March 21, 2025
Colloquium Topic: Women's History Month Colloquium
TBD
Colloquium Speaker: Hon. Aprille Ericsson
Honorable Aprille J. Ericsson is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology (S&T). In this role, she directs an organization responsible for the oversight, advocacy, and policy for the Department of Defense (DoD) S&T enterprise, including S&T workforce and laboratory infrastructure, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and University-Affiliated Research Centers. The ASD(S&T) office oversees a broad portfolio of S&T programs, including basic research, Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR), DoD Manufacturing Technology, and nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes. Focused emerging technology areas include: advanced materials, biotechnology, quantum science, FutureG, along with developing system capabilities for hypersonics, PNT, nuclear delivery, human and unmanned platforms. Additionally, the ASD(S&T) office encourages inclusion, diversity, and equity through focused outreach and interaction with Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Minority Institutions, community colleges, and K-12 programs. Furthermore, the ASD(S&T) office is responsible for technology and program intellectual property protection.
Before joining the DoD, Dr. Ericsson worked for 30+ years at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in various positions. Her last NASA role was the New Business Lead for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Instrument Systems and Technology Division. In this role, she fostered technical federal partnerships that enabled industry, small businesses, and academia collaboration for competitive opportunities to solve strategic R&D, technological, and space science challenges. Dr. Ericsson also served as the NASA GSFC program manager for SBIR/STTR within the Innovative Technology and Partnerships Office. Her additional roles at NASA include: GSFC Deputy to the Chief Technologist for the Engineering and Technology Directorate; HQs Program Executive for Earth Science; HQs Business Executive for Space Science, and GSFC Instrument Project Manager for missions that include the James Webb Space Telescope and ICESat-2. Her engineering roles include design, analysis, and build of attitude control systems, instruments, and robotics.
Dr. Ericsson is a champion for STEM education and the future workforce. Throughout her career she has sat on many academic boards for the National Academies, universities, and K-12 institutions, has been mentor to many NASA interns and students, a college professor, and lead advisor for a National Society Black Engineers Jr. Chapter.
Dr. Ericsson received her Bachelor of Science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received a masters and doctorate in mechanical engineering, aerospace option from Howard University. Dr. Ericsson has obtained leadership and management certificates from Radcliffe University and John Hopkins University.
Dr. Ericsson is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Western Society of Engineers, 2016 Washington Award; The Engineering Honor Society, 2018 Tau Beta PI Distinguished Alumnus award; and, the top American Society of Mechanical Engineering award, the 2022 Ralph Coates Roe Medal. Dr. Ericsson is the first African American/American female to receive a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering -aerospace option- from Howard University, subsequently, she is the first African American female to receive a Ph.D. in engineering at NASA GSFC.