Sheila Cummings

Dr. Sheila Cummings is shattering the glass ceiling—one aerospace engineering solution at a time. As a Native American aerospace engineer, small business owner, community leader, and family-focused woman, Cummings is at the forefront of Huntsville, Alabama’s path to the future. Although she has encountered many challenges along the way, she maintains that those challenges have been the driving force for her determination.

Cummings Aerospace, her grassroots operation, applies core competencies in the flight sciences of aerospace system development to deliver integrated, affordable engineering solutions to its customers. Its capabilities encompass Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), modeling and simulation (M&S), software engineering, mechanical and electrical design, advanced manufacturing, and Quality, Safety, and mission Assurance (QSMA). Cummings Aerospace is an AS9100 and CMMI Level III certified company committed to quality, technical excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.

A member of the Lumbee Cheraw tribe, Cummings grew up in the rural community of Pembroke, North Carolina, where support for STEM programs was virtually non-existent. As an Indigenous woman, Dr. Cummings is aware of the lack of representation in her industry, and she encourages Native students to enter the field. Part of Cummings Aerospace's passion is to bring their enthusiasm for STEM to kids who don't always have equitable exposure to the sciences. The company sponsors, designs, and facilitates STEM summer camps, 3D printing classes for middle schoolers, and numerous internships and work-study programs.