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Aprille Ericsson

Aprille Ericsson

Keynote Speaker: Rocket Scientist, Technologist & STEM Educator

Aprille Ericsson Biography

Aerospace engineer Aprille Joy Ericsson’s career is distinguished by “firsts,”, she considers her most prestigious the honor of being the first person of color to receive The Washington Award from the Western Society of Engineers. She is the first African-American female to receive a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University (HU) and the first African-American female civil servant to earn an Engineering Ph.D. at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC. There she currently serves as New Business lead for the Instrument Systems and Technology Division (ISTD). During her 25+ year tenure with NASA, Dr. Ericsson has worked as Aerospace Engineer, Technologist, Project and Program Manager and Executive. She has taught at both Howard University, University of Maryland, and Bowie State University. Dr. Ericsson has been named one of the top 50 minority women working in science and engineering fields by the National Technical Association and she was ranked 8 of 20 on the 2016 list of the Most Powerful Women Engineers by Business Insider.

Ericsson was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Raised in the projects of Bedford-Stuyvesant, she began her education being bussed to an elementary school in Brooklyn. “It didn’t take me long to realize I had an aptitude for mathematics and science,” she recalls. In her last year of junior high school, she won second place in the science fair and scored high on all her regent and citywide exams. She passed all entrance exams for New York’s technical high schools, but decided, at age 15, to move to Cambridge, Mass., where she lived with her grandparents and attended on scholarship the Cambridge School of Weston. There, she continued to excel academically and was accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Minority introduction To Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Science program. Ericsson coupled her early academics with extracurricular activities, including playing basketball and other sports. “I believe in living a well-rounded life,” she explains. Throughout her life she has competed in basketball, flag football and softball. She played on National ranked softball teams which have won two Coed Worlds, numerous State Championships, and a Women's military World tournaments. She has been voted women’s MVP for coed flag football. Dr. Ericsson’s dedication to youth has also continued as a basketball, softball, baseball and T-ball Coach. She also enjoys skiing, tennis and cycling for fun.

After graduating high school, she attended the MIT, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering. During her time there, she was involved in several Aerospace research projects and lead the research for Manned Mars Mission crew systems for interplanetary vehicles for her senior project. “These projects generated my strong desire to participate in manned space missions,” she explains. She applied to NASA’s astronaut program, but a history of asthma placed her on medical review.

She earned her masters and doctoral degree at Howard University (HU), Washington, D.C., where her research focused on developing practical design procedures for future orbiting space structures, like the Space Station. She received several prestigious internships, fellowships, and grants, including the NASA GSFC SIECA Summer Institute for Engineering and Computer Applications, the NASA/HU Center for Studies of Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Atmospheres, the Wright Patterson Air Force Laboratories, the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium, Dorothy Danford Compton and HU Terminal Dissertation Fellowships.

In addition to receiving funding from the NASA, while there she also held two internships and COOP positions while finishing her degree. During her first summer at GSFC she won the first student presentation competition, and as a result it is mandatory for all GSFC interns to take her seminar on “Giving Outstanding Technical Presentations”. Because of that experience, she was offered a full-time job there after she received her Ph.D. “That’s how you do it,” she says. “Once you get your foot in the door and meet people, you can show them you’re capable of doing the work.”.

As an attitude control systems specialist her satellite missions have included projects X-Ray Timing Explorer, Tropical Rain Forest Measurement Mission, and the Wilkerson Microwave Anisotropy Probe. For these projects, Ericsson developed and used programs for dynamic modeling simulation, which are invaluable in predetermining the dynamics and structural reactions of spacecraft. Following those assignments, Dr. Ericsson was detailed to NASA HQs as a Program Executive for Earth Science, and a Business Executive for Space Science. She returned to GSFC for a long tenure as an Instrument Project Manager, where she led spaceflight instrument teams and proposal developments for instruments ranging from $15M to $500M. More she served as the Capture Manager for a proposed $250M Astrophysics mid-sized Class Explorer, called STAR-X. Prior to that proposal development, Dr. Ericsson served as the GSFC Program Manager for Small Business and Innovative Research (SBIR) in the Innovative Technology Partnerships Office. Currently, she leads the Agency’s small business acquisition of “Sensors and Detectors” as the SBIR S1 Topic Manager. Formerly, she served as the Deputy to the Chief Technologist for the Engineering and Technology Directorate and Acting Associate Chief Technologist of ISTD.

