March is Women’s History Month. The theme this year is “Valiant Women of the Vote,” honoring “the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.” This week, the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation spotlight shines on Dr. Nusnin Akter, who is a chemical engineer in the Engineering Directorate.
Name: Dr. Nusnin Akter
Title: chemical engineer, Hazardous Information Program Division, Engineering Directorate, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation
Years of Service: 11 months
What does this this year’s theme mean to you? As a woman, “Valiant Women of the Vote” means a lot to me in that we have enough strength to fight for the proper rights and stand as equals to men.
What is your most important accomplishment that you would like to share? I graduated from Stony Brook University in New York, have extensive research experience at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, which is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility in New York, and was affiliated and conducted research at Harvard University, Massachusetts, in the Integrated Mesoscale Architectures for Sustainable Catalysis Center. I strongly believe that if the opportunity is given regardless of your gender, you can reach the stars. This belief contradicts what many people from my cultural background believe. As a young woman engineer, I also believe that if we don’t involve the huge segments of society, especially women in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] diversity, we lose out on potential progress.
Tell us a little-known fact that most people don’t know about you. I could not be prouder of the fact that I am a first-generation college student, daughter of a Bangladeshi immigrant and now at the age of 30, have a doctoral degree in material science and chemical engineering. I am proud to be a DLA employee supporting the warfighters who are assuring our freedom and peace of mind even while we are sleeping.
How important is it to you that Defense Logistics Agency Aviation recognize this month? I appreciate that DLA Aviation supports women’s contributions to society and is celebrating Women’s History Month.
What would you like employees to learn from celebrating Women’s History Month? I want other women and under-represented minorities to get involved in the STEM field, and for them to realize that they are not alone and can be successful. All the success in my life could not have been accomplished without the support of my family and friends. I am thankful for this federal employment opportunity and looking forward to serving this country as an under-represented engineer – not the first, but definitely not the last.