For the first 10 days of April this year, all I wanted to talk about was space travel. The Artemis II mission, which captured national attention as the first crewed journey around the Moon in more than 50 years, became my constant focus.
The mission sent four astronauts on a 10-day journey beyond Earth’s orbit, testing critical systems that will support future lunar exploration, and I watched every minute of it. I was enthralled by the big moments – take off, splash down, and the 40-minute blackout on the far side of the moon, as well as the small ones (even astronauts struggle with Microsoft outlook!)
For many, it was a reminder of what engineering makes possible. For engineers like me, it was also a reminder of how much precision, reliability, and behind-the-scenes problem-solving is required for a mission like that to succeed.
That’s what makes the next subject in our Women in Engineering series especially relevant. Beatrice Hicks (January 2, 1919 – October 21, 1979) was an American engineer and the owner of the Newark Controls Company. She invented a gas density sensor that enabled the development of many advanced technologies and played a key role in making space travel possible.
Beatrice Hicks’ career combined technical expertise with industry leadership.
After earning her degree in chemical engineering, she became the first female engineer at Western Electric. She later moved into aerospace and electronics, where her work had lasting impact.
Her accomplishments include:
- Co-founder and first President of the Society of Women Engineers
- Invented a gas density sensor that proved critical to the success of the Apollo missions.
- Wrote numerous technical papers on molecular density sensors.
- Named “Woman of the Year in Business" in 1952.
- Elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the highest professional honor in engineering
Her work focused on something that remains essential today: ensuring systems perform reliably in environments where failure is not an option.
The principles reflected in Hicks’ work remain central to engineering today, including:
System Reliability
Ensuring consistent performance under demanding conditions continues to be a core priority.Safety-Critical Design
Redundancy, testing, and risk reduction are standard practices across industries.Environmental Resilience
Modern systems are designed to operate in extreme and unpredictable environments.Precision Monitoring and Control
Advances in sensing and control remain fundamental to system performance.
The tools engineers use today are more advanced, but the core challenge remains:
designing systems that perform reliably in real-world conditions.
At Hallam-ICS, engineers apply these same principles when developing toxic gas monitoring systems, improving electrical safety, and integrating control systems.
While the work may take place in industrial environments rather than deep space, the expectations are similar: systems must function consistently, safely, and without failure.
In 1950, Hicks helped establish the Society of Women Engineers at a time when many women in engineering worked without a strong professional network.
SWE created access to:
• Professional connections
• Mentorship and career guidance
• Shared technical knowledge
• A sense of communityThat foundation continues to support engineers at every stage of their careers. As a woman in engineering today, that impact is personal.
When I was in college, I was part of the Society of Women Engineers. Like many students, I was still figuring out where I fit within the field.
Attending a SWE conference made a difference.
Being surrounded by women at all stages of their careers, students, early-career engineers, and experienced leaders, provided perspective that extended beyond the classroom.
• Exposure to different career paths
• Conversations about real challenges and growth
• Encouragement from people with similar experiencesThat experience helped build confidence and made the field feel more accessible.
Watching Artemis II unfold brought that feeling back in a different way. Seeing a diverse crew travel farther from Earth than any humans in decades and knowing the level of engineering required to make that possible, reinforced why representation and community matter in this field.
The excitement surrounding Artemis II showed how much space exploration still captures attention and imagination.
It also highlighted something deeper: every successful mission depends on engineers solving complex problems long before launch.
That’s the same mindset Hicks brought to her work, and the same mindset engineers carry forward today.
At Hallam-ICS, that legacy continues through teams focused on reliability, safety, and performance, building systems that industries depend on every day.
From early aerospace innovation to modern engineering challenges, Beatrice Hicks’ influence remains part of the foundation, shaping how engineers approach reliability, safety, and performance today.
Part of our Women in Engineering series:
- Dr. Edith Clarke
- Mary Jackson
- Christina Koch
- Hedy Lamarr
About the Author
Cassie graduated in 2020 from the University of Vermont with a BS in electrical engineering, and has been working with the Arc Flash team ever since. Originally from Vermont, she now works out of the North Carolina office, where she is a true joy to have around. Outside of work, she likes walks through nature and listening to music. She would love for you to ask her about her cat, Billy Strings, and his many toes.
About Hallam-ICS
Hallam-ICS is an engineering and automation company that designs MEP systems for facilities and plants, engineers control and automation solutions, and ensures safety and regulatory compliance through arc flash studies, commissioning, and validation. Our offices are located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and North Carolina and our projects take us world-wide.