Ericsson’s work as an aerospace engineer has presented many opportunities to fulfill her dream of advancing space flight. Additionally, she has traveled extensively throughout the world, presenting papers on her research in the US, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, England, South Africa and most recently Mexico. She has also been a Guest Researcher at Radcliffe Institute/Harvard University and she has acquired a Leadership & Management Certificate from John Hopkins University.

She speaks to young people across the country – especially minorities and women – to encourage them to follow in her footsteps. She mentors student every year and 20 years ago she created an email pipeline for groups underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This pipeline distributes opportunities for employment, grants, internships, and fellowships. “I feel obligated to spur the interest of youth particularly minorities and females in STEM,” she says. “Without diversity in these fields, the United States will not remain technically competitive.” She currently serves as an Advisor to the DMV NSBE Jr. Chapter at Howard University. She is lead Coach for the chapters FIRST Lego League Robotics teams. Dr. Ericsson has served as former Board member, some worth noting are: HU Trustee; International Black Aerospace Council; the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Board of Higher Education and Workforce; Blacks at MIT and, HU Middle School of Mathematics and Science Chair. Currently, she is a Board member of: MIT’s Industry Advisory Council for Minority Education; Advisory Council of Organization Black Aerospace Professionals; and Chair of the Advisory Council of HU Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Dr. Ericsson’s many honors and awards include: Medgar Evers College Special Presidential Citation; Tau Beta Pi Alumni of Distinction; The Western Society Washington Award; The Women’s Network “Top 18 Women Who Will Change the World”; National Technical Association “Top 50 Minority Women in Science and Engineering”; the Women in Science and Engineering Award for Engineering Achievement; the Black Engineers Award Conference Special Recognition Award; and several NASA GSFC Honor Awards which include Excellence in Outreach and Technical awards for several Space mission projects. Dr. Ericsson is the 2022 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Ralph Coates Roe Medal awardee, it is the highest award bestowed by ASME.

Dr. Ericsson has always pursued are ambitious undertakings and has never shied away from aiming high. In fact, she lives by these words of Norman Vincent Peale: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Aprille Ericsson and other top speakers and celebrities.

Aprille Ericsson Videos

Conversation with Dolores Huerta, Danielle Feinberg, Aprille Ericsson
Dr. Aprille Ericsson
#LEADLIKEAGIRL 2019 Keynote Speaker Dr. Aprille Ericsson

How do I book Aprille Ericsson to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Aprille Ericsson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Aprille Ericsson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Aprille Ericsson or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Aprille Ericsson for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Aprille Ericsson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Aprille Ericsson are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Aprille Ericsson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Aprille Ericsson speak about?

Aprille Ericsson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity, STEM Education, Space, Engineering, Technology, Climate Change, Science, Inspirational, STEM, Commencement, Influential Women, Black Heritage, Motivational, Women, Robotics, Women in Tech, Women's History Month, Artificial Intelligence and Futurism.

Where does Aprille Ericsson travel from?

Aprille Ericsson generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Aprille Ericsson?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Aprille Ericsson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Aprille Ericsson for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Aprille Ericsson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Aprille Ericsson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity, STEM Education and Space. The estimated speaking fee range to book Aprille Ericsson for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Aprille Ericsson generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Alyssa Carson, Emily Calandrelli and Shayla Rivera. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Aprille Ericsson for an upcoming event.

Aprille Ericsson Videos

Conversation with Dolores Huerta, Danielle Feinberg, Aprille Ericsson
Dr. Aprille Ericsson
#LEADLIKEAGIRL 2019 Keynote Speaker Dr. Aprille Ericsson
Pioneers In Science: Aprille J. Ericsson
Aprille Ericsson, Instrument Manager

Aprille Ericsson Reviews

  • Wonderful experience! Aprille was a blast and "knew the assignment."
    Aon - Mar 23 2023

  • Ancestry - Mar 11 2022

  • Aprille was awesome - we would definitely bring her back to Stevens! The AAE Team was so on top of all logistics and really pleasant to work with.
    Lore-El Center for Women's Leadership, Stevens Institute of Technology - Sep 22 2021

  • Our graduation keynote speaker, Dr. Ericsson did a wonderful job. The entire process was very easy and the team answered all questions we had. We will definitely keep AAE in mind for any future events! Thank you all so much!
    TEC Connections Academy - Jun 16 2021

  • Aprille was a complete hit at our event. Her message was spot on and many of our Executive team went up to her afterwards to thank her!
    Dunnhumby - Sep 26 2018

Aprille Ericsson News

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