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MARYAM GRACIAS

  • Brooke Owens Fellow, Class of 2017

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Spaceflight Operations, '18

  • Host Institution: Air Line Pilots Association

  • Mentor: Paul Shawcross

Maryam Gracias is a Systems Engineer for the F-35 Fleet at BAE located in the Lockheed Martin base at Fort Worth, TX. She is currently working on her Master of Science in Systems Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is also an active member of Women in Aviation International. Additionally, she holds a private pilot's license.

Ever since she was a little kid, she was always fascinated with airplanes and wanted a career in aviation. When her family first came to America from the Middle East, they encouraged her to dream big. No one in her family is involved in aviation so she challenged herself and chose this path. Her education and career aspirations are a far cry from “the norm” for women in the Middle East, where educating women is frowned upon, and a career in these industries would likely be impossible.

As a Brooke Owens Fellow, Maryam interned at the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), helping advocate ALPA policy at various industry/ government regulatory meetings. She also provided support to ALPA MEC'S during aircraft accident and incident investigations. Additionally, she helped review U.S. and Canada aviation regulations and ICAO international standards concerning flight operations policy and international standards.

Maryam graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Spaceflight Operations and completed minors in Flight, Human Factors and Aviation Safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. As a student, she was active in the Women's Ambassador Program, the Orientation Team, Women in Aviation, International Society of Air Safety Investigators, Student Bloggers, Spaceflight Sciences Policy and Operations Club, the Student Ambassador Program, and the ERUA Volunteer Network, in addition to serving as President of the ERAU chapter of the National Society for Collegiate Scholars. She has also interned at Aegean Airlines, Delta Airlines. the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as well as ALPA.