Johns Hopkins APL’s DeLaHunt Honored With Awards Recognizing Women in Engineering

Sylvie DeLaHunt, an aerospace engineer at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has been named the recipient of two prestigious awards — the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Emerging Advocate Award and the Women in Aerospace (WIA) Initiative, Inspiration, Impact Award.

Both awards recognize an early-career individual who has demonstrated technical excellence in engineering while also being a role model and dedicated advocate for women in engineering.

“From a young age, my parents empowered me to stand up for myself while also emphasizing the importance of using my voice to speak up for others. That, combined with my experiences as a woman in engineering, inspired my advocacy efforts,” said DeLaHunt. “It’s an honor to have SWE and WIA recognize the impact of both my professional achievements and volunteer advocacy efforts.”

DeLaHunt joined APL in June 2016 after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. Even before she began her career, she was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and was named one of “Tomorrow’s Engineering Leaders: The 20 Twenties” by Aviation Week.

Since coming to APL, DeLaHunt has made significant contributions to concept development, guidance algorithms, modeling and simulation, and trajectory optimization for defensive systems. She has held several technical and technical leadership roles for missile interceptor programs in support of the U.S. Navy, working on systems development and performance analyses while interfacing directly with government sponsors. After working across the Laboratory’s Theater Defense, Precision Strike and Sea Control mission areas, she recently took on a new supervisory role helping to lead APL’s Discovery Program, a two-year rotational program offering exceptional STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) graduates the opportunity to experience APL’s wide array of technical challenges.

In addition to her extensive technical accomplishments, DeLaHunt has spent significant time championing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts aimed at enhancing recruitment, retention and advancement of top talent at APL. She helped create and launch the Laboratory’s DEI Ambassadors program, developed a “Champions of DEI” internal website highlighting APL staff members who are making a difference, and has engaged with Laboratory leaders on APL’s formal DEI strategy.

DeLaHunt has been involved with SWE for years and, in recognition of her volunteer work, received SWE’s 2022 WE Local Engaged Advocate Award. A senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), she is active in its Missile Systems Technical Committee, representing some of the most knowledgeable missile systems engineers in the United States. She also served on the AIAA Diversity Working Group for nearly five years and continues to support the organization’s Diversity Scholars program, which sends students from underrepresented communities to conferences. She is also an active public speaker who advocates in various forums, including SWE and AIAA conferences as well as university faculty and student groups, for inclusion, belonging and empowerment for all engineers.

DeLaHunt is involved in the APL Women in Technology affinity group, serving in the past as its president and DEI chair. Through APL’s STEM Program Management Office, she volunteers for K-12 STEM outreach programs to expand positive impressions of engineering professions and inspire future engineers. Additionally, she commits time to mentoring college students — particularly women — who are interested in pursuing engineering fields.

“Sylvie has shown a desire to foster professional and leadership development opportunities for her peers, honing her own leadership skills and knowledge in the process,” said Kerri Phillips, chief scientist of APL’s Air and Missile Defense Sector, who nominated DeLaHunt for both awards. “She continually demonstrates her commitment to technical excellence, professional growth and advancing women in engineering and aerospace.”

DeLaHunt will receive her SWE award at WE24, the world’s largest conference for women in engineering and technology, in late October. She will also accept her WIA award in October at a ceremony in Arlington, Virginia, where APL’s Marissa Galfond will also be honored with WIA’s 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award.

In case two awards are not enough, DeLaHunt is also being recognized by the University of Maryland this fall at “A Celebration of Terps: Featuring The Maryland Awards.” She is the recipient of the 2024 Elaine Johnson Coates Award, honoring an alum who has made a significant and sustained contribution that fosters diversity and inclusion. She was nominated for this award by the university’s Department of Aerospace Engineering in part because of her continued service to the department as an alumna member on its DEI committee.

“As a woman, an engineering leader and an advocate for DEI in engineering, it’s an honor to receive these awards,” said DeLaHunt. “I’m committed not only to continual learning across my roles, but also to helping create a world where both my peers and future engineers can aspire to and achieve similar goals.”