SWE Space Coast Leadership 2022-2023
President | Christine Mills (she/her)
Christine Mills has an M.S. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and Florida Tech respectively. She is currently a Materials Engineer at NASA supporting the commercial crew program. She resides in Rockledge with her husband Jason and their dog Duet. She and Jason are both originally from the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados. Christine has been an active member of this SWE Space Coast Professional section since relocating to Florida in 2015 and has held numerous positions: Vice President, Awards Nomination Chair, Awards Banquet Chair, Director of Professional Development, Membership Chair and FIT-SWE Student Counselor. In addition, she is a regular volunteer for both Introducing Girls to Engineering Workshop (IGEW) and WOW! That’s Engineering! which are the chapter’s two flagship outreach programs. Christine is committed to the chapter’s continued growth and success and is looking forward to broadening the section’s impact within its operating sphere of Brevard, Volusia and Indian River counties.
Christine Mills has an M.S. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and Florida Tech respectively. She is currently a Materials Engineer at NASA supporting the commercial crew program. She resides in Rockledge with her husband Jason and their dog Duet. She and Jason are both originally from the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados. Christine has been an active member of this SWE Space Coast Professional section since relocating to Florida in 2015 and has held numerous positions: Vice President, Awards Nomination Chair, Awards Banquet Chair, Director of Professional Development, Membership Chair and FIT-SWE Student Counselor. In addition, she is a regular volunteer for both Introducing Girls to Engineering Workshop (IGEW) and WOW! That’s Engineering! which are the chapter’s two flagship outreach programs. Christine is committed to the chapter’s continued growth and success and is looking forward to broadening the section’s impact within its operating sphere of Brevard, Volusia and Indian River counties.
Vice President | Kristina Gonzalez (she/her)
Kristina is the Senior Launch Support Project Manager in NASA's Mission and Commercial Support Office at the Kennedy Space Center. She oversees the servicing, assembly, and testing activities for mission critical payloads and Orbital Replacement Units bound for the International Space Station. Kristina has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, minor in Aerospace Engineering from Lehigh University and a MS in Space Systems Management from Florida Institute of Technology. Kristina joined SWE Space Coast in 2015 after relocating to Florida from New Jersey, and has been active both locally and nationally. She has organized and volunteered for the annual Wow! and IGEW events, attended various SWE conferences, promoted legislation for women in STEM at SWE Congressional Day and most recently served as Director of Outreach for the section from 2019-2021. In this role she organized the first virtual WOW! and IGEW workshops for 3rd thru 10th grade students during the height of the pandemic to continue outreach efforts for the community. Kristina currently resides in Merritt Island, FL with her husband Taylor and daughter Aurelia. She is excited to continue serving the section and community as Vice President.
Kristina is the Senior Launch Support Project Manager in NASA's Mission and Commercial Support Office at the Kennedy Space Center. She oversees the servicing, assembly, and testing activities for mission critical payloads and Orbital Replacement Units bound for the International Space Station. Kristina has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, minor in Aerospace Engineering from Lehigh University and a MS in Space Systems Management from Florida Institute of Technology. Kristina joined SWE Space Coast in 2015 after relocating to Florida from New Jersey, and has been active both locally and nationally. She has organized and volunteered for the annual Wow! and IGEW events, attended various SWE conferences, promoted legislation for women in STEM at SWE Congressional Day and most recently served as Director of Outreach for the section from 2019-2021. In this role she organized the first virtual WOW! and IGEW workshops for 3rd thru 10th grade students during the height of the pandemic to continue outreach efforts for the community. Kristina currently resides in Merritt Island, FL with her husband Taylor and daughter Aurelia. She is excited to continue serving the section and community as Vice President.
Secretary | Sunita Ramnarinesingh (she/her)
Sunita Ramnarinesingh is currently a Project Manager for ARES Corporation, a NASA Contractor, for Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) at Launchpad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. She graduated from Florida Tech with both M.S. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering and is also a UCF certified Full Stack Web Developer. Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, Sunita now lives in Titusville, FL with her husband and mini-Sheepadoodle. Her hobbies include web development, gardening, and Agility Dog training. Sunita is currently the Secretary and Director of Communications for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Space Coast Section. She has been an active SWE member since college and has taken on various leadership roles. She enjoys being involved in SWE as it provides networking opportunities with other professionals and has a positive impact on local youths through volunteer outreach programs.
Sunita Ramnarinesingh is currently a Project Manager for ARES Corporation, a NASA Contractor, for Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) at Launchpad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. She graduated from Florida Tech with both M.S. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering and is also a UCF certified Full Stack Web Developer. Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, Sunita now lives in Titusville, FL with her husband and mini-Sheepadoodle. Her hobbies include web development, gardening, and Agility Dog training. Sunita is currently the Secretary and Director of Communications for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Space Coast Section. She has been an active SWE member since college and has taken on various leadership roles. She enjoys being involved in SWE as it provides networking opportunities with other professionals and has a positive impact on local youths through volunteer outreach programs.
