Noted Engineer Aims To Inspire Students

Williams Says He Struggled With Science in School

As a child, Dwight Williams eschewed science and math, until his mother stepped in and encouraged him to embrace the disciplines.

"I struggled with science through my junior and senior years of high school," Williams said. "Toward the end of high school, my mom made science and math fun for me."

Years later, his mother's encouragement paid off.

The Alexandria-based National Society of Professional Engineers during the summer named Williams National Young Engineer of the Year, a title that recognizes the field's brightest young people.

Williams, now 35 and chief nuclear engineer for the Department of Defense, is the first black person to win the award. He hopes to use his national title to inspire young students, especially those who might not consider mathematical or scientific fields when choosing a career.

"I hope more students will consider the field," said Williams, a native of the District who now lives in Laurel. "I want to make sure students have the opportunity to do what we've done or better. I became chief engineer at age 33. Maybe they can do it by age 3o."

According to the National Society of Professional Engineers, Williams was named because of his professional and academic achievements. Specifically, he was lauded for earning his doctorate at age 35 and for ascending to chief nuclear engineer for the federal government. He was also chosen for his community involvement.

"Dwight is part of an elite group of young, active engineers," said Stacey A. Ober, a spokeswoman for the Society of Professional Engineers. "He's an exceptional guy."

Williams is humble about his achievements.

At North Carolina State University, where he received both bachelor's and master's degrees, Williams honed his engineering skills and developed a passion for the profession. He recalled one course in college that turned him onto the field.

"I had a section on Einstein's theory that was fascinating to me," he said. "That's why I chose nuclear engineering. I was fascinated by what I was doing."

In 2003, Williams was named Maryland's Young Engineer of the Year. In 2004, he was a District of Columbia Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies Young Engineer of the Year. Williams often talks about giving back to the community and inspiring minority students to enter his field. He maintains a relationship with organizations at the University of Maryland's Clarke School of Engineering where students are not too shy to ask him about life as a nuclear engineer. During an October lecture at the College Park campus, Williams talked about the various jobs students could hold as engineers. He also schooled the students on such life skills as negotiating an appropriate salary. He told them about the less-than-savvy tactics he used when he got his first job right after college. It was the 1990s, he said, the decade of the tech boom. With two engineering degrees, Williams accepted a job at a salary of $23,000 a year.

Now, he said, he knows better.