Ashlie B. Flegel
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2023 fellow
Ashlie Flegel is an engineer and project manager who has made significant impacts to aviation research, focusing on developing partnerships, building teams, and establishing a strategic vision. She is currently the Deputy Project Manager of the Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core project within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA. Ms. Flegel was key in forming the project and establishing the initial technology portfolio through the award of collaborative industry contracts. This project is critical to developing the necessary technologies to support the nation’s movement toward sustainable aviation.
Ms. Flegel has more than 15 years of experience in the turbomachinery field, ranging from executing test facility operations and leading innovative turbomachinery and icing research to managing engine technology projects. As a researcher, Ms. Flegel led a series of full-scale engine tests at NASA, providing the first dataset and visualization of engine ice crystal icing at relevant engine and environmental conditions. This work improved aviation safety by developing a better understanding of the ice crystal icing phenomenon that occurs inside a jet engine.
Ms. Flegel has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree from Cleveland State University, both in mechanical engineering. Her accolades include the NASA Early Career Achievement Medal, NASA Silver Group Achievement Medal, and numerous group achievement awards. She is also very passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers through outreach.
In her new role as a White House Fellow, Ms. Flegel will explore methods to strengthen the small business supplier base and grow innovative acquisition practices and emerging technologies to enable a diverse and resilient Federal Marketplace within the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
