Prism Award

Kristy Mandigo

Raytheon Technologies

For paving a singular path to success; for inspired leadership and engagement with teams and customers; and for tirelessly seeking the empowerment of others with diverse abilities.

Kristy Mandigo is chief engineer for Raytheon Technologies’ Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP). She is recognized as a subject matter expert in engineering product integrity, as well as a mentor for early-career women engineers. Previously, Mandigo held multiple roles, ranging from technical lead, section manager, and requirements manager to scrum master, program management, configuration and data management, and integrated product lead. Upon her promotion to chief engineer, Mandigo completed Raytheon’s prestigious leadership program.

As chief engineer, Mandigo’s initial challenge was to navigate and reach a common repair of a major field failure for a U.S. Air Force fleet. She reacted quickly to empower her team and gain their trust, spurring an efficient response, and traveled to the manufacturing facility to collaborate and create a welcoming environment. She orchestrated a “blitz” to allow teammates to outline and make recommendations to solve the issue. It is a strong example of her leadership style — not rushing, but strategically reviewing and listening to the proposed options, then executing a timely solution.

Beyond her technical leadership, Mandigo is an active volunteer, committed to addressing the stigma and biases surrounding people with diverse abilities. When invited to speak to Raytheon’s global community about being an engineer with dyslexia, her story ignited an external leadership talent pipeline effort to increase accessibility, both internally and externally. Dedicated to promoting neurodiversity, she has participated on panels that discuss methods of completing the same tasks in different ways and the benefits of diverse perspectives and increased collaborations. The experience motivated her to submit a patent on a one-handed keyboard design, which is now in prototype.

Mandigo is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Raytheon Management Club, and the company’s women and disability employee resource group, as well as the Raytheon Innovation Center for work on a patent. She has received multiple awards, ranging from the Raytheon Technical Honor, Raytheon President’s Award, Women of the Year, Women of Distinction, Diversity and Inclusion, and Keynote Speaker honoree.

Her story has been published in Diversity in STEAM Magazine and on global websites. She is a recognized face in STEM and diversity, both inside and outside of Raytheon, and was featured in Careers & the disABLED magazine in spring 2022. Mandigo is the executive director for the nonprofit Disability:IN and an advocate for the Epilepsy Foundation. She has also authored a book, Ask Why: But Not Why Me?

Mandigo earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering at Cedarville University and a dual MBA in business administration and technology management at the University of Phoenix. She has more than 20 certifications in engineering and management.

She is married to Michael Kinkor, and the couple has two sons. Her hobbies include Lego design, community volunteering, puzzles, writing, and singing.