Nelda Lee
Level 2 Manager, TacAir IPT-Test & Evaluation
Integrated Defense Systems
The Boeing Company
Nelda is responsible for flight and ground test engineering for the four military aircraft that are
manufactured in St. Louis for The Boeing Company. These aircraft are the F-15 Eagle, AV-8 Harrier, T-45 Goshawk,
and F/A-18 Hornet. She is the Level 2 Manager for Test & Evaluation personnel who are located at St. Louis and
at the military test sites at China Lake, CA, Patuxent River, MD and Eglin AFB, FL. Nelda has been an employee with
McDonnell Douglas Corp and now The Boeing Company for 35 years. She has a BS degree in Aerospace Engineering and was
the second woman to receive this degree at Auburn University. Nelda also has a MA degree in Management and Human
Resources Development from Webster University. A highlight of her career with McDonnell Douglas was when she logged
1.5 hours of flight time in the F-15 Eagle in 1980.
In addition to her career with The Boeing Company, Nelda also enjoys aviation as a pastime and hobby. She is a licensed
commercial pilot with instrument, multi-engine, and helicopter ratings. She has flown in several Transcontinental Air Races.
She is a member of The Ninety-Nines, International Women Pilots, and previously served as Governor for the 9-state North
Central Section. Currently she is serving on the board of trustees for the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. She is also a
member of The Whirly-Girls, International Women Helicopter Pilots, and is Whirly-Girl #247. She previously served as
International President and was recipient of the 10 th Annual Doris Mullen Whirly-Girls scholarship in 1977. Nelda is
charter member #15 of Women in Aviation International and currently serves on the Board of Directors. She was inducted
into the International Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2004. She is a member of the Society of Flight Test
Engineers and the Auburn Alumni Association and has previously served both St. Louis chapters as President. Nelda was
featured recently in an exhibit for Women In Aviation at the St. Louis Science Center for the Centennial Celebration of
First Flight. Several articles and books have featured Nelda and most recently a book by Henry M. Holden titled
American Women of Flight: Pilots and Pioneers |
