Figueroa-Valentin’s Natural Curiosity, Math Skills Led to Engineering Career
Courtesy Photo |
Maria Figueroa-Valentin, an environmental engineer with Naval Surface Warfare Center,......read moreread more
Courtesy Photo | Maria Figueroa-Valentin, an environmental engineer with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division’s White Sands Detachment, makes sure the barrel of a handmade pneumatic hail launcher is level as she prepares for a “hail test” in June 2018 while working as an environmental engineer with the U.S. Army’s Test and Evaluation Command at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This particular endeavor was to test various materials that could be exposed to hail as big as 2 inches in diameter. see less
| View Image Page
Figueroa-Valentin’s Natural Curiosity, Math Skills Led to Engineering Career
Her natural curiosity and a mother who encouraged her to pursue a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related college degree led Puerto Rico native Maria Figueroa-Valentin to a successful career in engineering, the last two-plus years of which have been at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division’s White Sands Detachment (WSD) at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) inNew Mexico.
“I was always a curious little girl, and I’m good in math,” said Figueroa-Valentin, who was born in Aguada and started her study toward a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez.
“The university is recognized for its engineering programs; I picked the one that had more diversity in terms of classes and career fields,” she explained.
She joined the U.S. Army Reserve and later transferred to the University of Central Florida; however, she was deployed to Afghanistan before she could complete her degree. She served as a vehicle mechanic.
Figueroa-Valentin returned to the states, where she was stationed at U.S. Army base Fort Bliss, which spansfrom El Paso,Texas, intoNew Mexico, just south of WSMR.
“I finished my bachelor’s degree at New Mexico State University,” Figueroa-Valentin said, continuing to earn a master’s in mechanical engineering there as well in 2018.
The year prior to completing her master’s degree, she began working with the Army Test and Evaluation (T&E) Command at WSMR. She caught the attention of WSD personnel while supporting the Army’s T&E efforts at WSD’s 300K test facility.
“I got the opportunity to join WSD in the summer of 2023,” Figueroa-Valentin said. “I joined as an environmental engineer under the mentorship of Troy Gammill and Dung Pham,” who retired last year.
She originally worked in the detachment’s engineering compliance branch, which has since been disbanded. She continues to work with Gammill, who was promoted to WSD systems engineering division manager.
“Maria has been an outstanding engineer and has contributed to almost every suborbital mission over the past couple of years,” Gammill said. “She has grown into a leadership role in environmental testing, actively scheduling, managing and de-conflicting multiple missions and multiple sites.
“She also continues to contribute to system safety and engineering compliance when needed, serving as a vital surge capability for the systems engineering division,” he said.
Gammill also praised Figueroa-Valentin for her communication skills both internally and while coordinating with the many outside agencies the detachment provides suborbital targets for, including the Missile Defense Agency, NASA, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the Department of War Strategic Capabilities Office.
“Maria also has provided mentorship to other personnel to continue the ability to provide environmental testing capabilities,” Gammill added.
Figueroa-Valentin is in charge of organizing and analyzing data from environmental tests performed on primarily suborbital vehicles before launch. This includes tests such as flight vibration, mass properties and joint compliance.
She also works with different test ranges for flight approval with respect to safety requirements.
Figueroa-Valentin said one of the things she likes the most about working at WSD is that “it is a small community where everyone helps each other.”
As for being an engineer, “I like the ability to solve complex, real-world problems and being part of research groups to create innovative solutions,” she said.
Subscribe
