Sydney Hamilton
About Me
Get to Know Me
Meet Sydney Hamilton
Sydney Hamilton, The National Space Council’s 2023 United States White House Speaker, has been featured on CBS’ Mission Unstoppable, in Marie Claire Magazine, on NPR’s Wow in the World, and across The Boeing Company for her innovative contributions to the aerospace industry. In 2021, Sydney was one of the first African Americans to receive the SSPI Promise Award from Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI).
Sydney is an IF/THEN Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to inspire youth to pursue STEM fields. IF/THEN’s mission is to inspire and expose young girls, especially those of color, to all the unique STEM opportunities. If she can see it, then she can be it.
Sydney is one of the managers for the experimental plane (X-Plane), X-66A - The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator at Boeing. The X-66A is the first X-Plane focused on sustainability.
Outside of professional work, Sydney enjoys scuba diving, DJing, solving puzzles, and cooking (and especially eating) new cuisines with friends.
Awards &
Recognition
2023
The United States White House’s National Space Council’s
Black Space Week Speaker
2023
Uplift Aerospace, Space+5 Commercial Astronaut Training Graduate
2020
CBS Mission Unstoppable
S1 Ep 17: Flying, Fitness, & Forensics & S3 Ep 18: Flies, Floating, and Fuel
2021
Space & Satellite Professionals International, 35 under 35
Promise Award Winner, First African American to Win this Award
2022
Smithsonian Institute & American Association of the Advancement of Science
Life-Size 3D-Printed Statue Honor for Women’s History Month
2024
ComicCon Panelist (2020-2024) speaking on the science behind popular movies and pop culture (Dune, The Expanse, Futurama, Ms. Marvel, and more)
Inspiration
“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” - Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph is one of my biggest inspirations. Wilma Rudolph, diagnosed with polio in 1944, was told she'd never walk again. Defying that prediction, she channeled her determination into grueling rehabilitation, fueled by the unwavering support of her 22 siblings. Not only did she walk, but she ran—all the way to the 1960 Rome Olympics. There, Wilma became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Games, a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit!
She is a reminder that we can. Whatever “it” is, we can do it.
Narration
“Still, I Rise.” - Maya Angelou
As a child, my backyard was my launchpad. With a blanket tied around my neck and arms outstretched, I'd stand poised, convinced I could fly—superheroine style! Though my feet never left the ground, that childhood dream ignited a lifelong passion. Today, as an aerospace engineer, I'm soaring in ways I never imagined.
My mission now? To help others find their wings, to rise above limitations, and to launch their own dreams into the sky.
Representation
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Representation isn't just a buzzword; it's the key to unlocking the future of STEM. As a child, I yearned to see a princess who looked like me, struggling to bridge the gap between my parents' loving words and the images I saw in the world. That absence fueled my determination. Now, I'm committed to being the representation I craved—a visible role model who shows every girl that she can be a princess, an engineer, a CEO, and anything her heart desires.
Because when we see ourselves reflected, we know we belong.
