Kelly Lary

Kelly Lary is an American aerospace engineer and inventor recognized for pioneering advancements in lightweight composite materials and autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. Her career, spanning over three decades, has significantly influenced both commercial aviation and defense sectors, with her work implemented in programs for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and NASA. Lary's contributions have been honored with awards such as the AIAA Structures, Design and Test Award and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Born in Seattle, her childhood fascination with model aircraft and the region's dominant aerospace manufacturing industry, led by The Boeing Company, shaped her early interests. She pursued her undergraduate studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington, graduating with honors. Lary then earned both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford University, where her doctoral research under Professor Arthur Bryson focused on aeroelasticity and novel material applications for airframe design.

Career

Lary began her professional career at McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, California, contributing to the MD-11 program before joining Boeing Commercial Airplanes following the merger. At Boeing, she led a team developing carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer components for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, achieving substantial weight reductions. In 2005, she moved to Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division, where her work on stealth technology and autonomous systems for platforms like the RQ-170 Sentinel proved instrumental. Later, as a principal investigator for NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation project, she advanced fuel efficiency technologies. Lary founded her own research and development firm, Aerovate Dynamics, in 2015, securing contracts with the United States Department of Defense and the European Space Agency.

Personal life

Lary resides in Pasadena, California, and is an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Society of Women Engineers. A dedicated philanthropist, she established the Lary Foundation, which provides scholarships for women pursuing STEM degrees at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology. An avid mountaineer, she has summited Denali and Aconcagua, and she serves on the board of directors for the Nature Conservancy's California chapter.

Legacy and impact

Kelly Lary's legacy is cemented through her foundational patents in composite manufacturing processes and flight control systems for unmanned combat aerial vehicles, which have become industry standards. Her advocacy for women in engineering has inspired initiatives at Purdue University and the University of Michigan. The Kelly Lary Prize in Aerospace Design, administered by the Royal Aeronautical Society, is awarded biennially for innovation in sustainable aviation. Her technical papers remain widely cited in journals such as the Journal of Aircraft and Progress in Aerospace Sciences.

Category:American aerospace engineers Category:American inventors Category:1965 births Category:Living people