Fellow Grade

Hope Toole Schwalls

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

For unselfish dedication and service to SWE at every level; for encouraging girls and young women to recognize the possibilities in STEM; and for purpose-driven interactions that inspire others.

Hope Toole Schwalls currently serves as the computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) development lead at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas. She leads a team of subject matter experts in the development of superior software tools for the design and manufacture of defense articles that support company and customer objectives.

Prior to serving as development lead, she was a CAD/CAM domain subject matter expert and a structural design engineer specializing in composite design and manufacturing and air vehicle structure design. She has worked as an aeronautical (design) engineer on the F-35 program and in the Advanced Development Programs organization referred to as the Skunk Works^®. Her training and experience at Lockheed Martin stems from a childhood goal to have a career that involved flight.

With this in mind, Schwalls has sought out opportunities within Lockheed Martin’s community service STEM programs to connect with youth. She has visited area schools via the Engineers in the Classroom program in which employees introduce engineering concepts and conduct hands-on STEM activities. She served as a school-based Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor working with underrepresented students. Schwalls has also been involved in the Lockheed Martin Leadership Association and its Fort Worth Women’s Initiative Network.

A SWE senior life member since 2009, Schwalls began her SWE journey more than 20 years ago with a collegiate membership at Bucknell University, where she earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering followed by a professional membership with the Lehigh Valley and Fort Worth sections.

An active member of SWE’s Fort Worth Section, Schwalls has volunteered in a variety of outreach activities designed to pique the interest of girls. Her volunteer endeavors have ranged from Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day to Girls Inc. to participating in Girl Scout badge workshops. She has also exhibited at the annual Sally Ride Science Festival at Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for Engineers Week.

Schwalls has served SWE in multiple leadership roles at the section, region, and Society levels, including chair of the ethics committee, deputy speaker of the senate, senator, nominating committee member, and bylaws committee member. She has served as Region C governor, secretary, and nominating committee member. Schwalls has served as president, secretary, and treasurer of the Fort Worth Section and, most recently, as chair of the nominating committee.

She has consistently attended annual, region, and WE Local conferences held at locations throughout the U.S. For her valued contributions and willingness to serve the section, Schwalls has received the Fort Worth SWE Trust Award, the Region C Appreciation Award, and the Region C Distinguished Service Award.

In her free time, Schwalls likes to travel and attend major league baseball games and concerts.