Vote for the Fall Book Club Book! Vote for the book you would like us to pick for the fall selection by 10/22 using the form linked below. Winner will be announced shortly after and meetup will happen in early December!
Dallas SWE is recognizing Little Elm native Becky Lawler as an honorary October Member of the Month! NASA announced the selection of Lawler to join its 2025 astronaut candidate class. Lawler reported for duty in September 2025 to begin two years of intensive astronaut training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Lawler brings a wealth of experience in military, civilian, and research aviation, having logged over 2,800 flight hours in more than 45 different aircraft. Her journey to NASA began in Lewisville, Texas, where she was born, and continued through Little Elm High School, which she proudly calls her alma mater.
Following high school, Lawler earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. She later completed advanced degrees in space systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University and flight test engineering from the National Test Pilot School. She also holds a graduate certificate in engineering program management from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Lawler served 11 years in the U.S. Navy as a P-3C Orion pilot, deploying twice to the U.S. Sixth Fleet and accumulating over 300 hours of combat flight time. She later became a developmental test pilot with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 (VX-20), flying a range of aircraft including the MQ-4C Triton and P-8A Poseidon. In 2019, she was promoted to lieutenant commander and selected as aide to the Commander of Naval Air Systems Command.
In 2020, Lawler transferred to the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, where she served as a hurricane hunter and test pilot. During the 2020 and 2021 hurricane seasons, she flew 32 hurricane eyewall penetrations and 11 tropical storm penetrations aboard WP-3D Orion and DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. She continued supporting NOAA missions through 2022.
Lawler’s civilian aviation career includes serving as a flight test captain for United Airlines, flying Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft as well as the Airbus A320 series. She also contributed to NASA’s Operation IceBridge in 2019, flying research missions over Greenland, and led scientific instrument testing aboard NOAA and NASA aircraft in 2022. Beyond her professional achievements, Lawler is married with one child and enjoys running, painting, reading, and spending time with her family. She proudly considers Little Elm, Texas, her hometown.
NASA’s astronaut candidates undergo rigorous training in spacewalking, robotics, spacecraft systems, and Russian language, preparing them for future missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and beyond! For more information about Becky, check out her profile at https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-candidate-rebecca-becky-lawler/
Thank you so much to everyone who attended the virtual book club kickoff! We are planning to have quarterly book club meetings with the first one planned to be a Saturday in early December at Legacy Hall – final date TBD! The theme for theis quarter is MYSTERY and we are seeking suggestions! Fill out the form linked below to suggest a mystery book you think we should read for book club by 10/10 – we will then vote on a book via Google Form and the one we pick will be announced in the newsletter and book club Discord channel! Stay tuned for more book club updates!
Professional Development October Event: Navigating Financial Futures – Purpose, Protection, and Professional Growth
Dallas SWE is excited to invite you to our October Professional Development Virtual Webinar on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM (CT). This engaging evening will feature two accomplished speakers who will share strategies to strengthen both your career and your financial confidence.
Sandra Park, Flight Software System Architect at MDA Space, will lead Paycheck to Purpose: Career Growth Strategies for Women in STEM. With more than two decades of experience in aerospace and defense, Sandra combines her engineering expertise with her role as a financial coach to empower women in STEM to take control of their finances, build confidence, and create lives they love. Drawing from her own journey to becoming debt-free, she blends technical problem-solving with practical money strategies that resonate deeply with professionals navigating demanding careers.
Following this, Viraj Soni, AVP Portfolio Management Strategy at Merrick Bank, will present Future of Fraud & Financial Risk. Viraj brings over eight years of expertise in financial risk management, with a track record of reducing risk for banks, fintechs, and start-ups across multiple market segments. Holding a Master’s Degree in Information Management from Syracuse University with a minor in Data Science, he is passionate about building innovative, data-driven strategies that protect customers while enabling growth.
This webinar offers a unique opportunity to learn from leaders who bridge STEM, finance, and strategy. Attendees will walk away with career growth insights, financial protection strategies, and inspiration to navigate today’s evolving professional and financial landscape. To wrap up the evening, we’ll also hold a $15 Amazon gift card raffle exclusively for attendees.
Don’t miss this impactful evening with Sandra and Viraj—join us virtually and invest in your future with purpose and protection.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the FY26 Kickoff! It was wonderful seeing both new and familiar faces. We loved the energy and enthusiasm from all who attended – we cannot wait to see everyone at more events this year!
Interested in getting involved in Dallas SWE bookclub or anxiously awaiting it’s return? Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just looking to try something new, this is the perfect chance to get involved with bookclub!
📅 Date: October 1st
🕒 Time: 8pm
📍 Location: Zoom (link will be shared with those who RSVP)
What to Expect:
