There are certain industries where we have a good mix of men and women, equality of races, and so on. Unfortunately the Space Industry is not one of those industries. While it’s changing for the better, and I hope that we see a real equality in my lifetime, but its not there now.
I bring this up, because a friend of mine has passed away. A friend who always stood out a a conference.
I’d like to introduce you to Patricia Grace Smith (or as I knew her, Patti). In an industry of old white guys, in many respects, she stood out.
But the thing was, while she was a trailblazer for women and minority in the Aerospace industry, she was also a trailblazer for the industry. She became the head of the office of Commercial Space Transportation (also known as AST) — she helped to create the systems by which events like SpaceShipOne’s X Prize flights would happen. Actually, let me just jump to Jeff Foust’s article over at SpaceNews
Smith spent 28 years in government service, the last 11 of which she served as the associate administrator for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation before retiring in early 2008. Smith took the job shortly after the office, which previously was an independent organization within the Department of Transportation, was subsumed within the FAA. …..
…...Smith ran the office, also known by the acronym AST, during a time of transition for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry, marked by the rise of entrepreneurial ventures in both orbital and suborbital spaceflight that are today widely known as “NewSpace.” Those ventures placed regulatory demands on the FAA as they sought to perform activities…….
…..Smith remained active in the industry after retiring from the FAA, working as a consultant for several companies, including Virgin Galactic. She also served chair of the commercial space committee of NASA Advisory Council for several years. At the time of her death, she was the vice-chair of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of the National Academies.
I strongly recommend reading all of Jeff’s article.
Whether she was testifying before the Congress, speaking at various space conferences (or even Netroots Nation like she did in 2008), or just meeting for drinks, she always treated everyone with respect and dignity. Even those of us who were lowly activists once upon a time :D
To put it bluntly — she was an incredible woman. A trailblazer for minorities and women in Aerospace, and a trailblazer who helped to shape the industry into the success it’s becoming.
I really want to write more, but I don’t know what to say — We will miss you Patti