Sydney Hamilton is an award-winning aerospace engineering leader and author who is breaking barriers and reshaping the future of STEM. She made history in 2021 as the first African American to receive the Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) Promise Award for her groundbreaking contributions to aerospace. Her work has been featured on CBS’ Mission Unstoppable and NPR’s Wow in the World, reflecting her national impact beyond engineering.

As a manager at Boeing, Sydney leads a team working on the X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, a pioneering collaboration with NASA to develop the world’s first sustainable experimental aircraft. Her innovations include 3D-printed satellite structures and the folding wingtip on the Boeing 777X, the first of its kind in commercial aviation.

A passionate advocate for diversity in STEM, Sydney is an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador and past President of the Board for Dramatic Results, championing STEAM education for underserved youth. She holds dual degrees in Mathematics (Spelman College) and Aerospace Engineering (University of Michigan), and studied Nuclear Engineering in China.

Through her trailblazing career, advocacy, and infectious curiosity, Sydney Hamilton is redefining who leads in science and engineering, and inspiring the next generation to believe they can too.