Treasurer | Heather Wiest Bedard (she/her)
Heather is a Mechanical Engineer for Blue Origin, where she designs launch pad fluids systems. She moved to the Space Coast in 2017 after completing her PhD in Aerospace Engineering at Purdue University. Heather has been an active member of SWE since 2007. At the Societal level, she has served as SWE Senator, Chair of the Leadership Coaching Committee, member of the Governance Task Force, and scholarship volunteer to the SWE Board of Trustees. At the section level, Heather is the SWE Space Coast Treasurer and Scholarship Chair, and she was a collegiate section treasurer in her undergraduate studies at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Heather is a Mechanical Engineer for Blue Origin, where she designs launch pad fluids systems. She moved to the Space Coast in 2017 after completing her PhD in Aerospace Engineering at Purdue University. Heather has been an active member of SWE since 2007. At the Societal level, she has served as SWE Senator, Chair of the Leadership Coaching Committee, member of the Governance Task Force, and scholarship volunteer to the SWE Board of Trustees. At the section level, Heather is the SWE Space Coast Treasurer and Scholarship Chair, and she was a collegiate section treasurer in her undergraduate studies at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Director of Professional Development | Laura Poliah (she/her)
Laura Poliah has been a test engineer for Orion Production Operations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for five years, where she manages spacecraft systems testing on the Orion spacecraft. Laura graduated with a Bachelor degree in aerospace engineering and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Central Florida where she assisted in teaching fluid mechanics and participated in Sigma Gamma Tau to organize a Future of Space summit. Laura has a strong passion for growing her and others professional and leadership skills within engineering; she’s participated in Launching leaders Program at NASA as well as numerous other development training activities. Laura additionally has been acting as the Member chair for the Society of Women Engineers, as well as is a member of the AIAA and ASME organizations.
Laura Poliah has been a test engineer for Orion Production Operations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for five years, where she manages spacecraft systems testing on the Orion spacecraft. Laura graduated with a Bachelor degree in aerospace engineering and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Central Florida where she assisted in teaching fluid mechanics and participated in Sigma Gamma Tau to organize a Future of Space summit. Laura has a strong passion for growing her and others professional and leadership skills within engineering; she’s participated in Launching leaders Program at NASA as well as numerous other development training activities. Laura additionally has been acting as the Member chair for the Society of Women Engineers, as well as is a member of the AIAA and ASME organizations.
Director of Outreach | Katie Scoboria (she/her)
Katie Rose Scoboria graduated from Villanova in 2018 with her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, concentration in Thermal Fluid System Design, and minor in Creative Writing. She is earning her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering part-time while working as a Thermal Analyst in Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris Technologies in Palm Bay, Florida. She currently serves as the Community Engagement Co-lead for the Women’s Employee Resource Group (WE3) at L3Harris, in addition to Director of Outreach for Space Coast Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Katie Rose has held many positions in SWE at both the collegiate and societal levels, and was awarded the Outstanding Collegiate Member Award in 2018 along with two additional awards for Villanova SWE. As a lifetime member and avid supporter of Girl Scouts, she co-leads a Daisy Girl Scout troop and volunteers with the local service unit leadership team. In her free time, she enjoys watching Villanova basketball, biking, kayaking, and gardening. Katie Rose lives with her spouse (George) and fur baby (Velveeta) in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Katie Rose Scoboria graduated from Villanova in 2018 with her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, concentration in Thermal Fluid System Design, and minor in Creative Writing. She is earning her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering part-time while working as a Thermal Analyst in Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris Technologies in Palm Bay, Florida. She currently serves as the Community Engagement Co-lead for the Women’s Employee Resource Group (WE3) at L3Harris, in addition to Director of Outreach for Space Coast Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Katie Rose has held many positions in SWE at both the collegiate and societal levels, and was awarded the Outstanding Collegiate Member Award in 2018 along with two additional awards for Villanova SWE. As a lifetime member and avid supporter of Girl Scouts, she co-leads a Daisy Girl Scout troop and volunteers with the local service unit leadership team. In her free time, she enjoys watching Villanova basketball, biking, kayaking, and gardening. Katie Rose lives with her spouse (George) and fur baby (Velveeta) in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Director of Communications (Website Admin) | Sunita Ramnarinesingh
SWE Space Coast Chairs
2022-2023
WOW!
IGEW
Scholarship Chair - Open
Science Fair - Open
Engineering Awards Banquet Chair - Open
Engineering Awards Selection Chair - Open
Membership Chair - Open
Florida Tech Student Counselor
Bylaws Coordinator
IGEW
Scholarship Chair - Open
Science Fair - Open
Engineering Awards Banquet Chair - Open
Engineering Awards Selection Chair - Open
Membership Chair - Open
Florida Tech Student Counselor
Bylaws Coordinator
Volunteer Opportunities Available!
Email hello@swespacecoast.org for more details.
If you are interested in getting into SWE leadership, we are always looking for volunteers! Become a member of one of our committees as a starting point. We have a group of awesome leaders – let us know where your passions lie and we’ll make sure we get you to the right group.
Ways Volunteering Can Make You a Better Leader
Ways Volunteering Can Make You a Better Leader
- Accelerates problem-solving abilities
- Broadens your horizons by boosting your diversity and cultural fluency
- Develops your leadership capabilities
- Teaches you new skills
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About Us
Founded in 1989, the Space Coast Section serves engineers in Brevard, Indian River, and Volusia Counties.
We empower women+ to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders; expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Founded in 1989, the Space Coast Section serves engineers in Brevard, Indian River, and Volusia Counties.
We empower women+ to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders; expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.