World War I was a tragic chapter in history, with over 100,000 lives lost to chemical weapons and more than a million people suffering from their devastating effects.
This somber past motivated many countries to come together and advocate for a ban on chemical weapons by 1993.
Every year on November 30, we honor this commitment with a Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare.
One inspiring figure leading the charge in the fight against such threats is Dr. Patricia McDaniel, winner of the WOC STEM Conference Technical Innovation in Government Award.
As a senior executive research scientist for chemistry at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Chemical-Biological Center, McDaniel specialized in chemical and explosive detection, tackling significant security challenges that affect both soldiers and civilians.
Her dedication shone through in her work developing advanced technologies to detect and neutralize chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats.
McDaniel went above and beyond, even flying in helicopters through dense smoke plumes to study the environmental impacts of fires in the Brazilian rainforest.
With a strong foundation from her incredible experience with a talented group of women at NASA, she made substantial contributions at the Army Special Operations Office.
There, McDaniel pioneered technologies that have saved lives on the battlefield.
As a senior chemist in the Army, she was thrilled to mentor women of color, helping them rise as leaders in government laboratories.
McDaniel graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Kent State and began her career at NASA Langley as a chemist.
A few years later, she earned a Master of Science in chemistry from Old Dominion University and later went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in applied science from the College of William and Mary.
