For engineers at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), making strides in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is cause for celebration.

Kami Downey, a chemist at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., and Paige Lewter, AAR-47 Missile Warning System lead engineer at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, received recognition at the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) STEM Global Competitiveness Conference held Feb. 6 in Washington, D.C.

The annual conference highlights engineers from government and industry for career successes and community work. Downey, who has worked for NAVAIR for five and a half years, received special recognition in the Most Promising Engineer of the Year category.

“Being nominated is a big deal for me because it shows how valuable my management feels I am,” said Downey, who received her award offsite. “Having the outside recognition, as well, is a great accomplishment.”

Downey has worked on DoD projects, such as developing an environmentally friendly alternative to Freon for aviators breathing oxygen in flight and finding a non-cyanide silver electroplating process. She has also worked on NAVAIR projects and completed technical and leadership training.

“I like that I get to do new things all the time,” Downey said. “This job is not routine; there is always something new to see and learn.”

Lewter, who works for NAWCAD, received the Black Engineer of the Year Award for Community Service.

“I’m honored to receive this award especially with it being so early in my career,” Lewter said. “I never imagined being recognized at this magnitude.”

Lewter is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Patuxent River Professionals Chapter, and has served as parliamentarian, student development chair, pre-college initiative chair and NSBE junior adviser. In 2012, she led the efforts to charter the Southern Maryland NSBE Junior Chapter, the first in the region. The local chapter recognized her as 2012 Rookie of the Year and 2013 Member of the Year. She was