Dwight
L. Williams was born in the inner city of Washington, D.C., and later
moved to Fairfax, Virginia, to benefit from expanded educational opportunities.
Although Williams enjoyed science, he did not perform well in his science
classes. In fact, the first and only "A" that he earned in
a science class was in physics toward the end of his high school years.
Because he liked science and performed well in physics, Williams was
inspired to major in nuclear engineering when he entered college.
Since
then, Williams has blazed many trails and achieved several firsts.
By age 33, Williams had reached the position of chief engineer/principal
nuclear physicist at the U.S. Department of Defense, where he develops
high-tech devices for the military.
In addition, by
the age of 35, he had reached full professor status in the world-renowned
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Nuclear Science
and Engineering.
Dwight L. Williams
Recently, Williams became the first African American to be
named National Young Engineer of the Year by the National Society of Professional
Engineers. He was also the first African American to be named a Director of
National Intelligence Fellow. That is the highest award available for scientists
who design and develop James Bond/Mission Impossible-type devices.
Williams
attended North Carolina State University, where he earned bachelor's and master's
degrees in nuclear engineering. He went on to earn a doctorate in nuclear engineering
from the University of Maryland.
"If you want to succeed,
help those around you to succeed."
Williams views his academic achievements and professional
accomplishments as tools that can be used to demonstrate the potential that
exists within the African-American community. At every opportunity, he uses
his abilities and success to help others achieve. He enjoys speaking to students,
professionals and the media about his personal experience and lessons that
he has learned along his journey.
While his message of success transcends racial
boundaries, he has a particular interest in helping other African Americans
realize their higher education and professional goals. He looks forward to
the day when being a world-renowned African-American scientist is not unusual.
Williams
has mentored numerous African Americans to senior-level positions in the U.S.
Department of Defense. He encourages America's future leaders to do the same: "If
you want to succeed, help those around you to succeed."
