Women in Defense - Programs Networking Event

Join us for a fun and insightful networking event hosted by the WID-TVC Programs Committee! We will meet on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at Rocket City Tavern (located at RSA Gate 9) from 4:30-6:30PM. At the event, you will meet various Industry and Government Professionals supporting the Defense Community. The meeting will feature Ms. Sheila Cummings as our Keynote Speaker for the evening!

Keynote Speaker Bio: Ms. Cummings is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cummings Aerospace, Inc., a Native American Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and non-tradition contractor. Since inception in 2009, Ms. Cummings has led all aspects of corporate operations and strategic development for Cummings Aerospace. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with corporate offices in Niceville and St. Petersburg, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona. Cummings Aerospace specializes in flight science solutions and technologies for aerospace systems in support of DoD customers. Cummings Aerospace core competencies include; weapon systems engineering, physics-based modeling and simulation (M&S), guidance, navigation & control (GNC) system development, software development, and advanced manufacturing.

Ms. Cummings Aerospace Engineering expertise stems from her role as a government civilian Spacecraft Thermal Engineer with the Naval Research Laboratory, and later as a government contractor Systems Engineer on multiple Missile Defense programs. Prior to forming Cummings Aerospace Ms Cummings led a multi-million dollar Missile Defense Business Unit as Vice President of a small engineering company in Arlington, VA.

Ms. Cummings plays an active leadership role in non-profit organizations, universities, and participates in STEM focused community outreach initiatives. Ms. Cummings is the founder of the scholarship programs at multiple universities which provides education funding to minority students pursuing an Engineering, Math or Science degree.

Ms. Cummings received a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1996.