Society of Women Engineers Honors Frances A. Ferris with 2006 Fellow Membership.

Frances Ferris recognized for her continuing service to SWE and its members and her contributions to the field of engineering

CHICAGO -- The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) today announced Frances Ferris a 2006 fellow member of the Society. Ferris is being recognized for technical achievements in aerospace engineering, for dedicated service, and for tireless efforts within her company and the community to promote the goals of the Society of Women Engineers.

Frances A. Ferris is Shuttle Orbiter vehicle operations deputy associate program director for The Boeing Company. In this position, Ferris leads a team to provide sustaining engineering support to vehicle turnaround and flight activities and is the management interface for the orbiter work at Huntington Beach.

"Frances Ferris has been a wonderful advocate for women in engineering," says Jude Garzolini, president of the Society of Women Engineers. "Through her involvement with the Society and other engineering organizationsCoin addition to her career path, Frances has shown true leadership in all that she has cone and continues to do."

Prior to her current position, Ferris worked as Orbiter Vehicle Engineering (OVE) chief team engineer, Orbiter operations cost account manager, non-avionics; and purge, vent & drain/thermal control system supervisor. Ferris is also co-owner of Ferris Jones & Co., a consulting civil engineering firm specializing in site planning for commercial, municipal and residential construction projects.

In addition to her professional development, Ferris is a senior life member of SWE, in which she has held numerous positions at both the section and regional levels. Ferris joined the SWE-Los Angeles Section in 1980 and served in various roles within the section, such as section vice president, section treasurer and section representative. Ferris also became very involved within the Sonora Region chairing both the Bylaws and Nominating committees as well as serving as regional council representative.

"Frances has certainly established a legacy within the Los Angeles section that we have admired; our membership and young girls and womenCoprospective engineers of our futureCohave benefited," says Erin McGinnis, president of the SWE-Los Angeles section. "Her dedication and conviction have carried through to her work environment resulting not only in personal technical advancement, but a role model for the Society of which we are so proud."

Frances has been the recipient of many awards, including: NASA's Silver Snoopy in 1998, NASA Cost Reduction Eagle Award, YWCA Leadership Certificate of Achievement, and the Outstanding Young Women of America Awards in 1983.

Ferris received her B.S. degree in engineering from Harvey Mudd College, and has completed several graduate technical courses.

Fellow grade of membership in SWE recognizes continuous service to the advancement of women in the engineering profession. A SWE member who has been a senior member for at least eight years, or a member for at least 20 years, may be chosen a fellow of the Society.

The 2006 Fellows will be formally recognized Saturday night, October 14 at the Society of Women Engineers' National Conference Celebrate SWE! Banquet in Kansas City, Mo. The National Conference, "Women Blazing Technology Trails," is being held at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. October 12-14. The more than 4,000 attendees include professionals from every discipline of the engineering profession and a large number of engineering students and educators. The 2007 Conference is scheduled for October 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn.

About SWE

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders. For more information about the Society please visit www.swe.org or call [phone].