, Mich., has demonstrated her engineering talent, organizational commitment, management skill and commitment to her community consistently and repeatedly throughout her career. Among her achievements, she led a team that produced the revolutionary double-V-hull design for the U.S. Army's Stryker infantry combat vehicle, saving lives by increasing the vehicles protection against improvised explosive devices.
As a member of the development team for a tactical antennae-control product, Khannas electrical engineering expertise has helped the satellite communications industry provide faster, more reliable transmission of critical government, commercial and military information. Khanna is based in Richardson, Texas.
Technology All-Stars
Technology All-Star awards recognize accomplished women of color from mid-level to advanced stages of their careers that have demonstrated excellence in the workplace and in their communities. Recipients were Katie Veazie (Montgomery, Ala.); Rosanne Caballero, Pam Carmony and Karen Gaupo Smith (Scottsdale, Ariz.); Doris Chui (Santa Clara, Calif.); Sandra Beale (Owings Mills, Md.); Kimberly Brown, Julia Eady, Thuy Huynh, Cheryl Mitchell, Maggie Parker, Onzetta Roberts, Rachel Singleton and Cheryl White (Savannah, Ga.); Naida Davidson (Needham, Mass.); Camille Davis and Lori Smith (Sterling Heights, Mich.); Shehla Mushtaq (Bloomington, Minn.); Ruth Simpson (McLeansville, N.C.); Leslie Harris and Tonda Lee (Fairfax, Va.); Wendy Blocker-Levy, Ogretta Ellis and Vanessa King (Herndon, Va.); and Yadira Valdez (Mexicali, Mexico).
Technology Rising Stars
Technology Rising Star awards recognize women in the early stages of their career who are helping to shape technology for the future. Recipients were Amy Lau and Eunice Rodriguez (Scottsdale, Ariz.); Kaylyn Gong (Healdsburg, Calif.); Claudia Cisneros (Lompoc, Calif.); Jan Marie Areepitak (Santa Clara, Calif.); Lilia Marina Hernandez Contreras, Maria Olimpia Herrera Rodriguez and Zenka Sellinger (San Diego); Jamelaa Jones and Christine Liang (Groton, Conn.); Jacqueline McClusky (Washington, D.C.); Atoosa Vaziri (Orlando, Fla.); Joyce Divina (Pensacola, Fla.); Sridevi Ramasamy (Sunrise, Fla.); Shanita Brown and Gloria Wims (Annapolis Junction, Md.); Carol Sze (Needham, Mass.); LaTasha Stewart (Arlington, Va.); Jennifer Brown (Fairfax, Va.); Yvette Powell (Falls Church, Va.); April Boyd, Jaunese Harris, Denise Hodges, Franeka Kirby, Tami Langshaw, Khanh Luu, Carol Mauldin, Tiffany Reed, Michelle Versailles and Bridgette White (Herndon, Va.); and Sherri Miano (Woodbridge, Va.).
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 93,500 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.