CRANE, Ind. –
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) employee Carla Jackson received the Kelly Johnson Award for her work in Flight Test Engineering. The Kelly Johnson Award is presented every year by the International Society of Flight Test Engineers, is awarded to an individual with outstanding achievement in flight test engineering, and is the highest individual award in Flight Test Engineering. The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum own the original trophy.
Jackson oversees diverse testing that supports the development of hypersonics for the U.S. Navy. Jackson also teaches a class in Requirements Testability for Crane Division University (CDU). CDU was created to offer on-site courses to NSWC Crane employees to help further their professional development.
As someone from the area, Jackson has always known of NSWC Crane. About three years ago, NSWC Crane reached out to discuss possible career opportunities that would utilize her flight test engineering background.
“I wanted to take this opportunity and build a stronger test team for the Navy,” said Jackson. “I am originally from Bloomington. I have lived all over the country and always joked that if I could do flight testing and live in Bloomington I would.”
For the majority of her career Jackson was the only female flight test engineer, which makes receiving this award special.
“I was the first or only female flight test engineer everywhere I worked until I moved to Naval Air Station Patuxent River,” said Jackson. “The Navy has given me so many opportunities to excel at my craft and to pass on to the next generation. Every day I am thankful for that support. While this award is perhaps the most important recognition I have received, what made it important is the recognition of my peers and that it represents the fact that I have succeeded in breaking those barriers.”
As Jackson moves forward in her career, she wants to make sure she can pass along what she has learned throughout the years, particularly for women interested in flight test engineering.
“I know that as my career is nearing an end, I need to share my knowledge and experiences with the next generation and make sure they have a good foundation to become flight testers,” said Jackson. “I want to pass on the importance of maintaining technical integrity. I also know that despite our gains, flight test is still a career field in which women are significantly under-represented so I continue to break barriers and provide a role model to the women who come after me.”
Jackson has served as a Navy flight tester for 15 years, primarily at Naval Air Station Patuxent River under the Naval Air Systems Command. In 2019, she was the second female Fellow selected to join the Society of Flight Test Engineers.
About NSWC Crane | NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electromagnetic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.
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