As our markets recover, I find myself curious about the working women behind our corporate and governmental agencies that are energizing the recovery.   So many of these industry leaders are striving for improved profits, expanding market shares, all while being very aware of the need to help those less fortunate or to open doors for the next generation of female leaders.  In celebration of these women, Heroines in Technology will recognize outstanding leaders in technology who are dedicated to goodwill within their communities during their annual gala on November 12. 

Deborah Diaz

Deputy Chief Information Officer

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Deborah Diaz dedicates her life to improving access to medical care throughout third world countries.  She also mentors women in science and technology here at home, clearly identifying her as a Heroine.  Whether she is building houses in Nicaragua, volunteering in the Philippines with Doctors Without Borders, or conducting missions in South Africa, she gives of her time outside of her public service career.  Deborah has traveled with groups of teens educating them about the difference one person can make in devastated communities.  She is a board member for the National MS Society, AFFIRM, AFCEA, ACT-IAC, Women in Aerospace and on various school board and local community associations.  Deborah loves technology and recently developed an iPad application “Women and Girls iPad” to allow girls to use 3D mapping to drive the Mars Landing Vehicle Simulator.  Each day Deborah seeks opportunities to help others, and she gets others to join her in her various missions. 

Brigadier General N. Lee Price

United States Army

Brigadier General Price is a volunteer multiplier thanks to her ability to inspire audiences to join her in volunteering and serving the public.  As the first female to be promoted to General Officer in the Army’s Acquisition Corps and the first, and only, female to be selected for Brigadier General while assigned to the Special Operations Command, BG Price can uniquely garner opportunities to motivate others to serve, but she does this on her own time because she understands the power of many.  In 1987 she founded the Fort Belvoir Chapter of AFCEA.  After hundreds of hours of work and leadership, the chapter has grown and in 2009 gave $150,000 in scholarship and grants.  She is a Charter Member of the Women’s Memorial, Women in Military Support of America.  BG Price has been recognized for her outstanding service in the Army many times over, most recently as the Army’s Project manager of the Year.  She was also inducted into the Alabama Business and Professional Women’s Foundation Academy of Honor in 2009. 

Courtney B. Banks

Chief Executive Officer

Nat’l Security Associates Worldwide

Courtney Banks is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nat’l Security Associates WorldWide (NSAWW) and one of the nation’s foremost experts in homeland and national security and business development. Courtney is actively involved and serves on the Board of Hope for the Warriors (HFTW). She also supports the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA). Courtney is dedicated to empowering others to volunteer in their communities and is passionate about helping young adults achieve their career goals. Each year, she hires interns from her former higher school to provide them with exposure to the business world. She is currently training and fundraising for the Marine Corps Marathon and is dedicated to the law enforcement community as demonstrated through her support of the annual Secret Service Robert Rafter Memorial Golf Tournament, a tournament that raises money for the family of a USSS agent who passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind a family of five school-age children. Courtney appears regularly in national and trade media and is a frequent speaker on national security issues.

Martha McCollum is a self-defined Relationship Engineer and advocate of many causes including March of Dimes, Avon Walk for Breast, Virginia Tech and her local neighborhood of Fells Point.  She is also Director of Development at Children’s National Medical Center.  Follow her on twitter @mccollumq