Boeing

The Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation (HENAAC) is honoring Mona Simpson, director of Supplier Management and Procurement for Boeing [NYSE:BA] Phantom Works in Huntington Beach, Calif., as one of the nation's best and brightest engineers.

Ms. Simpson will receive a Professional Achievement award at the 15th Anniversary HENAAC Awards Show on Friday, Oct. 17, in Austin, Texas.

Established in 1989, HENAAC's mission is to identify and honor the contributions of outstanding Hispanic American science, engineering and technology professionals. Selected by an independent committee of representatives from industry, government and academia, Simpson is one of 21 engineers and scientists from across the nation being honored by HENAAC this year.

"Mona is a role model for future generations of female engineers in the Hispanic community and at Boeing," said Bill Collopy, vice president, Southern California Site Operations, for Boeing. "Her leadership, contributions, and skills serve as an example that a diverse workforce is valued at Boeing."

As the director of Supplier Management for Phantom Works, Boeing's advanced research-and-development business unit, Simpson oversees the subcontract management, proposal support and receipt of hardware for the Orbital Express, X-37, Phantom Works Advanced Engineering, Advanced C-17 and Space Launch Initiative Programs. These suppliers provide prototype state-of-the-art technology and programs for the company.

"I've really enjoyed my career at Boeing," Simpson said. "I've worked on a diverse number of projects in commercial aircraft and military programs that are extremely complex and sophisticated. These projects have given me the opportunity to flourish in the technical field."

Simpson began her career at Boeing 17 years ago as a design engineer on the MD-11 program for McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, Calif. Nine years later, she was selected to work in the high-potential rotational program. This career development opportunity exposed her to various areas of engineering and launched the start to an impressive career in Supplier Management.

Simpson, was born in New Orleans, where her brothers piqued her interest in science at an early age. She remembers the excitement of watching her brothers build chemical rockets with their science kits. This experience, coupled with her love of math, led her to pursue a career in engineering.

In Simpson's teen years, her family moved to Mission Viejo, Calif. Over the next few years, she continued to pursue higher education.

"Choosing the field of mechanical engineering seemed natural to me," Simpson recalled. "Practicing what I learned, applying theory and watching it evolve into mechanical marvels really fascinates me."

Simpson earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in mechanical engineering from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master's of Science in systems management from the University of Southern California.

In the community, Simpson mentors Hispanic engineering students at California State University, Fullerton and Long Beach. She lives in Cypress, Calif., is married and the mother of three, Ryan, Rachel and Emily.