Debra of Society of Women Engineers

Biography:

Aerospace Engineer & Strategic Leader

Debra A. Kimberling is a multi-disciplinary aerospace engineer and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Fellow with 35 years of experience spanning industry, government, and academia. She currently serves as President of the San Diego County Engineering Council (SDCEC).

Technical & Academic Contributions

• Industry Impact: At Solar Turbines, she developed fuel and engineering tools that saved millions in operational costs. Her design portfolio includes Atlas Centaur Rocket components for General Dynamics and submersibles for the U.S. Navy.
• Academic Leadership: Served as an engineering professor at Purdue University, bridging the gap between theoretical research and industrial application.
• Literature:  Co-editor of "Women Engineering Legends 1952–1976: Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award Recipients," published by Springer Nature (2026), which highlights pioneering women in engineering.

Organization & Community Innovation Leader

Debra is a prolific founder of initiatives that improve the diversity and inclusiveness of the fields of engineering:

• Workforce Development: Established the first employee resource group at her companies, and strengthen the SWE San Diego Corporate Connections Committee.
• STEM Pipeline: Founded the San Diego SWENext program and published an outreach newsletter for parents and educators.
• Professional Lifecycle: Launched the SWE Late Career & Retiree Affinity Group to leverage the expertise of seasoned professionals.

Professional Affiliations

In addition to her leadership in SWE, Debra is an active members of organizations like NSBE, SHPE, and the AAUW, which are a reflection of her commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive field of engineers and the areas of STEM.

Address:United States

Jan of Society of Women Engineers.

Biography:

Janet "Jan" L. Williams is a seasoned engineer whose non-traditional path into the field of engineering transform into success as a engineering leader and advocate.

Professional Journey & Education

After originally earning a B.A. in Spanish from UC Davis, Jan discovered her aptitude for technical analysis while working in an administrative role at an engineering firm. This realization led her to eventually earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1983. She realized her career path was unique, because she was one of only two women in her graduating class. Then later in her career she earned a M.S. in Civil Engineering.

Technical & Leadership Career

Jan’s career includes a diversity of roles in national security and complex systems. For example:

• Sandia National Laboratories: Dedicated 33 years to mission-critical work in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Global Impact: Completed high-level assignments at the National Nuclear Security Administration (Washington, D.C.) and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (UK).
• Specialization: Managed facilities and manufacturing projects for the U.S. nuclear weapons enterprise.
• Literature:  Co-editor of "Women Engineering Legends 1952–1976: Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award Recipients," published by Springer Nature (2026), which highlights pioneering women in engineering.

Advocacy & Legacy

Being the only woman in the room as an engineer has inspired Jan to advocate for more diversify, especially in the STEM workforce.

• SWE Leadership: Served in numerous local and national leadership roles for the Society of Women Engineers.
• Legislative Action: Post-retirement, she has transitioned into policy advocacy, introducing state legislation to create centralized STEM networks that bridge the opportunity gap for underrepresented groups.
• Jan’s Mission: Elevate the visibility of women for their technical contributions and guide the next generation of engineers, who are diverse as the challenges they are tasked to solve.

Address:United States