CCDC Aviation, Missile Center women honored for making mark on manufacturing

Photo By Amy Tolson | Kathy Olson, additive manufacturing lead for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center’s Systems Readiness Directorate’s manufacturing science and technology division, is honored in the January/February issue of Smart Manufacturing magazine as one of 20 exceptional women in aerospace and defense manufacturing.  

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, UNITED STATES

03.02.2020

Story by Amy Tolson 

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center

They do it for the Warfighter, not for the recognition – but their work has not gone unnoticed.

The January/February issue of Smart Manufacturing magazine recognizes U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center employees Dr. Amy Lawrence and Kathy Olson as two of 20 exceptional women in aerospace and defense manufacturing. The women were chosen for the honor based on the mark they are making in the industry.

“While much room exists for improvement when it comes to diversity in manufacturing, the field is rife with opportunities for those with the qualifications and desire,” said Sandra Bouckley, CEO and executive director of SME, the manufacturing professional organization that publishes the magazine. “These women are superbly proficient in the basics of aerospace manufacturing – composites, polymers, machining – and their management, and they’re anxious to share their insight with others who desire a chance to make their mark in this swiftly expanding industry.”

Lawrence and Olson both work in the CCDC AvMC Systems Readiness Directorate’s manufacturing science and technology division – Lawrence as chief, and Olson as the additive manufacturing lead.

“The goal of ManTech is to advance manufacturing capabilities to reduce lifecycle costs of Army systems,” Olson said. “This entails bridging the gap between science and technology and programs of record by ensuring manufacturability of new technologies and providing cost effective manufacturing solutions. Whether maturing new ways to manufacture existing products or ways to manufacture new products resulting from advances in technology, ManTech directly supports Army modernization priorities and readiness. Developers can design systems with the most advanced capabilities but, unless we can also manufacture them affordably and reliably, the risk to transition may be too great.”

The AvMC ManTech mission supports Army readiness and modernization, and will work to ensure the success of Future Vertical Lift and next generation missile systems, Lawrence told the magazine. AvMC develops aviation and missile systems solutions to ensure victory on the battlefield today.

“The advanced manufacturing work I do allows for the research and development efforts done in the labs to transition to the factory floors so that our helicopter and missile systems can be effectively and efficiently manufactured,” Lawrence said. “The disruptive manufacturing such as additive technologies allow for designs and performance that are not available using traditional manufacturing.”

Olson helped write the Army’s advanced manufacturing campaign plan and is currently on a developmental assignment to the assistant secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology).

“I have always worked hard to provide organizational value to the customer. In the end, the customer is the Warfighter, and that is the greatest motivator,” Olson said of her work as a civil servant.

Both women said they were honored to be among the 20 women chosen for the accolade and plan to connect with those on the list they have yet to meet.

“To be recognized alongside the other 19 women, some of whom I know personally, is an honor because they are amazing role models and are making an huge impact in their respective fields,” Olson said. “Of the 19 stellar ladies I do not already know, I hope to establish relationships with going forward.”


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The CCDC Aviation & Missile Center, formerly known as the Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), is part of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, which conducts responsive research, development and life cycle engineering to deliver the aviation and missile capabilities the Army depends on to ensure victory on the battlefield today and tomorrow. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.

• Date Taken: 03.02.2020
• Date Posted: 03.02.2020 11:45
• Story ID: 364281
• Location: REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, US