Gladys Palacio
About Gladys Palacio
Gladys Palacio is a Rocket Engine Manufacturing Engineer III at BLUE ORIGIN, with a career dedicated to the aerospace industry and rocket engine manufacturing.
Current Position at Blue Origin
Gladys Palacio currently holds the position of Rocket Engine Manufacturing Engineer III at BLUE ORIGIN since 2019. Working in Kent, Washington, she focuses on the manufacturing of rocket engines. Her role involves contributing to the engineering challenges of creating reliable and efficient propulsion systems for advanced space missions.
Previous Roles at Boeing
Before joining BLUE ORIGIN, Gladys Palacio worked at Boeing in multiple capacities. From 2016 to 2019, she was an SLS Manufacturing Engineer II in New Orleans, LA, where she worked for 3 years. Additionally, she had a short stint as a Manufacturing Engineer in 2015 in New Orleans, LA, and as a Propulsion Engineer in 2014 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Academic Roles and Leadership at University of Maryland
Gladys Palacio has held several roles at the University of Maryland. She was a Thermodynamics Undergraduate Teaching Fellow from 2015 to 2016, and the Founding President of Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics (WIAA) during the same period. She also served as A James Clark School Ambassador for 3 years from 2013 to 2016 and was the Junior Chair of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) – UMD Chapter from 2012 to 2014.
Educational Background in Aerospace Engineering
Gladys Palacio earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. She studied there from 2012 to 2016. Her comprehensive education provided her with a solid foundation in the principles and practices of aerospace engineering, which she has since applied in her professional roles.
Early Career and Internships
Gladys Palacio's early career includes a variety of roles and internships that provided a diverse set of experiences. In 2013, she worked as a Program Coordinator - Intern at the Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering. Additionally, she served as a College Mentor for NASA INSPIRE Online Learning Community from 2012 to 2013 and as a Residential Assistant for SER-Quest at the Puerto Rico Institute of Robotics in 2012.