Women in Aerospace: Speakers Panel

Owner and Chief Engineer of Carrington Shield Strategies LLC

Nicole specializes in spacecraft charged particle interactions (i.e. electrons, protons and heavy ions). With expertise in radiation effects and spacecraft charging, she’s contributed to diverse platforms. Nicole holds degrees in Meteorology/Climatology, Planetary Science and Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Science. She joined the industry in 2015 at Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc. (EMA), transitioning to roles at SEAKR Engineering, Inc., and Maxar Space Systems in 2018 and 2022, respectively. Nicole founded Carrington Shield Strategies, LLC (CSS) in 2024, for which she serves as the Owner and Chief Engineer. CSS was founded to provide the aerospace community at large with consulting services in the area of space environment effects. Thriving on challenges, Nicole passionately solves complex problems in the aerospace industry.

Vice President of Analytical Mechanics Associated Advanced Projects Group

Lindsey Holmes is the Vice-President (VP) of Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) Advanced Projects group overseeing the Denver, Colorado office as well as employees in Huntsville, Alabama, Santa Clara, California, and multiple remote locations.  Lindsey has been in the VP role since January 2021.  She joined AMA nearly 10 years ago primarily supporting systems engineering and project management tasks, including leading AMA’s support to NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion project.

Prior to AMA, Lindsey spent an additional 12 years of experience in the Aerospace industry as a Space Systems Engineer, Developmental Engineer, and Satellite Operator.  She started her career in the Air Force, attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on an ROTC scholarship for Aerospace Engineering where she earned the Chancellors Award and was an ROTC Distinguished Graduate and Blue Chip Award winner.  Her time in the Air Force included attending the Air Force Institute of Technology to earn her MS in Astronautical Engineering as well as serving as a Developmental Engineer where she was Air Force Space Commands awardee for the DoD Women’s History Month Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Role Model Award. She also served in the Air Force Reserves as a Satellite Operator.

Lindsey also had a brief venture into the start-up world Co-Founding an educational mobile application company with her husband. “Code 3 Apps” is still in business and primarily supports Emergency Services professionals.

Lindsey holds her private pilots license and enjoys spending her free time at the lake and watching her two children’s athletic and theatrical performances.

Researcher on the INCUS Satellite Program
Associate Professor at Colorado State University

Kristen Rasmussen received a B.S. in Meteorology and Mathematics and a B.A. in Music at the University of Miami in 2007. She completed her M.S. in 2011 and Ph.D. in 2014 from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. Her graduate research primarily focused on cloud and mesoscale processes of high-impact weather in South America using the TRMM satellite and flooding in India and Pakistan. Kristen was an Advanced Study Program Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and worked with scientists from the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Lab (MMM) and Research Applications Lab (RAL) from 2015 to 2016. She joined the CSU faculty in October 2016.

Airline Captain

Malorie Ligons is from Tulsa, Oklahoma where her aviation career began. She earned an A/P license (Airframe and Powerplant mechanic) while attending high school. She moved to Florida, where she learned how to fly and also became a flight instructor to teach others while building hours and completing her Master’s degree in Commercial Aviation. She has worked for CommutAir, Allegiant Air, and now United Airlines, where she is currently a Captain on the 757/767 aircraft. As a mentor in our United Aviate program, she continues to inspire and support aspiring pilots. She is grateful to have a loving family that supports her, including her fiancé, 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter. 

Molly MacEachen (she/her) is a sustainability consultant with a focus in space sustainability, ESG (environmental, social, governance) measurement and reporting, DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) and professional development.

Previous professional highlights include supporting ESG reporting efforts with the UN Global Compact, establishing & coordinating the Advisory Board and Advisory Working Groups for the Space & Sustainability Initiative (SSI) at CU Boulder, speaking on the Next Generation Plenary Session at the 2021 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), participating as a delegate in the 2021 Space Generation Congress in Dubai, being selected as a 2021 Future Space Leaders Foundation (FSLF) Grant Recipient and continuing to engage with FSLF as an alumni and volunteer.

Before pursuing her journey as an independent consultant, Molly spent multiple years at a Big 4 consulting firm supporting clients in their sustainability reporting, compliance and strategic efforts while engaging locally and nationally in DEIA and space-related initiatives.