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Trailblazing Careers in Defense
Tuesday March 25th, 2025 5:00PM-7:30PM
Register HERE!
Interested in sponsoring scholarships for UMass Lowell students interested in careers in defense? Please reach out to info@widgbc.org.

Speaker Biographies: 

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Audricia “Driece” D. McKinney

Executive Director for Women in Defense 

Driece is the Executive Director for Women in Defense, an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association. Women in Defense aims to strengthen the defense and national security workforce by promoting professional development, education, networking, and recognition of contributions by women in these fields.

 

The daughter of veterans, Driece hails from Ashburn, Virginia, and is a distinguished military officer with a rich and diverse career. Her journey in the United States Army began in 2002 after graduating from Norfolk State University when she was commissioned as a second lieutenant, marking the commencement of her remarkable service to the nation.


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Driece has held esteemed positions such as the senior military advisor within the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, director of communication for Army Futures Command, senior communication advisor for the Secretary of the Army and a Pentagon spokesperson, where she served as the lead communication advisor for various critical areas, including, modernization, personnel, civil unrest, Africa Affairs, Cyber Security, Defense Intelligence, and Special Operations.

 

Beyond her impressive military career, Driece is a lifelong learner. She pursued higher education, earning a master's degree in information resource management from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in public relations management from the University of Maryland University College. Her commitment to education demonstrates her dedication to personal growth and excellence.

 

Driece's military assignments have taken her to diverse and challenging environments across the globe. From Seoul, Korea, where she served as the Director of Internal Information, to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where she directed marketing efforts for Army ROTC programs, and even to Sinai, Egypt, where she led press and VIP visits for a small peacekeeping organization. Her career has been marked by adaptability and leadership in dynamic situations.

 

Driece finds balance and joy in various hobbies outside her military service. She is an avid reader, a dedicated community volunteer, and a passionate traveler who appreciates the beauty and culture of different places across the globe. Her heart finds warmth in spending quality time with her friends and family and volunteering to provide public relations and communication expertise to non-profit organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The ROCKS, Inc., and It Takes Two, Inc.

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Kerry Kendall

Program Manager, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory 

Kerry Kendall is a Program Manager at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in
Cambridge, Massachusetts. Prior to joining Draper in March 2024, she held
Program Manager roles at Raytheon, an RTX Company, and Idemia. Kerry has
ten years of experience in program management, to include: leading and
executing proposals, leading cross-functional engineering teams in research and
development programs, and earned value management. She is Project
Management Professional (PMP) certified. In her early career, Kerry served in
the United States (US) Army from 2009-2015, attaining the rank of Captain. The
highlight of her military service was her deployment in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom, as a Cultural Support Team Leader in 2012. She was one of
218 women ever selected by US Army Special Operations to train and deploy
with Special Operations units prior to the Department of Defense lifting the ban
on women in combat units in 2014. Kerry holds an undergraduate degree in
History from the College of the Holy Cross, a Master of Business Administration
from Syracuse University, and a Master of Science in Leadership and
Administration from Boston College.

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Sondra Blank

Deputy Program Manager, Defense Industry

Sondra Blank is currently a Deputy Program Manager in the Defense Industry with over 20 years of experience in the engineering field. Sondra is a graduate of UMass Lowell in Mechanical Engineering. She has worked at a variety of large and small companies, both in the Commercial and Defense sectors.  Sondra has an Active Top Secret DoD Security Clearance and is a 6 Sigma Specialist.  Sondra has worked on many proposals, helping to bring in new business in the Advanced Technology Maritime department.

 

In addition to her career, Sondra is an elected member of the Portsmouth, RI Town Council after being on School Committee. She is a mother to 4 kids, ranging in ages from 17 to 5 years old.  She is married to Tom Blank, owner of Plum Point Oysters, and is a strong advocate for both our environment and local small businesses. Hobbies include, reading, archery, RV camping, and oyster shucking.

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Kristina Landers

Program Manager, BAE Systems

Kristina Landers is a Program Manager for BAE Systems Electronic Combat Systems Business Area in New Hampshire. She is leading the effort of a large international EMD Program that will feed other International Business and a top priority of the business. Kristina has almost 10 years of experience in defenses first in operations and then in Program Management. The day-to-day challenges Kristina faces around the complexity and innovation of technology that BAE Systems Develops is offset by her passion for supporting the warfighter and the mission. Kristina attended the University of Massachusetts Lowell where she studied Business Administration. Kristina is on the executive board for WID in Defense and an advocate for professional development.

Thank you to our annual sponsors, BAE, STR, Draper, Beacon Interactive and Mclaughlin Research Corporation!

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info@widgbc.org

816 William S. Canning Blvd. #1041, Fall River, MA 02721

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©2025 BY WOMEN IN DEFENSE GREATER BOSTON CHAPTER. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM

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