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Satellite communication, critical to today’s military troops, is constantly improving and proving its worth under the watchful eye of Angela Wallace.
Wallace is a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton (McLean, VA). The global consulting firm offers services to government and commercial clients in strategy, ops, organizational change and IT.
“You see what’s needed”
Wallace focuses on defining requirements and putting next-generation satellite communication (satcom) systems into the hands of U.S.
warfighters. “You see what’s needed by looking at the IT already developed, checking out what did not work well in the past, and noting the growth requirements. When you combine those things, you can make a projection of what works and what’s possible,” Wallace says.
Wallace leads a group of EEs, systems engineers, other engineers and staff. Some members can offer feedback from hands-on user experience. Their primary clients are Department of Defense (DOD) agencies and services.
The team also works on general communication systems for basic infrastructure needs. The communication system that supports the DOD is broadly called the “global information grid,” and includes both satellite and terrestrial communications, Wallace explains.
Multi assignments, great commitment
Wallace spends some of her time at client locations. Because the satcom industry is largely based in California, she doesn’t need to travel abroad.
“I have an excellent team,” she says. “There’s a great commitment because the work we do is important and really encourages us all to do our best. I know if I have to be on leave my team and colleagues will take care of the issues.”
She typically works on several client assignments at a time, dividing the workload to balance client needs and team members’ preferences. Some like to work onsite with the client, others like to work as a team, and some work from home a few days a week, she says.
Her biggest challenge is knowing when to say “no” to a client’s request. “I have to make sure we don’t take on so many assignments that we risk losing quality,” she explains.
Seeking independence
Wallace comes from Alabama. “Where I grew up, most of the women who went to college planned to be teachers. That’s a great profession, but I wanted something with more independence,” she says.
As a college freshman Wallace thought she might try pre-med, but she changed to EE the next year. She got her BSEE in 1987 from the University of South Alabama and her MSEE in 1989 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Her first job out of school was with Space Applications Corp (Vienna, VA). She got involved with satcom there, working for defense clients as a communications systems engineer, and followed up with more classes at Virginia Tech.
Joining Booz Allen
In 1993 she started at Booz Allen Hamilton as a senior consultant for a defense client. “We were focused on identifying and solving interoperability problems among the users of satcom systems,” she says.
As time went on Wallace began branching out. “Your network grows as clients move to other jobs and, if you have done a great job, your community wants you to work on current problems and problems in new areas.”
Wallace was promoted to associate in 1995, senior associate in 1998 and principal, her current designation, in 2006. “Booz Allen has an excellent coaching and mentoring program,” she notes. “I’m also in a women’s learning circle which helps me understand the firm and its processes and the opportunities that are there for me.”
Supportive of women
Booz Allen Hamilton is extremely supportive of women, Wallace reveals with pleasure. In 2007 Working Mother magazine chose it as a top-ten company for the third year in a row.
Wallace belongs to the IEEE, SWE, a group for military communications professionals and others. She’d love to see more women in satcom. “I’d like to see more with a solid understanding of the technology and the systems and processes that go with it.”
But while the actual percentage may be small, there are plenty of moms working at her company, Wallace notes. She has three children, from three years old to nine, and the youngest attends an on-site Booz Allen daycare facility. “You meet a lot of parents there, and it provides an instant networking bond.”
Wallace herself helps coach soccer for one of the older kids. “My life is full, and very fulfilling,” she says with pride.
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