Society of Women Engineers Honors Johns Hopkins APL for Leadership, Growth and Diversity

The APL Women in Technology (AWiT) affinity group at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, recently earned its fourth Gold Mission Recognition Award from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

The Mission Award honors teams that exemplify SWE’s core values of integrity, inclusivity, mutual support, professional excellence and trust, while showcasing a commitment to continuous growth and improvement.

AWiT — which has earned a Mission Award for five consecutive years — strives to empower women to achieve their full potential in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers, expand the image of STEM professionals as positive forces in improving quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized for our dedication and hard work year after year,” said Victoria Skura, a mechanical engineer at APL who co-leads AWiT’s Professional Society Committee. “This acknowledgment from SWE not only validates our mission but also highlights the importance of the work we do representing the women of APL while adhering to industry-leading standards.”

Skura and her committee co-lead, Alayna Peterson, led the recent implementation of a rolling committee co-lead structure. This model, which helped them secure the Gold Mission Award, ensures clearly defined roles and responsibilities, with senior co-leads mentoring newer members.

“This approach has created more leadership opportunities for early-career staff, giving them a platform to build essential skills and gain confidence,” said Peterson, a software engineer at APL. “Beyond leadership experience, it’s also become a great avenue for mentorship and networking. Serving as an AWiT committee leader allows you to engage with people with different expertise and experiences, broaden your understanding of the Lab’s diverse work and make lasting professional connections.”

In 2024, AWiT partnered with five other APL affinity groups — the Black Faculty and Staff Association, the Hispanic and Latinx Culture Club, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Culture Club, the APL Veterans’ Club and the Allies in the Workplace LGBTQ+ affinity group — for the “Intersectional Women in the Workplace Panel” series. These panels, attended by approximately 400 APL staff members, highlighted women’s experiences in the workplace, including sharing challenges, successes and lessons learned.

“We are especially proud of the Women in the Workplace Panel series,” said Peterson. “By co-hosting these panels with other APL affinity groups, we were able to promote understanding and appreciation of intersectional perspectives, reinforcing APL’s commitment to a supportive and inclusive community.”

AWiT will be recognized at SWE’s annual conference, WE24, the world’s largest conference for women engineers and technologists, Oct. 24-26. APL aerospace engineer Sylvie DeLaHunt will also be honored at the event with SWE’s Emerging Advocate Award.