BAE Systems engineer Lori Strange spotlights defense leadership and mentorship

Lori Strange, chief engineer for BAE Systems’ Air and Space Force Solutions business area, is profiled for her two decades of work on aerospace, naval and national security programs. The profile highlights her technical leadership, her role as the first African-American woman in her executive engineering position, and her focus on mentorship and accountability.

Why it matters: - Lori Strange’s career reflects the technical leadership needed for mission-critical defense programs that support aerospace, naval and national security missions. - Her rise to an executive engineering role also underscores the continuing gap in representation for women of color in defense and engineering leadership. - The profile ties engineering performance to broader issues of safety, cybersecurity, operational readiness and team culture.

What happened: - Influential Women published a profile of Lori Strange on Sept. 2, 2026. - Strange serves as chief engineer for BAE Systems, Inc.’s Air and Space Force Solutions business area. - The profile says Strange has more than two decades of experience in aerospace, naval and national security work. - Strange earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1999. - Her career began in shipbuilding before she moved into systems engineering for air and space defense solutions. - Strange completed executive leadership training through INSEAD. - She identified herself as the first African-American woman to hold her current executive engineering role within her organization.

The details: - Strange oversees engineering strategy, technical rigor, cybersecurity and innovation initiatives at BAE Systems. - Her background includes engineering management, systems engineering, program leadership, configuration management and technical strategy for complex Department of Defense programs. - Strange says strong engineering requires cross-functional teamwork and communication, not just technical design. - She emphasizes that emerging technologies must meet standards for safety, cybersecurity and operational readiness before deployment. - Her professional and community work includes involvement with the National Society of Black Engineers and volunteer support for the Washington Area Diaper Bank. - Strange says accountability and integrity guide both her work and how she raises her children. - She believes keeping one’s word is essential because trust is central to working relationships.

Between the lines: - The profile presents Strange as a leader who combines technical credentials with a people-first management style. - Her comments on imposter syndrome and self-recognition suggest that even senior leaders in the field still navigate confidence barriers. - Her remarks about being the only person who looks like her in conference rooms point to slow progress on diversity in defense and engineering. - The repeated emphasis on mentorship suggests Strange sees leadership as a pipeline issue, not just an individual achievement.

What's next: - Strange says she wants young women entering engineering and defense to recognize that they earned their opportunities and responsibilities. - She continues to frame her work around helping military personnel stay safe and support national defense. - Her profile suggests continued focus on building inclusive technical teams and strengthening cross-functional partnerships.

The bottom line: - Lori Strange’s profile centers on a defense engineering leader whose career blends technical authority, mission focus and advocacy for greater inclusion in the industry. - More information