Mary Lockhart, a nationally recognized and established leader in both aerospace and atmospheric science communities, is the founder of PEMDAS Technologies & Innovations, a woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned small business. PEMDAS is an established expert in the integration of environmental intelligence (EI) into C4I systems, sensor design and test, and high-value engineering for the Department of Defense (DoD). Under Mary’s stewardship, PEMDAS has successfully developed high technology hardware and software EI products and services for enhancing warfighter mission success and survivability in the combat arena.
Through her extensive career in the public and private sector, Mary has held vital research and leadership positions across multiple federal agencies to include the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Air and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These positions spanned a variety of responsibilities and expertise such as: research engineer for NASA/Armstrong Flight Research Facility, Program Manager for the DoD’s first EI mission planning software for advanced electro-optical weapons (for which she received the coveted Meriwether Award for technical excellence and contributions to combat operations), multiple staff and operational positions within the Air Force Weather Directorate (to include direct support to Operation Iraqi Freedom), and the Acting Director of Air Force Weather, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C. Her final assignment before retiring from a 30-year career as a colonel in the USAF Reserves was as legislative liaison, US House of Representatives. In this capacity she served the senior leadership of the US Air Force, including the Chief of Staff, as an advisor and liaison on governmental matters of importance to Air Force training, staffing and funding.
Mary possesses a B.S. in Meteorology from Penn State University, a B.A. in Mathematics from the College of the Holy Cross and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University. Her contributions to her academic and professional peers are expansive. Mary has served as the President for Women-in-Defense (WID) Washington DC Chapter and is currently the Small Business Chair for the National Defense Industrial Association. (NDIA). She also serves on the Engineering Advisory Council for Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas, Austin and the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS) Advisory Board for the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. She is consistently sought for her expertise in encouraging young girls and women to succeed in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields through her participation in panel discussions and mentorship programs. Mary actively supports the wounded warrior veteran programs, donating her personal and company time and resources to achieving long-term positive impacts.
