Leaders in the Skies

When Academy Award-winning actress Brie Larson began preparing for her role as Captain Marvel®, she traveled to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to meet Brigadier General Jeannie Leavitt, who at the time served as the 57^th Wing Commander in the United States Air Force.

Larson, the first woman to star as the lead in a Marvel movie, was inspired by Leavitt who broke new ground of her own as the Air Force’s first female fighter pilot.

The two hit it off immediately, and Leavitt was impressed with the dedication Larson put into developing her superhero character (an Air Force pilot who gains superpowers). “She talked to a number of fighter pilots about their experiences and got to fly in the back of a fighter,” Leavitt said.

Both Larson and Leavitt have blazed new trails in their own careers, and they act as role models for those interested in following their example. They prove that with hard work and dedication, the status quo can be changed.  

The Importance of Role Models

Throughout our over 45-year history, we’ve found that providing students with inspirational role models encourages them to dream big and follow their creative instincts. The National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) prides itself on honoring world-changing inventors who have helped move the world forward. Our Inductees play a crucial part in everything we do, and our educational programming prominently features lessons inspired by their stories.

Below, we encourage you to learn more about two women Inductees who are inspirational role models in their respective fields.

Yvonne Brill, 2010 Inductee

Yvonne Brill was best known for her innovations in rocket propulsion. Her invention, the electrothermal hydrazine thruster (EHT), increased the efficiency of rocket fuel, allowing for greater stability and a reduction in the amount of propellant required to maintain orbit. Brill’s EHT became standard in industry.” Leading satellite manufacturers have used EHT on their communication satellites since 1983.

Jacqueline Quinn, 2018 Inductee

Jackie Quinn co-invented an environmentally safe clean-up technology called emulsified zero-valent iron (EZVI). EZVI acts like a sponge, pulling contaminants from polluted groundwater into an emulsion, where the zer0-valent iron breaks down the contaminants into harmless byproducts. This environmentally friendly solution eliminates the need to unearth contaminated water and soil, produces less toxic and more biodegradable byproducts, and is cost effective. EZVI is used to decontaminate groundwater near factories that produce dyes, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, aerosols and paint. Quinn works for NASA as an environmental engineer and continues to invent new technologies that clean and restore our environment. 

Visit our website to learn more about how NIHF Inductees are the best possible role models for the next generation of innovators who will change the world.