Tamara Crawford, a 1996 honor graduate of New Albany, has recently been the recipient of several awards and honors. She was honored as the sole recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Young Alumni of the Year Award for the University of Mississippi on October 16. This is the highest honor that the Alumni Association awards annually to alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their profession, community, and the University.
Later in the month, Crawford was recognized nationally for the 2009 Women of Color Technology Rising Star Award. This award recognizes advancement in shaping technology for the future and demonstrating excellence in the workplace and community. The Women of Color organization recognizes women of color based on leadership, innovation and outstanding work in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Crawford also recently appeared in the “AE On The Move” feature section of Career Engineer magazine, a publication of the National Society of Black Engineers.
She graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. She received her Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from Southern Methodist University in 2006.
Crawford currently serves as the Senior Aeronautical Engineer with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, a premier aerospace defense company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The company is contracted to design and produce fighter aircraft.
She works in the area of Mass Properties for the F-22 Raptor Program as a mass properties engineer. “I utilize the fundamentals of systems engineering processes to accomplish production and modernization tasks on the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft,” Crawford said. “My primary focus regards the weight, balance and inertia of the aircraft and how changes affect the overall aircraft system.
The daughter of Archie and Jeannelle Crawford, she is a member of several professional organizations and is active in church and community service. Crawford volunteers for “Greet the Troops” at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. “Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is one of only two airports where troops arrive home from out of country,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for me to welcome men and women back to the United States.” She added that her father is a Vietnam veteran and two of her brothers served in the United States Navy.
Crawford gives credit to New Albany School District for her successes in college and in her profession. “Math and science classes were beneficial to me as they were an integral part of my future profession,” she said. “Participating as the original group of New Albany High School students to partner with the Stennis Space Center program was also beneficial.”
“Being involved in extracurricular activities helped me develop social and teambuilding skills in conjunction with expanding my horizons beyond New Albany,” Crawford said. She specifically mentioned being involved in the Speech and Debate Team led by Alicia Robinson and the school’s Mock Trial Team. “Being a part of both of these groups helped to sharpen my presentation and speaking skills; moreover, it helped sharpen my critical thinking skills,” she said.
“The New Albany School System is dedicated to continued improvement toward excellence so our youth will be prepared as our nation’s future leaders,” Crawford said. “I had a network of supportive teachers who encouraged me while I was a student and even while I was in college. Their support and well wishes toward me continue even today.”
Pictured below: Crawford is standing in front of the first carrier variant F-35C, aircraft CF-01, which was recently unveiled on July 23rd, 2009. The carrier variant is the last of the three of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to be designed and will become part of the Navy fleet.
The CF-01 is a test version of the F-35C Lightning II Navy aircraft. The
latest F-35C version is designed to accommodate Naval air forces and
features catapult take-off abilities as well as an arrested landing mechanism to accommodate the needs of Naval aviators landing on aircraft carriers. This aircraft has been rolled off the final-assembly line and transferred to flight-test.
Note: New Albany School District is proud of all its graduates. If you know of a graduate who has received an honor, please e-mail Melanie Shannon, Public Relations at mshannon@newalbany.k12.ms.us.
