Naomi McAfee

McAfee joined the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Baltimore, in 1955^[4] where she introduced reliability engineering to the company, ensuring it became embedded in their design processes.^[3] She was the third woman to be hired by Westinghouse, however the other two women left shortly after joining and it was another five years before other women were employed.^[1]

Over her 38-year^[3] career at Westinghouse, McAfee led a number of different initiatives. She was promoted to the level of supervisor, the first woman to hold this title at Westinghouse Defense and Electronic Systems Center in Baltimore.^[2] In this role she led the group that developed the camera system used on Skylab^[2] and Apollo 11.^[5] She also worked on the measurement of micrometeorite bombardment which informed the hull design of the Apollo spacecraft.^[5]

McAfee also played a role in bringing principles of reliability engineering to the US Army through her role on the Army Science Board.^[3]

In 1982, she was appointed to the President's Commission on the National Medal of Science.^[3][4]

As well as being a Fellow of the society, McAfee was the thirteenth president of the Society of Women Engineers from 1972 to 1974 after Olive Salembier. She was succeeded by Carolyn Phillips.^[2] During McAfee's presidency the Equal Rights Amendment was being debated in Congress. In the interest of gender equality SWE passed a motion to enable allowed male members to join the society.^[2] During this time she led research into women in engineering careers, publishing the results^[6] and later reflections.^[7]

McAfee's other honors include:

• SWE Fellow^[2]
• President of Reliability Society 1983–84^[8]
• US Army Commendation for Patriotic Civilian Service^[3]
• Edwards Medal by the American Society for Quality Control^[8]
• Reliability Society Engineer of the Year in 1995.^[8]
• Naomi Jones McAfee SKyTeach Scholarship Fund