Kitty Joyner, American Electrical Engineer
Joyner analyzing the operation of a wind tunnel turbine, 1952. Kitty O'Brien Joyner (July 11, 1916 - August 16, 1993) was an American electrical engineer with NACA, and then with NASA upon its replacement of NACA in 1958. She was hired in 1939 as the organization's first woman engineer, shortly after she had completed her degree as the first woman to graduate from the University of Virginia's engineering program. Joyner worked for NACA/NASA for several decades, achieving the title Branch Head of the Facilities Cost Estimating Branch, Office of Engineering and Technical Services, and managing several wind tunnels, including supersonic wind tunnels. She retired from NASA in May 1971. Joyner was active in engineering organizations and societies. She was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and an Honorary Life Member of the Engineers Club of the Virginia Peninsula. She died in 1993 at the age of 77
