Meet Diana Trujillo: The Latina Engineer Who Blazed a Trail to Mars

Mars Science Lab Engineer Diana Trujillo (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

by Drew Bledsoe

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7210 KB
Print length	:	32 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Diana Trujillo is a Colombian-American aerospace engineer who has made history as the first Latina to lead a NASA mission to Mars. She is the Deputy Project Manager for the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which launched the Curiosity rover to Mars in 2011. Trujillo has also been a vocal advocate for STEM education and diversity, and she is the founder of the non-profit organization STEM for Girls.

Trujillo was born in Cali, Colombia, in 1970. She developed a passion for space exploration at a young age, and she went on to study aerospace engineering at the University of Florida. After graduating, she worked for several years at Lockheed Martin, where she helped to design and build satellites. In 2004, she joined NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she has worked on a variety of Mars missions.

Trujillo's work on the Mars Science Laboratory mission has been groundbreaking. She played a key role in the design and development of the Curiosity rover, and she was responsible for overseeing the rover's landing on Mars in 2012. Since then, she has led the team of engineers who have been operating Curiosity on Mars.

Trujillo's work has not only advanced our understanding of Mars, but it has also inspired a new generation of scientists and engineers. She is a role model for young people, especially for young women and minorities, who are interested in STEM careers. Trujillo is passionate about making STEM education accessible to all students, and she is working to create a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce.

In addition to her work at NASA, Trujillo is also the founder of the non-profit organization STEM for Girls. STEM for Girls provides STEM education programs to girls from underrepresented communities. Trujillo is committed to empowering girls and helping them to reach their full potential in STEM.

Diana Trujillo is a true trailblazer. She is a brilliant engineer, a passionate advocate for STEM education, and a role model for young people everywhere. She is an inspiration to us all, and she is proof that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

Awards and Honors

• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2014)
• Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation (HENAAC) Outstanding Technical Achievement Award (2013)
• NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2012)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) National Engineer of the Year Award (2011)
• Women in Aerospace Foundation Pinnacle Award (2010)

Bibliography

• Trujillo, Diana. "The Martian Chronicles: A Personal Journey." CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2019.
• Trujillo, Diana. "STEM for Girls: Empowering the Next Generation of Women Scientists and Engineers." Magination Press, 2021.

Mars Science Lab Engineer Diana Trujillo (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

by Drew Bledsoe

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7210 KB
Print length	:	32 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE