Meet a STEM Trailblazer Paving the Way Forward for the Next Generation

Troy Lambert receives prestigious Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award at the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Conference

My journey in STEM began at Cerveny Middle School in Detroit, Michigan, an impoverished inner-city school that relied on government funding for after-school activities. These activities served as a positive outlet for students growing up in a rough community. At the age of 13, I discovered computer programming and hardware engineering through hands-on experiences such as computer building program and competing at FIRST® LEGO® League Regional competitions.

This is when I found my excitement and passion for engineering and committed myself to pursuing a future in STEM.

After middle school, I decided to attend a high school that was centered around math, science and applied technology. During these years, I learned about coding languages, audio/visual technology and I decided that engineering would be not just a hobby, but a career. Following that ambition, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Tennessee State University and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.

Having experienced the power of STEM, I feel obliged to use the platform Lockheed Martin gives me to open the minds of elementary, middle and high school students to the possibilities of engineering. I believe it is important to present students with opportunities to ask their burning questions and learn from those already in the field. If someone hadn’t done that for me as a youth, I would not be where I am today, so it is my duty to give back and pay it forward to those in my community. 

My advice for the students I work with is to not be afraid to ask questions and fail. We are so conditioned to be ashamed to not already know something or to fail, but those questions or those lessons will give you a greater understanding of why things are the way they are and what not to do as you progress through your career.

There was a time in which I was just like these students. Here I am today, working in a profession I enjoy. I want students to follow their dreams, and I hope that path leads them to a STEM career.

With Engineers week approaching and a plethora of opportunities to give back, I invite all who are reading to get involved with as many initiatives that you can and take part in the excitement and fun of inspiring our next generation! 

Troy Lambert is receiving the prestigious Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award at the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Awards and is presently the Technical Assistant to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Enterprise Business Transformation, Yvonne Hodge. 

Troy is also active as a FIRST® LEGO® League coach and judge, a board member for the Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair, a company representative for BEST robotics state and local competitions and volunteer for the Lockheed Martin-sponsored Engineers in the Classroom. He proudly serves his alma mater as a Board Member on the Tennessee State University Advisory Board for the Department of Computer Science and the Board for the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science. Troy also served as an advisor on the Fort Worth Aeronautics Diversity and Inclusion Council and takes part in activities such as Tour De Cure with the American Diabetes Association and the Breast Cancer Walk with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, all aiding in being a recipient of The President’s Volunteer Service Award several times.