Christine Bland was on a business trip earlier this year in Connecticut when she learned she was being nominated for a prestigious award from the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals ( NOGLSTP ). She broke down in tears.
"It blew my mind away that I was even being considered, especially since there are so many awesome engineers," said Bland, who, since 2009, has led Lockheed Martin's team developing the electronic hardware on NASA's Orion spacecraft. She's also worked with NASA's Juno and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and more, as a Lockheed engineer.
In early November, Bland was formally named the 2014 LGBT engineer of the year.
"When I found out that I had actually won, it blew my mind," Bland said. "If you look at [the list of past] winners, it is some amazing, talented individuals. My name is now there alongside some really awesome individuals; that puts things in perspective.
"Winning this award proves to me that the hard work that I've been doing as an engineer, and in our community, is being recognized. It humbles me that people are looking at me as a role model. I never really saw myself as a role model; I just did what needed to be done, taking one problem at a time—that's what engineers do; we get a problem and work to fix it and move on. As a role model, I've got people looking to me to succeed; they're watching my success as an engineer.
"Showing that I can succeed helps so many."
Born and raised in Denver, Bland is open and forthcoming about her pre-transition life. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1986, and has worked as a contract engineer and an adjunct faculty member at a local college. She came back to Lockheed Martin after a few years away, and has worked on most of the Mars orbiters since 1998.
Bland was married for 30 years to a woman; their marriage is over and she is now single. She has two children ( son Richard is 26, daughter Susan is 24 ) and both live with her.
Bland in 2009 started transitioning in her personal life and by 2010 was living fulltime at home as a woman. She transitioned at work in October 2011, when she was a senior engineer, well known in the industry.
Lockheed had a briefing in Denver about Bland's transition, with a packed room, she recalled. They briefed contacts in multiple departments, NASA, subcontractors and others. "It was a very big deal," she said, "and everyone has been very, very accepting and positive from day one."
Bland admitted she was "scared to death" to transition at work, but knew it was needed to "live a true and authentic life, and it's really been a big difference in my life.
"And I've gained a lot from my journey … it's made me a better person."
She is the chair of Lockheed Martin Transgender Council, which she founded to assist with legal and insurance issues and provide support to transgender employees.
Bland plays in the LGBT Mile High Freedom Band and is a live performance artist. When she retires from Lockheed, she plans to continue with art, "in hopes of being as well known in the art community as I am in the engineering community."
