Tammy McNeley is a recently retired engineer from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. She spent 38 years providing modeling, simulation, and analysis for many of the nation’s most advanced tactical fighter aircraft. In 2009 she was inducted into the elite group of Lockheed Martin Fellows where she tackled many of the corporation’s most challenging technical challenges. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1984 with a degree in Computer Science and pursued graduate work in Aerospace Engineering. Tammy currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Military Operations Research Society and holds a lifetime certification as an Expert Systems Engineering Professional from the International Council on Systems Engineering. She continues to be an avid supporter of STEM and supports numerous volunteer activities with Girls Inc. and the Society of Women Engineers.
When did you become involved with Girls Inc.?
I was involved with the Tarrant County Girls Inc from 2016-2020. During that time I supported the after school Girls Inc. program at Mauel Jara Elementary and also the Girls Inc. summer camps held at the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth. I started supporting the Houston Area Girls Inc. in 2021. I have supported several Fly to Your Future joint events with Girls/Inc. and Lockheed Martin and also have volunteered at the Girls Inc. sessions at DeAnda Elementary.
What do you love about Girls Inc.?
Girls Inc. is a well-oiled machine that runs on passion. All of the staff that I have come in contact with are truly amazing people that share a true passion for empowering young girls. You can tell they enjoy what they are doing because they always seem to have a smile on their face, and they are so good with the girls. It is exciting to watch how Girls Inc. is helping grow the next generation of powerful, confident women!
Do you have a favorite memory with Girls Inc. of Greater Houston?
Volunteering with Girls Inc. at DeAnda Elementary has been so much fun. The girls are so excited to do the hands-on projects. At Thanksgiving, the girls used the engineering design process to build a pen for their paper cut-out turkeys. Not all the girls finished their pens, so we encouraged them to take home their pens and finish them over the holiday. And this one girl brought hers back after the holiday and proudly showed us her finished pen with the paper turkey safe and sound inside! Knowing that this young girl was passionate enough about the project to take it home and finish it was confirmation that Girls Inc. is making an impact!
“Tammy has been such an inspiration to me and the girls with her experience and knowledge around STEM concepts. The girls who participated in Flying to Your Future witnessed a former Lockheed Martin mentor relationship in action when Tammy and another Lockheed volunteer discussed their time spent with the organization during our event. The value add she has brought to our Girls Inc. programs is showing our girls what it’s truly like to have lived through a career in STEM as a woman, as a mentor and now a retiree who has contributed a generous amount of time back to their community.” Danielle Gibson, Program Facilitator