Dr. Danielle P. Hilliard is an aerospace systems engineer and supervisor of the Concept Design and Realization Branch in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department. Her 200+ staff team provides an array of engineering, design, and fabrication capabilities that broadly support the Laboratory’s mission and sponsored work. In this role, she enables the development of manufacturing science and realizes this capability in the form of spacecraft and Department of Defense hardware. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Hilliard has worked on systems engineering solutions for hardware and software capabilities for the U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency, among other U.S. agencies. She is a member of several professional societies; serves on several STEM and community organization boards and participates as a mentor to future and current engineers and scientists.

Education History

  • BS, Aerospace Science Engineering, Tuskegee University
  • MS, Information Technology Management, Capitol Technology University
  • PHD, Technology, Capitol Technology University

Work Experience

Principal Professional Staff, JHU Applied Physics Laboratory

Publications

Hilliard, Danielle P “A Framework for Project Management in Technology Innovation” 2022.
Hilliard, Danielle P. “APL’s Discovery Program” https://www.jhuapl.edu/TechDigest/Detail?Journal=J&VolumeID=36&IssueID=3. 2022.
Hilliard, Danielle et all “Aegis BMD Performance Assessment Verification Plan for BMD International Conference” 2006
Hilliard, DP et all “Integrating TBMD into the Fleet ASNE Technical Symposium 1999: AEGIS Cruiser Conversion Newsletter B/L 7 Phase I plans for CCG” 1999
Hilliard, DP “Non-Destructive Evaluation of Hybrid Composite Materials” NSBE Emerging Technologies Journal, 1995.

Honors and Awards

  • Women of Color Technology All Star (2022)
  • Society of Women Engineers Advocacy in Engineering (2021)
  • Black Engineer of the Year Award (Community Service Promoting STEM) (2012)
  • Navy TBMD Team NDIA Award (2004)
  • Martin Marrietta Manned Space Award (1991)

Professional Organizations

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Courses

Next Offered
Spring 2026
Waitlist Only
Course Format
Online - Asynchronous
Primary Program
Engineering Management
Location
Online