“Going the Extra Mile”

Ascent AeroSystems, as a company, is creative and curious, and it values the contributions and insights of its employees as individuals. Vanessa Blakeley is the Director of Operations at Ascent AeroSystems, bringing a unique perspective as a woman, a mother, and coming from a background in general aviation rather than engineering/robotics. Vanessa has an eye for where Ascent AeroSystems fits into the larger aerospace ecosystem, and she is very interested in making our projects compatible with initiatives in the field. For example, Vanessa is focused on the company’s Spirit related to the more significant advanced air mobility space. “It’s exciting to think about bringing people, experiences, and technologies together. My mindset is also more regulatory, and I think a lot about the application and end-user experience—our engagement doesn’t end at shipment.”

“When I started flying at sixteen only six percent of pilots were women, even fewer mothers. I knew then that this was special, and saw being in that small minority as a badge of honor,” adds Vanessa. “At the same time, not everyone sees it that way. Diminishing comments about how a major accomplishment, when made by a woman, especially a young woman is “cute” and other ways in which your advancements and certificates are reduced or dismissed. In the U.S. female representation in aviation peaked in the ‘80’s. Currently, you would have to shake the hands of over 4,000 women before meeting another pilot— that’s incredible and we need to change it.”

 

The steadfast leader is impressed with how far the aerospace/aviation field has come, where it is going, and all the opportunities are opening up for women. “Opportunities that women are opening up for themselves! Prior generations of women in this space faced a lot of competition, but we’re moving past that now,” she says. “And I know that I try always to encourage diversity in aerospace in general, and make it clear that there’s space for everyone here. There’s an environment of active supportiveness that exists now that didn’t before, in the same way. I would encourage future women in this space, future leaders, to capitalize on this momentum for the sake of their careers and also to help the people who will come after them. Connect with the women in this space: connect with me.”

According to Vanessa, “I love being the person that executes on a theory and plan. I love being the ‘how’ to the vision’s ‘what’. Making a vision work, bringing it to life is where I’m comfortable. But I’ve learned that it is incumbent on us, as women in this field, to be uncomfortable sometimes, to stand out so that others, and those who come next, can blend in if that’s what they want. What that means daily is speaking up when your natural tendency is to be quiet. To highlight your work when it feels unnatural. It will be one of the ongoing challenges of my life personally and professionally and a critical one. One of the amazing things about the leadership position I’m in at Ascent AeroSystems is that visibility as a woman in aerospace and aviation. I hope that visibility will mean that younger women, just starting, can look at me and know that there’s a place for them.” Armed with these unique qualities, Vanessa has led the company to new heights.

Since 2015, Ascent AeroSystems has designed and manufactured rugged “coaxial” drones for the industrial, public safety, and defense markets. The founders saw the need for a new compact, all-weather, high-performance unmanned aerial system designed and built in the USA. Versatile, modular, and based on proven coaxial technology, the Ascent AeroSystems Spirit is the ideal platform for mission-critical operations in defense, public safety, and industrial operations.With a unique cylindrical configuration that’s far more portable and durable than conventional multirotor, the company’s drones are ideal for mission-critical operations in the toughest environments. More than five years of development have made Ascent AeroSystems the premier source for coaxial vehicles, and hundreds have been delivered to professional, commercial, government, and military customers worldwide.

“When I started flying at sixteen only six percent of pilots were women, even fewer mothers. I knew then that this was special, and saw being in that minority as a badge of honor,” says Vanessa Blakely, Director of Operations at Ascent AeroSystems, a Massachusetts based company which designs and manufactures the Global Standard for Mission-Critical Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Vanessa brings a unique perspective to the organization as a woman and mother with a general aviation background. Her experience in general aviation rather than engineering/robotics allows Vanessa to see where Ascent AeroSystems fits into the larger aerospace ecosystem. She is very interested in making projects compatible with initiatives in the larger aviation field and is focused on the company’s capabilities related to the more advanced air mobility space. “It’s exciting to think about bringing people, experiences, and technologies together. My mindset is also more regulatory than an engineers would be, and I think a lot about the application and end-user experience—our engagement doesn’t end at shipment.”

“In the U.S. female representation in aviation peaked in the ‘80’s. Currently, you would have to shake the hands of over 4,000 women before meeting another pilot— that’s incredible and we need to change it.” However, the steadfast leader is impressed with how far the aerospace/aviation field has come, where it is going, and all the opportunities that are opening for women. “Women are creating opportunities for themselves! Prior generations of women in this space faced a lot of competition, but we’re moving past that now,” she says. “I try to always to encourage diversity in aerospace and make it clear that there’s space for everyone here. I would encourage future women in this space, and leaders, to capitalize on this momentum for the sake of their careers and to help pave the way for those who will come after them.” Additionally, Vanessa has noticed a positive shift in mindset towards women in recent years. “So many organizations now—Women and Drones, the 99s, WAI—are working hard to fix gender biases. They don’t just convene women who are in the same field, they make concerted efforts to support them, to support each other, and to encourage women who are just getting started in this space.”

Since 2015, Ascent AeroSystems has designed and manufactured rugged “coaxial” drones for the industrial, public safety and defense markets.

With more than five years of development and hundreds of coaxial vehicles delivered to professional, commercial, government, and military customers worldwide there are bound to be roadblocks. “Of-course there are challenges, at times, but when you’re in an industry you’re passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work. The space I am in is so exciting, the technology is fascinating, and the people are engaged and innovative. Just in this position, for example, I do all the recruiting for our company. Engineers come from all different backgrounds, with incredibly varied perspectives, so I get to meet so many people and hear about so many interesting projects I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. Working in aerospace / aviation, with imaginative people who take unusual paths and are focused on solving problems creatively—there’s so much joy.”

Vanessa is excited for the professional and personal growth that Ascent AeroSystems and the aviation industry continues to provide her. “I love being the person that executes on a theory and plan. I love being the ‘how’ to the vision’s ‘what’. Making a vision work, bringing it to life, is where I’m comfortable. One of the amazing things about the leadership position I’m in at Ascent AeroSystems is that visibility as a woman in aerospace and aviation. My hope is that younger women, just starting out, can look at me and know that there’s a place for them.”

Since 2015, Ascent AeroSystems has designed and manufactured rugged “coaxial” drones for the industrial, public safety and defense markets. Our founders saw the need for a new compact, all-weather, high-performance unmanned aerial system designed and built in the USA. Versatile, modular and based on proven coaxial technology, the Ascent AeroSystems Spirit is the ideal platform for mission-critical operations in the defense, public safety, and industrial operations. IEWL