From Caretaker to Changemaker: An Unconventional Journey
Andrea Lackey (bottom center) with her immediate family.
Andrea Lackey's path to aerospace leadership wasn't a straight line — it was forged through resilience, heart, and an unbreakable spirit. As the eldest sibling, she stepped into a caretaker role at just 7 years old, navigating profound family adversity. This included the heartbreaking loss of a sibling to a severe congenital disease, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, when Andrea was 16. These early experiences didn't break her; they instilled an unshakeable optimism and a drive to turn obstacles into opportunities.
“Obstacles aren’t the enemy,” Andrea reflects. “If everything’s smooth sailing, how do you prove your value? I crave challenges — they’re how I prove my worth and create something better.”
Married at 19 and raising two children by 23, Andrea juggled family life with low-wage jobs — from making biscuits at McDonald's to working as a certified nursing assistant and even cleaning cars at Avis. Eventually, she became an insurance agent, where a mentor spotted her potential and encouraged her to pursue more. Living in an 800-square-foot duplex on $20,000 a year, she realized this would be her reality without change. At 30, inspired by high school teachers who had seen her math talent years earlier, she returned to school — starting with community college classes in English and basic math, embarrassed but determined.
Relentless Drive in Action: Turning Setbacks into Success
Andrea's six-year journey to a BS in Aerospace Engineering was a grind. As a single mother, she balanced full-time studies with financial hardships, relying on food stamps, student loans, and medical assistance. Transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign brought new hurdles: her job in Governmental Relations wouldn't accommodate her engineering schedule or cover tuition for a non-political science major. Forced to quit and become a full-time student, she faced moments of doubt, wondering if she'd have to give up. But faith, optimism, and small wins — like acing advanced mathematics classes she once feared — kept her moving forward.
Talbot Lab: Home to Aerospace Engineering and Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Engineering (NPRE), where Andrea spent most of her undergrad years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“There were days I thought I’d have to quit, but I never lost faith that persistence would pay off.”
Along the way, she met her husband and had another child between her junior and senior years, adding to the chaos but fueling her resolve.
Entering the male-dominated aerospace field, Andrea encountered biases but refused to be sidelined. Drawing from Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In, she claimed her seat at the table — sometimes interrupting to be heard, always ensuring her voice counted. Classes like Numerical Methods, with "impossible" tests, taught her she's never alone in struggles. This mindset — vulnerability, collaboration, and standing up for others — now defines her approach.
Rising Through the Ranks: A Career Built on Passion and Expertise
After graduating, Andrea dreamed of a career in space, but breaking into the industry with just a four-year degree proved challenging. She began in aeronautics, joining Cessna in Kansas — a move that uprooted her family — to gain hands-on experience in flight testing and performance engineering. From there, she advanced to Rolls-Royce, applying her performance engineering skills to aircraft engines.
A car accident prompted a pivot to flight simulation and helicopters, where she leveraged her flight data collection expertise for rotorcraft applications. She even consulted for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), authoring Quality Management System (QMS) guidance and supplying simulation flight performance and visual data. This contribution helped establish the FAA's current tolerances for flight simulators, advancing safety standards in pilot training.
As her older children headed to college, Andrea relocated to Oklahoma and stepped into Program Management at FlightSafety. This is where her paths crossed with Rear Admiral James "Jim" Lair USN (Ret.), an aviation war veteran who led 220 combat missions; he recognized her leadership ability and graciously mentored her career, inspiring her to believe in her own potential. She oversaw rotor flight testing, data implementation, and the manufacturing of high-fidelity full flight simulators. While she grew to love rotorcraft, her passion for space never faded.
This enduring drive led her to Iris Technology in California, where she transitioned from rotorcraft to deep space exploration. Her first program there was NASA's Europa Clipper mission, fulfilling her long-held dream and marking a pivotal career milestone.
Andrea proudly representing Iris Technology at SmallSat Europe 2025 in Amsterdam.
Imprinting Excellence at Iris Technology
At Iris Technology, Andrea serves as Director of Product, overseeing innovations in payload control electronics, optical systems, tactical systems, and more for partners including NASA, ESA, and government defense agencies. Her hands-on leadership style — supporting her team through challenges and weaving complex projects into seamless successes — has driven key achievements. These include customized control electronics solutions that support deep space research and satellite systems for defense, as well as EMI-tested power management accessories that safeguard soldiers' lives.
“Our work isn’t just technology — it’s about national security and scientific progress,” Andrea emphasizes. “We’re a small part of enormous puzzles, but our reliability unlocks discoveries and saves lives. That trust means everything.”
A visionary leader, Andrea champions AI as a tool for faster innovation, urging transparency, ethical frameworks, and bottom-up input from end-users. At Iris, she fosters inclusive environments, noting proudly that women make up 17% of engineers — a figure she's committed to growing through merit and empowerment.
Her mantra? Embrace chaos, listen deeply, and collaborate: "Get the right people in the room, throw out ideas, and decide together."
The Person Behind the Professional: Passion and Balance
Andrea thrives on "a dose of chaos" — strategic meetings, troubleshooting, and mentoring energize her. Family remains her top priority; she overextends to support her kids' concerts, practices, and dreams, drawing from her own unsupported youth. Passions like cheering for the WNBA and forging genuine connections recharge her spirit, countering the intense pressures of high-stakes defense work.
“I love the rush when a program compiles or a product succeeds in space,” she shares. “It’s the diamond formed under pressure.”
Wisdom for Tomorrow's Innovators
Andrea's story offers timeless advice: "Just keep moving forward — one foot in front of the other. Connect with people smarter than you, make real bonds — that's where opportunities live." For women in STEM or anyone juggling dreams and duties, she urges confidence, merit-based advocacy, and never doubting your potential.
Inspired by Andrea's journey from caretaker to defense innovator? Reach out to learn how her leadership powers Iris Technology's cutting-edge solutions. Contact us or follow on LinkedIn for more insights.