IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014 - 9

way that has made a profound impact on
the success of the Intelsat Program."
Procopio worked at Boeing for over
30 years, starting her career at Hughes
as a member of the NASA system test
team for the Galileo probe. She spent
nine years as bus test director and
15 years as spacecraft manager on various projects. MexSat was her last project
before retirement.
Cadena calls Procopio a pioneer when
it comes to females in the workplace. To
look at pictures from over the years is
to see that Procopio was often the only
female. "For 30-plus years to constantly
be in a role where you are pushing the
boundaries and reaffirming your capabilities-I know it's taxing on me, and I've
only been with the company for ten years,"
Cadena says. "I can't imagine what it was
like for her, doing this for three decades."

El Segundo because she wanted to work
says, you are very excited and want to get
on the astronautic side of aerospace.
the job done. You want to improve, and
you question why things are done
The strong female presence on
the team, especially the examthe way they are just because
ple set by Cadena, was a wonyou don't know otherwise.
derful bonus. "Madeline and
You are trying to "do your
I always say we want to be
job and to learn," Lord says,
just like Nora because she
but those around you grow
owns a room like you would
defensive.
not believe," Lord says. "The
For Lord, success meant
room can be full of men but
learning how to navigate
Heather Lord
when she talks, everyone stops
interpersonal relationships.
and listens because she is so eloquent."
It is a skill to be able to move a group
Salazar and Lord were also fortunate
forward without offending anyone, she
to have Beriña-Buelna as a mentor. Born
explains. In the end, though, "your
in the Phillipines, Beriña-Buelna, the
relationships do become much stronyoungest of six children, immigrated to
ger and the product quality reflects a
the United States in 1973. As an integrastronger team."
tion manager, she has overseen the sucAccording to Cadena, Lord has mascessful execution and delivery of three
tered this skill, having "found the right
payloads and seven satellites. In addition to
balance between being technically savvy
the Quality First Champion Award, Beriand having the right relationships on
ña-Buelna received the Intelsat Diamond
the shop floor."
Performance Award for "dedication, teamLord, who grew up admiring Sally
work, performance, and ability to find a
Ride, made the move from Long Beach to

Team Bonding
"People always say that it looks like so
much fun to work on MexSat," says Lord.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014