Mica R. Endsley 

Mica R. Endsley received a master’s degree in industrial engineering in 1985. After gaining experience at Texas Tech University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Endsley founded SA Technologies in 1997. Her work at SA Technologies focused on cognitive engineering for advanced aviation, medical and military operating systems. In 2013, Endsley made history by becoming the 34th chief scientist of the U.S. Air Force, marking the first time a human factors engineer and a woman held this position. Endsley received honors from Purdue, including an Outstanding Industrial Engineer Award in 2013 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumna Award in 2023.