Dr. Katie Thorp recently won the Society of Women Engineers Prism award for her outstanding professional achievements, dedicated leadership and influential community service. Just one day after the announcement, she lost her long battle with cancer. Thorp worked for the Air Force for 26 years. Most recently, she served as a research lead within AFRL’s Materials & Manufacturing Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Throughout her career, she led fellow scientists in discovering groundbreaking solutions, developing innovative technologies and delivering new aerospace materials. Thorp’s passion for science and engineering guided her path in life. She was an accomplished researcher, a leader in numerous professional societies and an advocate for STEM outreach programs. Her life epitomizes the revolutionary spirit of AFRL. She will be greatly missed by her extended AFRL family, though her legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
