Specialty: Systems Engineering
Major Contributions:
First female to serve as Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force
President and CEO of SA Technologies
Founder and former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making
In June of 2015, Dr. Mica Endsley returned to the position of President of SA Technologies, a job that she held from 1997 to 2013. What did she do for those two years she wasn’t running the company that she founded? She was serving as the Chief Science Officer for the United States Air Force, where her job was to provide scientific advice to its top leadership including the Chief of Staff and Secretary.
As the first human factor engineer and first woman in this role she worked with research and development engineers and scientists to ensure that the Air Force’s efforts remain relevant and effective. While in this position she also chaired the review of the Human Effectiveness Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Upon returning to SA Technologies, a cognitive engineering firm that specializes in the development of operator interfaces for advanced systems, including the next generation of systems for aviation, air traffic control, medical, power, oil & gas, and military operations, she has continued her research in the human factors of effective decision making. By focusing on a human-centered design strategy she has found methods for the successful integration of people with advanced technologies and automation in many fields.
Starting her work in the field of situation awareness over twenty years ago, she has authored over 200 technical papers and edited or co-authored three books on the subject. Endsley is internationally recognized as an expert on the development and evaluation of systems that support human situation awareness and decision making. As a former university level professor, she continues to develop training programs for enhancing situation awareness for both individuals and teams.
Heavily involved in the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, of which she is a fellow, she has served as the group’s president, on its executive council, and as a co-founder of its Cognitive Engineering and Decision-Making Technical Group. Recipient of the HFES Jack Kraft Innovator Award in 2003, Endsley is a Certified Professional Ergonomist and a Registered Professional Engineer.
Written by Angela Goad
Sources:
Distinguished Engineering Alumna Purdue University: Mica Endsley
See Also:
Mica R. Endsley-Jones Commencement Address 12-13-14 (YouTube)
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society