Nearly all of America's top defense contractors are run by women now
From the Defense Department to the manufacturers that supply it, the military-industrial complex is largely in women's hands now.
Four of America's top five defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing's defense wing, are headed by women, as are America's weapons-buying and nuclear oversight departments. And at all levels in national security, those women are changing how the traditionally male-dominated industry is run, Politico reports.
Within the past two years, women have come to run the Air Force and a number of other top defense sectors. That can largely be attributed to how the "national security community ... generally rewards high performers regardless of color or creed or gender," Politico notes. Another major contributor is the "steady growth" of women entering STEM fields, Politico says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That doesn't mean a career in national security doesn't come without some "eye rolls," Rachel McCaffrey, head of the networking organization Women in Defense tells Politico. But being "underestimated" often turns women into "good negotiators," McCaffrey said. Karen Panetta, dean of graduate education at Tufts University's School of Engineering, also mentioned how a woman thought up "using pantyhose to keep sand out of sensitive equipment" in the desert.
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson says all these skills come naturally. "If I ask everyone in this room to think about the most protective person you know in your life," most would "think about their moms," she told Congress last year, adding that "we are the protectors; that's what the military does." Read more at Politico.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 2, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published