Heather Wilson
Biography
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B.S. Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Academy M.S. International Relations, Oxford University Ph.D. International Relations, Oxford University |
Dr. Heather Wilson is the President of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a large public research university that serves a student body that is over 90% minorities. Dr. Wilson came to UTEP after serving as Secretary of the United States Air Force where she oversaw the development of a new Science and Technology strategy for the Air Force.
Wilson is the former president of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, an engineering and science research university in Rapid City, South Dakota. She represented New Mexico in the United States Congress for ten years serving on the House Energy and Commerce, the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Before serving in Congress, Wilson worked in the private sector, serving as a senior adviser to defense and scientific industry and as president of Keystone International, a company she founded that conducted business development and program planning work. She has also served on the boards of two publicly traded companies.
Wilson graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in the third class to admit women and earned her masters and doctoral degrees in international relations from Oxford University in England as a Rhodes Scholar. She received the Defense Distinguished Public Service Award in 2019 and the National Intelligence Superior Public Service Award in 2009. She is an instrument-rated private pilot and member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Dr. Wilson has authored one book and over 40 articles, columns, and other publications.
Wilson is a member of the National Science Board’s class of 2020 – 2026.