Washington, DC, January 2011 – The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is pleased to announce that Nelda K. Lee of The Boeing Company has been selected to receive the 2010 Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Award.
The award will be presented to Lee for “her career and personal achievements exemplifying outstanding and enduring contributions in the field of aviation, aeronautics, space and related sciences. As a role model and pioneer female aerospace test engineer, she has inspired women and men to seek careers in aviation.”
The Stinson Award recognizes a living woman for an outstanding and enduring contribution, a meritorious flight, or a singular technical development in the field of aviation, aeronautics, space or related sciences. It is one of the most important awards in aviation in America.
With The Boeing Company (and formerly McDonnell Douglas) for over 35 years, Nelda is responsible for flight and ground test engineering for the four military aircraft that are manufactured in St. Louis for Boeing. These aircraft are the F-15 Eagle, AV-8 Harrier, T-45 Goshawk, and F/A-18 Hornet. She is the Level 2 Manager for Test & Evaluation personnel who are located at St. Louis and at the military test sites at China Lake, CA, Patuxent River, MD and Eglin AFB, FL. She has a BS degree in Aerospace Engineering and was the second woman to receive this degree at Auburn University. Nelda also has a MA degree in Management and Human Resources Development from Webster University. A highlight of her career with McDonnell Douglas was when she logged 1.5 hours of flight time in the F-15 Eagle in 1980.
In addition to her career with The Boeing Company, Nelda also enjoys aviation as a pastime and hobby. She is a licensed commercial pilot with instrument, multi-engine, and helicopter ratings. She has flown in several Transcontinental Air Races. She is a member of The Ninety-Nines, International Women Pilots, and previously served as Governor for the 9-state North Central Section. Currently she is serving on the board of trustees for the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. She is also a member of The Whirly-Girls, International Women Helicopter Pilots, and is Whirly-Girl #247. She previously served as International President and was recipient of the 10 th Annual Doris Mullen Whirly-Girls scholarship in 1977. Nelda is charter member #15 of Women in Aviation International and currently serves on the Board of Directors. She was inducted into the International Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2004. She is a member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers and the Auburn Alumni Association and has previously served both St. Louis chapters as President. Nelda was featured recently in an exhibit for Women In Aviation at the St. Louis Science Center for the Centennial Celebration of First Flight. Several articles and books have featured Nelda and most recently a book by Henry M. Holden titled American Women of Flight: Pilots and Pioneers.
For the second year, NAA will award the Stinson Trophy at the International Women in Aviation Annual Conference’s Pioneer Hall of Fame Banquet to be held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, on February 26, 2011.
The National Aeronautic Association is a non-profit, membership organization devoted to fostering America's aerospace leadership and promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight to the United States.