Nicole Hill was a 2021 Technology Rising Star awardee. She is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District project engineer.

The Women of Color STEM Conference Technology Rising Star award is given to early-career and mid-career professionals who are helping to shape technology for the future.

Hill's recent accomplishments include tower complexes that accommodate over 400 military families, a barracks complex with a capacity for over 600 unaccompanied soldiers, a pet care center, roads, and other infrastructure improvements. Her future projects include an Army lodging facility and an elementary school.

Hill is a military spouse and recently transferred from the USACE Wilmington District, with her spouse and two children, to U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, which is located along the western coast of South Korea.

Erin Cumbo, a project manager with the Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, was honored as a Rising Star at the 2022 Women of Color STEM Conference.

Cumbo joined the Little Rock District Programs and Project Management Division in 2019. Prior to USACE, she worked for an architectural firm in Arkansas.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University, she initially focused on historic preservation, construction, film set design, and graphic design.

During her time with the Little Rock District, she’s managed the dredging maintenance program for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, Beaver Lake Land Acquisition study, Sluice Gate Rehabilitation, and other operation and maintenance projects.

Tracye E. Thrash, a budget officer from the Jacksonville District, was also recognized as a Rising Star at the 2022 Women of Color STEM Conference.

Thrash has oversight for budget execution and fund accountability. She also provides guidance and mentorship on budget development to junior analysts.

Electrical engineer, Porscha Porter, received a Rising Star award at the 20th Women of Color STEM conference. Porter earned a bachelor's degree from Alabama A&M University and a Master of Science in Information Systems from Florida Institute of Technology.

She is also a Certified Acquisition Professional, a Project Management Professional, and a member of the Huntsville Project Management Institute and the Society of American Military Engineers.

Mariely Mejías-Santiago of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) also received the Technology Rising Star award at the 20th Women of Color STEM conference.

Mejías-Santiago is a civil engineer in the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory - Airfields and Pavements Branch, where she conducts research in airfield pavements, specializing in how to improve design, maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation.

As part of her research in warm-mix asphalt technologies, she has authored or co-authored several technical publications, as well as the landmark Department of Defense Unified Facilities Guide Specification on asphalt airfield paving.

Mejías-Santiago earned a bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. She is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and Tau Beta Pi Honor Society.

Nashville District Business Integration Office Chief Danita Jones received the Technology All-Star award during the 24th Annual Women of Color STEM Conference. The Technology All-Star Award honors professional women from mid-level to advanced career stages who show excellence in helping to shape STEM technology for the future.

Jones began her career with the Nashville District as an intern. She worked in the mailroom while studying for a business admin degree. After graduating from Tennessee State University, she accepted a position as a management assistant in the Information Management Office.

In 2010 Jones was selected for the Long-Term Training Program, which afforded her the opportunity to obtain an M.B.A. Later, Jones was selected to serve as business integration office chief. Her administrative background coupled with a skill for leveraging automated tools and systems to streamline work processes made her the singular choice for the position.

Outside of work, Jones is active in outreach, such as making gift-filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child with Samaritan’s Purse.