Posted: December 9, 2011

Suzanne Beckstoffer, director of technology development at Newport News Shipbuilding, is a proud advocate for STEM education - and a mentor to students she hopes will follow in her footsteps one day.

Growing up, she gained an early respect for educators.

"I'm the product of two educators," she said. "My mom was an elementary teacher and my dad was a college professor. So education is very important in our family."

Now, Beckstoffer works with students and professionals, helping them to understand the importance of math and science training.

"From a professional standpoint, it's important for students to understand the opportunity in STEM," she said. "I encourage students to look into those fields and see how interesting they really are, and what wonderful opportunities there are, which are really important for the country."

She serves as the student liaison for the civil engineering department at North Carolina State University, where she works with student leaders.

Beckstoffer received her bachelor's in civil engineering at N.C. State, and went on to get her MBA from the College of William and Mary. She also speaks to high school students, who often wonder what being an engineer entails and what they have to study to enter the field.

She and her husband have endowed an engineering scholarship at N.C. State.

"I think it's important to pay that forward," Beckstoffer said. "I went to school on a scholarship and I think it's important to do that for other people."

Role models in her life have helped her realize her potential.

"Education is so important. The reason I'm an engineer is because of my 10th-grade math teacher, Ms. Baldwin."

To date, Beckstoffer has served as the project manager for an automated steel factory at NNS, a $40 million investment in robotic welding and cutting. She has also been the engineering manager for processes and tools supporting the new FORD-class aircraft carrier program at NNS.

She currently oversees NNS' independent research and development program and the Washington Technical Office.

"She is an excellent leader of people by example," said Peter Diakun, vice president and chief technology officer at Newport News Shipbuilding. "She is an independent leader, in the sense that she will go take charge and execute [tasks]. Her peers in the community have allowed her to take on leadership roles as well."

Beckstoffer is the chairman of the board at BayPort Credit Union, an active member and past president of Warwick Rotary Club, former membership vice president of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and a trustee of Trinity Lutheran Church, among other community roles.

She also serves on the Industry Advisory Boards for the N.C. State University Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Department and for Webb Institute.

- Danielle Walker