Yá’át’ééh Abiní! (Good Morning in Navajo/Diné)
In celebration of Native Heritage Month, we’re honored to introduce the co-chairs of SWE’s Indigenous Peoples Affinity Group (AG).
Stephanie Thompson (she/her)
Stephanie Thompson is a Navajo (Diné) engineer and STEM advocate with nearly 18 years of industry experience at Raytheon, where she brings practical problem-solving and innovation to her role. With a mechanical engineering degree from New Mexico State University, Stephanie combines her technical knowledge with a passion for STEM education and policy.
As a Doctor of Engineering candidate in engineering management, Stephanie’s research focuses on a data-driven topic where she is gaining valuable skills in data analytics, predictive modeling, and strategic decision-making. Stephanie is committed to applying this knowledge beyond her technical role — she aims to support meaningful change through advocacy and policy work in STEM education. She believes that these tools will help make STEM fields more accessible and equitable especially for Indigenous and underrepresented communities.
In addition to her role as an engineer, Stephanie serves as a school board member in New Mexico and a STEM advocate. Her leadership within the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), as a senator and co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples AG, allows her to connect and collaborate with SWE members on issues like inclusion, education policy, and community engagement. Drawing on her Navajo heritage, Stephanie sees her work in STEM advocacy as “weaving” diverse elements of technical expertise, cultural insight, and leadership to open pathways that make engineering and technical careers more inclusive and impactful.
Vanessa Benally (she/her)
Vanessa Benally is a Diné (Navajo), Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House) nishłį́, Bit’ahniii (Bitter Water) bashishchiin, ‘ÁshIIhíí (Salt People) dashicheii, and Tł’ááshchí’I (Red Bottom People) dashinalí. Ákót’éego diné asdzáán nishłį́. She is the co-chair of SWE’s Indigenous People’s AG. Vanessa graduated from Fort Lewis College with a bachelor’s degree in computer science information systems. Additionally, she earned a master’s degree from Norwich University in information security and assurance (MSISA).
Vanessa is a cybersecurity professional with experience in cybersecurity operations, engineering and architecture, and cybersecurity innovation and strategy. She is knowledgeable in cybersecurity operations, application security, RMF implementation, DoD security requirements, security best practices, and their impact on overall security and business functions. Vanessa has a multidisciplinary work background from the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation Youth Shelter, the oil and gas industry on the Navajo Nation, a Navajo Nation-owned IT subsidiary (DDC – ITS), and has held many cyber positions within a payment card industry company. Recently, she served as a cyber security engineer and architect team lead. She built a team of 13 cybersecurity professionals to address cybersecurity within a DoD Acquisition lifecycle process. Currently, she is an enterprise security architect at Booz Allen Hamilton.
A very important part of Vanessa is her role as a mother. Her work-life balance is a wavy spiky line. Along with her husband, they foster a teenager, adopted twin girls, and two bio kids. The power couple are part of ICWA foster care placement. which they continue to support. ICWA’s mission is to support efforts of placing Native children with Native families.
If you want to be involved with Indigenous Peoples AG, contact the AG at indigenouspeoples-ag@swe.org or connect with us via our Facebook Group!
