Boeing

Norma Clayton, vice president of Supplier Management for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems has been named one of the 50 Most Important Blacks in Technology in 2005 by the editors of US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine.

Honorees, who are chosen for the annual list for their work to bring the benefits of modern technology to people across the globe, will be recognized on Friday, Feb. 18, during the 19th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference in Baltimore.

Clayton directs the Boeing IDS Supplier Management & Procurement organization, comprised of 4,000 employees in 30 states and eight countries and is responsible for the annual purchase of $13 billion dollars in products and services vital to the programs, systems and operations of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The organization's goal is a continuous focus on supplier relationships, improved supplier performance and cost reductions leveraged to create competitive advantage for Boeing's customers. It also works with suppliers to share technologies that improve processes, product designs and manufacturing capabilities.

"Norma brings incredible talent and passion to her key role at Boeing," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "With Norma it's about so much more than being an outstanding engineer. She's a great leader for her team and takes a deep, personal interest in their development. She is also a role model for community involvement and commitment."

Prior to her current assignment, Clayton was vice president and general manager of Maintenance and Modification Centers for the Aerospace Support unit of Integrated Defense Systems. She had overall responsibility for the large aircraft modification center in San Antonio, Texas, and tactical aircraft modification centers at Williams-Gateway in Mesa, Ariz., and Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

Clayton joined McDonnell Douglas in 1995 as director of the Machining Center. She later became division director of Fabrication in St. Louis, with responsibility for the strategic manufacturing centers for tooling, composites and machining, as well as the sheet metal center. Before joining McDonnell Douglas, she held a number of increasingly responsible positions in manufacturing, procurement, project management and plant operations at Lockheed Martin, General Electric, RCA and General Motors.

Throughout her career, Clayton has participated in numerous community, church and civic activities. She is currently chairperson of the Boeing-McDonnell Foundation, a member of the Board of Trustees for United Way of St. Louis, a board member of the St. Louis Academy of Science, a member of the Board of Directors at Michigan State University, a member of the Board of Regents at Linn State Technical College, and a member of the Board of Overseers at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She is also a member of the American Society of Industrial Engineers.

Boeing employees Clark W. Johnson, Dr. Paul R. Jackson and Michael Blyden also will be presented awards during the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference. Johnson will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing people whose accomplishments demonstrate positive results for minorities in technology fields. Jackson and Blyden will each be awarded a Modern Day Technology Leader Award, given to young women and men who are shaping the future of engineering, science and technology.