WAN Announces 2024 Women in Space Awards

The Women's Aerospace Network (WAN) was officially launched in Washington D.C., inaugurating an ambitious platform aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion within the aerospace sector.

The organization announced its first initiative, the Women in Space Awards, to celebrate and propel women into aerospace careers, reflecting global participation with over 100 nominees from more than 20 countries.

Founded by Holly Pascal, the network seeks to showcase the diverse achievements within aerospace to inspire a new generation of leaders. The awards feature eight categories including Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Science & Innovation, highlighting the broad scope of contributions women can make in this field.

Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Meredith Garofalo, an award-winning meteorologist and space science correspondent, is part of an expert panel set to evaluate the awards. This panel will use a combination of open voting and expert judgment to determine the winners, ensuring a balanced and representative selection process.

Jennifer Rochlis, President & CEO of Advancing Frontiers and former NASA Division Chief, expressed excitement about the impact of these awards on advancing space exploration. She emphasized the significance of recognizing the pioneering efforts of women who are steering the progress in this traditionally male-dominated field.

The Women's Aerospace Network not only focuses on individual achievements but also strives to build a community that supports and amplifies women's roles in aerospace. This commitment is echoed by influential figures like Jenny Wood from Google, Dana Mehnert, former President at L3Harris Communications Systems, and Nima Vadiee from Capital One Software, all of whom have voiced their support for WAN.

As WAN continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to connect, amplify, and inspire a universal passion for aerospace, welcoming anyone who supports this vision. The nominations for the Women in Space Awards are open until May 1, 2024, with finalists to be announced later that month, marking an exciting chapter in recognizing and celebrating women's contributions to space and aerospace industries.

FMI:womensaerospace.com