Kathy Philpot: 30 years of leadership.

AuthorFondario, Mike
PositionAround Utah - Interview

Kathy Philpot is the director of propulsion systems process engineering at ATK and recent recipient of the Technology Innovator award presented by the Women Tech Council. During a decorated career spanning 30 years, Philpot was a member of the team earning TIME magazine's Top Invention of the Year in 2009. She also serves on Utah State University's Brigham City campus advisory board.

At what age did you realize you wanted to become an engineer?

Probably in my 20s. As a child I had no aspirations to become an engineer. Growing up in Magna, I didn't even know what an engineer did. I had an interest in science and math; it wasn't until I got into college and was exposed to what was available to me.

What has it been like working as a female in a male-dominated industry?

When you're in college taking chemistry, calculus and physic classes, women are still the minority. I knew and expected that to be the environment. I didn't over analyze it--I just focused on my classes. On the other hand, we all find ourselves in situations like that. There is always a feeling of trying to gauge your independence with trying to fit in. It's not a unique thing that any of us face in the long run in life.

Has there been any aspect of gender disparity in the engineering field that has changed over the years?

The U.S. government does a really nice job focusing on diversity. I'm 30 years into this career; until I worked on the NASA program I was always a minority. With the customers at NASA, it was the first time I was working with a majority, or a more equal distribution of women leaders.

How can parents encourage their daughters to seriously consider a STEM field?

My father was a...

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