Photo above – Maggie Covalt has worked worldwide on significant projects. Pictured above, Maggie works with the Incheon International Airport staff. APTech was retained by the Incheon Airport Corporation to provide training on pavement evaluation, pavement maintenance and rehabilitation, pavement management, and the use of PAVER. It was a proactive move that allowed them to carefully monitor and preserve the pavement infrastructure – a very large capital investment. “It was the first time I had done this kind of work with an interpreter (the group I trained in Hong Kong were all fluent in English).”
By Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.
How did you first get inspired to work in the aviation industry?
“My involvement did not stem from any early exposure with planes, flying, or airports. Rather, I became hooked later, after I had received my B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois with a concentration in pavement engineering. After graduation, my first job was with the Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory-USA-CERL. I found my job fascinating as a Research Engineer on the PAVER pavement management software. Then, I discovered aviation.
“One of my major responsibilities was to introduce PAVER to many of the alphabet groups, as NASAO, AAAE, AASHTO, NACE, ASCE, speaking at their national conferences about pavement management and demonstrating the software. My first presentations were to road-centric agencies. They went well. But then I had my first aviation exposure. It was to NASAO [National Association of State Aviation Officials] and was a ‘Game Changer.’ Everyone I met was so passionate about aviation, so passionate about doing the very best they could to support and promote the industry at whatever level they served in, that I couldn’t help but be inspired. It was also a group who for the most part really was gender blind, something that sadly wasn’t my experience in the 1980’s with the road and highway agencies. I knew immediately that I would do everything I could to shape my future career so that I could work as closely with this inspirational (and fun!) group as I could,” concluded Covalt.
What’s your first memory of aviation?
“In my youth I was not personally exposed to any type of aviation until age 17 when my first flights transported me to Australia where I lived for a year as an exchange student. However, during the Apollo years earlier, I remember being glued to our black and white TV watching our quest to land on the moon. I was particularly fascinated not by the astronauts but rather the engineers and others who were tackling what to me seemed like impossible hurdles to achieve the mission,” explained Maggie.
Who has inspired you the most (any mentors you want to mention?)
“I’m grateful that my list of mentors is long, so I’ll briefly highlight two special women, as well as a collective group. I know mentors are typically people older than yourself – but in the first two cases I was, and still am, inspired by them, even though we are about the same ages.
“The first is Katie Zimmerman, P.E. Watching what she has achieved during her life – from obtaining B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois while being a single parent, to becoming President of a well-known pavement engineering company, to putting everything on the line to start our company, to being a very active member of her community and helping others at every turn, Katie has served as an inspiration for me both personally and professionally. For more than thirty years, she has shown me the importance of being honest, to consider the larger picture, to treat everyone with respect, to give back to your profession and your community, and to enjoy a full life outside of work,” Covalt continued.
Maggie Covalt was presented the 2016 NASAO President’s Award from then NASAO President, Greg Principato. The President’s Award, one of NASAO’s highest honors, is presented to distinguished aviation professionals, state directors, staff, and NASAO Business Partners, who have made long-standing contributions to NASAO and to state aviation. Photo by Kim Stevens)
“Second is Carol Comer, past Director of Multimodal Programs of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). I met Carol early in her GDOT career. I was a young engineer, managing the implementation of their first airport pavement management system. I watched Carol over the years take on increasingly responsible and complex positions within GDOT and become a consummate leader. Carol taught me to listen and to put in the effort to learn new skills to do a better job,” Maggie explained.
“The third mentors are the professionals who make up NASAO. From my first exposure to the organization in 1985, various members throughout the organization have provided me with advice and support. When considering joining Katie and David Peshkin, P.E., the other founding principal, in forming Applied Pavement Technology (APTech) in 1995, NASAO participants were the ones who provided me with the final encouragement I needed to make that leap of faith. I am forever grateful to NASAO members who work so hard to support aviation at the state level, often with far too little pay or recognition. I can only hope to approach their level of dedication,” Maggie ended.
Advice for other women inside our industry or thinking about aviation and aerospace?
“I came upon a career focused on aviation by happenstance. I was lucky that in a way it found me. My advice is to not count on that being the case. Give serious thought to whatever work you are planning to pursue and be open to the possibility that you can excel in that work in the aviation environment. And while I said ‘work’ before, I really do hope that you don’t set upon a path where what you do for such a large portion of your living hours is just work. Strive to nurture a career that satisfies you and brings you at least some joy every day. Embrace those you meet along the way, be open to new ideas that might take you out of your comfort zone, soak in the great experiences, try to put any bad experiences into perspective, and reach out to others for help and advice when needed. You’ll find no more receptive and supportive audience than the aviation community,” Maggie shared.
Additional Background?
Why Engineering? “I was always good at math, physics, and science in general so engineering seemed a natural fit when thinking of a career. Originally my heart was in geology. I loved rocks and stratigraphy in all forms! My Dad encouraged me to broaden my view because I was not going into the coal or petroleum industries. We learned that the University of Illinois offered dual degrees at that time. So, I put in an extra year and obtained both my B.S. in Civil Engineering and my B.S. in Geology. I then was fortunate enough to receive full funding for obtaining my M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois,” explained Covalt. “As for my P.E., I went the usual route at that time – took what was called the ‘Engineer in Training (EIT)’ right out of school. After completing the required years of practice, I sat for my Professional Engineering license. I obtained my first P.E. in Illinois, and subsequently a P.E. in 15 additional states.”
Today, women in aviation engineering are a growing presence, thanks to role models as Maggie Covalt. Read about the extensive mentoring programs of Applied Pavement Technology, http://www.appliedpavement.com.
Oprah Winfrey famously said, “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” Maggie Covalt is a prime example.
Dr. Hamilton is an award-winning aviation and women’s history writer. Learn more at www.PennyHamilton.com
