Innovation is the driving force behind technological advancements. It enables the creation of novel products, transformative processes, and inventive applications for existing technology.

The Technical Innovation Award recognizes daring visionaries who are pushing boundaries and achieving remarkable progress.

Clara Rivero Baleine is an engineering and technology manager at Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control in Orlando, Florida.

She has recently been named a fellow and is currently focused on developing cutting-edge technologies in materials and optics.

Her work involves hardening broadband windows, validating durable coatings with higher transmission, and designing reconfigurable optics for next-generation platforms.

Dr. Baleine is a holder of eighteen U.S. patents and has received numerous awards for her contributions.

"I'm deeply honored to receive the Technical Innovation in Industry award," Dr. Baleine said in her acceptance speech. "At Lockheed Martin, diversity and inclusion are the bedrock of our culture. I believe that diversity accelerates innovation. As a woman innovator, I look beyond my field of experience and surround myself with a multidisciplinary team to solve our customer's biggest challenges. One of the technical areas I lead is metamaterials, which is a relatively new field, but its impact on the STEM community is unmistakable. These materials show unprecedented performance, which will help us deliver innovative and affordable solutions to our customers."